FitDeck Blog with founder Phil Black

Why I love the number 3

  

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Mental Edge Monday

Topic #59: Why I love the number 3

I love the number 3. 

In today's world, the number of choices and options we are presented with is no longer helpful. In fact, it actually hurts us. Who needs 250 different kinds of salad dressing to choose from at the grocery store? It's overwhelming and I want out. Give me three choices and I'll be happy.

Here are some of my favorite applications of the power of the number "3":

• 3 minutes without air and you will die

• 3 days without water and you will die

• 3 weeks without food and you will die

• 3 food groups in every meal (fruits/vegetables, lean protein, complex carb)

• 3 seconds: amount of time after the alarm rings at 5am to decide if you will actually get up as you promised yourself the night before, or hit the snooze button and sacrifice your Golden Hour with the 97% of the rest of the sleeping world

• 3 minutes: amount of time needed before bed to make sure you have prepped your gear for the next day so that your morning runs smoothly and you don't fade away on the 3-second rule above

• 3 fitness levels to choose from in your FitDeck workout: beginner, intermediate, advanced

• 3 best exercises that if you did nothing else but these three things, you would be just fine: pushup, pull up, squat thrust

• 3 gifts brought to baby Jesus in the stable: gold, frankincense, mhyrr

• 3 hours: maximum amount of time in between eating a healthful meal or energy-producing snack

• 3rd planet in our solar system: Earth

• 3 cardio days: minimum number of days to engage in a strong cardiovascular workout (swim, bike, run, row, power walk)

• 3 strength days: minimum number of days to engage in a strong anaerobic (strength training) workout (pushup, FitDeck Bodyweight, squats, etc).

• 3 elements contained in every atom: proton, neutron, electron

• 3-pointer in basketball always sets the crowd ablaze

• 3 years: number of years to stay in a career before deciding it's not for you

• 3 minutes: minimum amount of time spent every day in prayer, meditation, or personal reflection

• 3 types of spatial dimensions experienced in our world

• 3 options in Rock, Paper, Scissors game

• 3 parts to the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, Holy Spirit

• 3: the only number to equal the sum of all the terms below it

• 3 intensity levels when you run: jog, run, sprint

• 3 medals at the Olympics: Gold, Silver, Bronze

• 3: the only number whose sum with those below equals the product of them and itself

• 3 years is the best age: old enough to walk, talk, and do whatever the heck you want - but too young to be held responsible for badness that results from any of the above 

When choices/options/alternatives begin to creep over three, it's too much for me to process. I like to keep it simple. I can get my head around "3". The number "3" leaves no room for useless contemplation about degrees of performance. You are either (1) pretty lame, (2) just about average, or (3) a high performer. You make decisions every day about these three choices.

Do you have a favorite number?

Is your favorite number better than my favorite number?

Can you think of any more applications of the number "3" that you'd like to add?

Until next week, Keep the Edge.

Phil Black (FitDeck Founder)