What started out as good research has morphed into a great way to sell gym memberships. Or something along those lines.

It all started when researchers established that there are varied percentages of fuels (carbohydrate and fat) that participate in energy metabolism during exercise. With increasing intensity of exercise, there is a proportionally greater share of energy derived from carbohydrate. The reverse is also true – as the intensity level decreases, a greater percentage of energy is derived from fat.

The fat-burning workout was born. Go longer, go slower, “burn more fat”, and lose more weight.

This was followed shortly thereafter by “get a gym membership”. You can come in and do more longer, slower workouts on our cardio equipment. Oh, make sure you get a heart rate monitor so we can establish that you are in that “fat burning zone”.

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There are moments when I am sure all of us have done this. For many, it is hopefully short-lived. For others, it might require a death in the family or a significant life trauma, something that wakes us up to make us smell the proverbial coffee. It could be something that forces us to re-prioritize and re-focus our efforts on those things which truly make our heart sing and give our world wings with which to soar above the distractions.

Which brings me back to music. Again.

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In Texas (a “direct access state” according to the American Physical Therapy Association), we are nine months away from another legislative session in which we will attempt, yet again, to attain consumer direct access to physical therapy.

All has been quiet here in Texas since April 2011 when we finally had a bill reach committee, only to have it die in committee. March 2012 is now upon us, and I am sure that the overtures will begin again in earnest soon enough. I can hear it now: “We need to build relationships with our legislators” will be the battle cry, followed shortly thereafter by “we need to raise money for lobbying”.

Reality check: we don’t have the people. We don’t have the money. We don’t have the legislators. And as they say, if you do what you’ve done, you’ll get what you’ve got.

The profession needs a significant game change – a pitching change, if you will.

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It seems like just yesterday (make that January) that the University of Texas Longhorns were in the 2010 BCS National Championship game. Longhorn fans watched in virtual horror as Colt McCoy left the field with an injury. Those same fans watched with great excitement as Austin’s very own Garrett Gilbert, a freshman, put the Horns back in contention with a tremendous second half performance. Gilbert almost pulled off the impossible as a freshman in what truly amounted to his first significant playing time all year. What a way to start your college football career.

Now, it is ten months later. The fans are now officially out of their misery, with the season ending with a record of 5 – 7 and no bowl in our future. There have been very few teams in college football history that have plummeted this far, this fast, after a national championship appearance. And, lest any Longhorns fans need reminding, it’s the first losing season in Mack Brown’s tenure, and the first losing season since, yes, John Mackovic’s final season in 1997. If the thought of that doesn’t make you squirm, I am not sure what would.

For those who missed it, we managed to beat Nebraska this year, sending them to the Big 10 with a farewell that UT faithful truly enjoyed. That was on October 16. From there, it was all downhill. Losses to Iowa State – the first time ever – and Baylor – the first time in almost forever – followed. There was a loss on the road at Kansas State. Better yet, call that a drubbing. Let us not forget the loss at home to Oklahoma State – another first – and follow that up with a loss to Texas A&M, again at home. October 16 was truly a long time ago in a football galaxy far, far away.

So with the demise upon us, where does Mack Brown start to find the answers?

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