I fell victim last issue to an urban myth, and you, Better Letter readers, called me on it. I may have gotten caught up in the Halloween spirit and what I thought were juicy, fun tidbits about the uses of Coca-Cola. After I received several letters from you I did the research I should have done in the first place. I'm printing Coca-Cola's official response to the myths and rumors about their soft drink.

Before I do that, however, I wanted to assure all of you that I am extremely diligent in my research and the information we bring you. I apologize for the mis-step, and hope that you continue to enjoy the Better Letter and feel confident that what you are reading is accurate.

And...I wish you all the very best of holidays, those of you that recently celebrated Ramadan, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and those of you celebrating Christmas, Kwanza, and Chanukah, as well as any others I may have missed. Let's keep the victims of Hurricane Katrina and our troops in our thoughts. This year I will try to keep kindness in my heart towards the people I love, and even more challenging, towards the people I don't. I plan to learn at least one new thing a day. I believe people's attitudes towards me are a reflection of my attitude towards them. I thank you all for all of your thoughts and feedback over the past year. It is truly an honor to be your editor.

And now, a word from Coca-Cola:

"We are unaware of any state patrol officers using Coke for any purpose other than refreshment. Plain water or vinegar would be as effective and less costly for cleaning pavement. Vinegar, naturally acidic, is used

In my experience with www.PlusOneActive.com, my program has emphasized goal-setting, self-monitoring and feedback as key components for success. Why do the Experts who design these programs emphasize all three components equally?

The key to making physical activity a productive part of your new lifestyle lies in your ability to change behavior. Theories about how to best achieve this change abound, but one in particular by Albert Bandura recommends a sequence of events that if followed may improve your success by 50% or more.

Set good goals: specific, measurable, and moderately challenging to be exact. Long-term goals should be made up of several short-term ones and don't skip the easy ones. Not only do these make sense in preventing injury, they ensure the necessary confidence to carry you over the more challenging days that are sure to follow.

Monitor your success: log your key activities, take subjective measures like "Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RFP)" seriously and when you can take objective measures like training heart rate as close to the activity as possible. Make a graph when you can to see your gains in 3D. Associate your "feel good" with any "do goods" like increases in distance, speed, frequency or strength.

Our expert team of professionals understands the demanding day-to-day concerns of fitness/wellness center management, bringing years of experience and proven success in the fitness and luxury spa industry. With Plus One you will appreciate an organization dedicated to your success. Whether you are a member of one of ou r client's fitness facilities, a patient in one of our physical therapy clinics, a guest at our luxury hotel spas, a subscriber to PlusOneActive.com, or a recipient of the Better Letter - Our goal is to help you set and reach your ultimate goals.

We would like to thank you for your continued interest in Plus One and ask that you contact us if there is anything we can do to help you and your loved ones live happier, healthier and more productive lives. Visit Plusone.com to find out how we can benefit you and your company.

Apparently you're not alone. The National Institute of Health estimates that 5% of all Americans - approximately 12 million people - suffer clinical depression. Another 5% experience milder symptoms and these figures rise during the holiday season. When it is all said and done, depression costs the nation some \$43.7 billion annually.

In addition to the conventional therapies used to battle depression, more and more physicians are using exercise as an adjunct course of treatment and a myriad of scientific evidence supports their prescription. Researchers are not in complete agreement, however, as to the mechanism creating the relationship between exercise and mood elevation. One theory suggests that exercise provides a "time out" from stress. A second theory suggests that the completion of an exercise task provides positive feelings of accomplishment, autonomy, and the regaining of one's control over their body and life thereby alleviating symptoms. A third hypothesis states that it's the social interaction that often accompanies exercise that makes you feel better. The most well known theory concerns the release of brain chemicals known as endorphins that have a morphine-like action of reducing pain sensations and creating a state of euphoria.