Get Festive with the Nutcracker: Treat yourself and the ones you love to a timeless holiday classic... the Nutcracker. Whether it's your first time or your annual holiday tradition, the music, pageantry and dance of the Nutcracker is sure to put you in the mood for holiday cheer.
LifeBalance offers members reduced price tickets to numerous Nutcracker performances, including Anchorage, Fairbanks, Portland, Salt Lake City and Seattle (performed by the Pacific Northwest Ballet and the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra).
Survive the Holidays, Preventing the Winter Weight Gain: Many people tend to gain weight during the winter months. Some people joke that they are eating and sleeping more because they are getting ready to hibernate. But we do not get to crawl into a warm hiding place and sleep the fat away. In our sedentary culture, where more than half of all adults are overweight, factors that accelerate weight gain are a real concern. Those extra pounds acquired over the winter may stay on year after year, eventually contributing to health problems such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. People gain weight during the winter months for different reasons. If you have a tendency to gain weight during the winter, it's important for you to figure out what factors contribute to this tendency, and then plan accordingly. Simple changes in behavior often have enormous health benefits. Here are some ideas for preventing winter weight gain. Make a Holiday Survival Plan - Holidays can mean less time to exercise, more treats, extra alcohol and stress that trigger overeating. You couldn't find a better recipe for weight gain. Come up with a plan for staying active. Think about factors that have made exercise during the holiday season difficult in the past: loneliness, travel, too busy, lack of childcare, etc. Try to come up with some creative solutions to these barriers, then schedule them into your calendar the same way you schedule parties, meetings and family gatherings. Furthermore, if the holidays create excess stress for you, think of ways to reduce it. Exercise is the best stress-reducer around, and stress reduction is one of the best reasons to stay active, no matter what season it is. Also important are getting enough sleep, focusing on your priorities and eliminating low-priority activities. Make time for those activities that give the holidays meaning, and that provide pleasure and opportunities to be with people you enjoy. Lastly, eat defensively. You can occasionally eat small portions of holiday treats that you really love, but balance this by eating more prudently at other meals. Avoid munching and drinking just because "it's there." Make Friends with Winter - Winter can cause a decline in physical activity, as shorter days and inclement weather can limit exercise options. If early darkness forces you off the streets, try some indoor options. Check out fitness centers and community recreation programs in your area, and move your exercise program indoors. Are you uncomfortable in cold weather? Buy some warmer clothes and learn how to dress for cold weather. If it snows where you live, learn a winter sport. Cross-country skiing, ice skating and snowshoeing are terrific calorie-burners. Get Moving and Get Into the Light - Many people experience mild winter depression. Severe winter depression, known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is marked by depressed mood, sleeping more than usual, increased appetite, cravings for sweets and carbohydrates and weight gain. If depression is a problem for you, talk to your healthcare provider. People who experience winter depression can also try combining exercise and light therapy by exercising outdoors when time and weather permit. Find your plan and fight the winter doldrums.(24 Hour Fitness)
Eating Out: If you're like most people, you're eating out more than ever. With a little effort, however, you can have almost as much control over what you eat when you dine out as you do at home. The following tips give you the tools you need to win at the restaurant game. 1) Get a Little Something on the Side - Salad dressing is not the only topping that can be served on the side. You can make the same request with sour cream, sauces and most seasonings. Unless the dish is pre-made, such as frozen lasagna, having the kitchen omit a sauce or serve a topping separately is perfectly acceptable. 2) Ask Until You're Satisfied - Perhaps the most effective method of getting what you want in a restaurant is to ask questions. Whether your question is about ingredients, preparation methods, price, portion size or substitutions, don't settle for a half-baked answer. 3) Know When to Go - If you have special instructions for the kitchen, you may want to eat out during non-peak hours. Most good restaurants get very busy, and your special order may take a little longer or if you end up having to send it back, a lot longer. Try going before the dinner rush. 4) Try to Be a Kid Again - Many restaurants have a special children's section on the menu that you may be able to order from. If not, ask the waiter or the manager, if necessary, if you may have a half order of something. Managers are usually eager to please. 5) Don't Be a Softie - When the dessert cart comes around, don't feel bad about saying, "No, thanks," even if a waiter pressures you. The same goes for unwanted appetizers, drinks or "extra" side dishes. You will not hurt the waiter's feelings by saying no. 6) Stop Eating When You Are Full - Ask someone, your waiter, a busboy, a manager or another waiter to take your plate when you have had enough. If you can see as soon as you get your plate that the portion is too large (as it will be in some restaurants), immediately divide the food in half. Put one part in a to-go box or just place it to the side. 7) Be a Regular - If you go to the same place often and get to know the staff by name, your requests and questions are more likely to be taken seriously. Who knows, maybe you'll even have a dish named after you! 8) Tip Generously - Like it or not, the restaurant business is a service industry where you are the boss. If you take care of your waiter or waitress, he or she will take care of you. (Global Health & Fitness)
The
randomly drawn correct answer to this trivia question
wins a LifeBalance Member Event gift certificate to
an upcoming event.
Last
month's trivia question, which asked members to identify a photograph of a LifeBalance Provider was
correctly answered by Virginia Cooper. The correct answer was Museum of Flight in Seattle, WA. Congratulations!
This
month's question is in the form of a photograph of a LifeBalance Provider in Alaska. Who is this LifeBalance Provider?
To
answer this month's trivia question, simply fill in
the form below.
The
correct answer to this month's question will be revealed
in the next edition of eAction!
 The randomly drawn correct answer to this trivia question wins a $10 certificate from LifeBalance Partner CNCA. Remember, LifeBalance members receive special savings from CNCA. Visit the LifeBalance / CNCA page for details.
Last month's trivia question, which asked what the dietary supplement NAC (N-acetylcysteine) is used for was correctly answered by Betsy Massey. The correct answer was "decongestant".
This month's question: Pancreatic Enzymes taken before meals can produce what benefits?
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LifeBalance Activity Tracker and Activity Journal Features: Did you know that we have recently added new features to the LifeBalance Activity Tracker and LifeBalance Activity Journal in MyLifeBalance? New features include:
- Weight and body mass tracking
- Calculation of percentage of active days
- Inclusion of 'emoticons' to track how you are feeling
- LifeBalance Coach content to provide tips and motivation
If you haven't visited the Activity Tracker and Activity Journal in a while, be sure to login (or set up a new MyLifeBalance account) to utilize these new tools today!
The LifeBalance Wellness Window offers members streamlined access to all things wellness related, including fitness and health club listings, personal coaches, massage practitioners, yoga and Pilates studios and more. The Wellness Window also offers members health and wellness related articles and content including daily fitness tips, healthy recipes, motivational insight, fitness tools, health and wellness calculators and more.
LifeBalance has added new features to the Search for Savings section of LifeBalanceProgram.com. A new Advanced Search allows members to search for businesses with greater accuracy. Options include the ability to search by street address, city, zip code and more. Members can also set their home region in their MyLifeBalance Profile, which automatically displays first when visiting all search pages on the website.
"Any fact facing us is not as important as our attitude toward it, for that determines our success or failure." – Norman Vincent Peale.
Look to a Child: My best teacher is four years old. My daughter turns four this month and I must admit children know way more than adults. Let’s look at the facts. They know how to ask for what they want and if they don’t get it, it doesn’t stop them from asking again and again. They know how to play and to express their emotions fully. This month I recommend getting life in balance by spending some quality time with a child. Don’t have one or know any? Take some time and volunteer with an organization that helps children. The time will remind you what living is all about. (Brought to you by Jason
Stein Coaching)
Interesting Facts About Muscles: Did you know that muscle does not turn to fat if you do not use it. Muscle and fat are two distinct tissues that don’t convert into each other. When you stop exercising, muscles shrink and allow for fats to slide into their place. People who stop exercising also tend to consume the same number of calories they did when they were working out, which means fewer calories out and probable weight gain. Since muscle mass increases the metabolic rate, less muscle means you’re more likely to put on weight if you’re eating more and exercising less. All three factors give the illusion of muscle turning to fat. The good news is moderate physical activity can prevent this from happening, so stay active!
Now is the Time to Act: It is far easier to prepare for a storm when the skies are still clear. By the time dark clouds appear on the horizon; your options are drastically more limited and much less effective. The surest way to make a task more difficult is to put it off until later. The cost of anything continues to rise the longer you take to pay for it. Use this moment to create value instead of trying to borrow that value from the future. The sooner you make the effort, the more rewarding life will be. The most reliable path to a great accomplishment is to start working on it as early as possible. This is the moment when you can make a difference. So make full use of the opportunity that has come your way. Do the difficult things while they are still easy. Right now is the time to act so as to get the highest return for your efforts. (Daily Motivator)
Balancing Your Life During the Holidays: The busy holiday season is just around the corner. Whether you are someone who shops six months ahead of time or a last minute bargain hunter, chances are the balancing act of parties, family visits, shopping and seasonal events will have you hopping! There are a few easy steps you can take to protect yourself from seasonal travel and shopper’s exhaustion. Shop online, particularly if you need to fly during the peak holiday travel season. Ship your gifts directly from the seller to your destination, giving you the peace of mind that things will arrive in good condition and saving you space in your luggage. Keep in mind that presents brought through airport security cannot be wrapped. Purchase several standard size hard-sided decorative boxes for your family to use and reuse from year to year. Keeping a supply of tissue paper on hand makes wrapping a breeze. Organize a wrapping party and invite others to join in. Make time to enjoy seasonal events and outings. Above all else, keep in mind the most important part of the holiday season: precious time spent with friends and family. (Brought to you by Xenium)
Each month, Boone Bridge Books features a different title for LifeBalance members. This month's title is:
You: Staying Young: The Owner's Manual for Extending Your Warranty
Michael F. Roizen
Boone Bridge Books offers members at least 25% Savings on all titles (excluding textbooks) ordered from their website.
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For
a complete overview of the LifeBalance Program website,
visit the About LifeBalance section of the site and take a guided tour.
Find
exclusive LifeBalance savings at over 2,000 recreational, cultural & wellness related businesses throughout Alaska, Oregon
and Washington. The LifeBalance Program Provider
Network gives members the opportunity to quickly
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by geographic region and category, or by business
name, through the LifeBalance
Search for Savings.
You
can use our secure server to make payments online
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the LifeBalance Events Calendar and the LifeBalance Ticket Window for a complete listing and select the listing that interests
you and then complete your registration.
The LifeBalance Wellness Window offers members food and fitness tips, wellness calculators, information about community events and more. MyLifeBalance is a new component of the LifeBalance Program that includes personalized wellness tools, customized content and more.
You
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