Pixie Poker

would you believe the pound is fetching a little less than the euro at Travelex airport counters, you’d suppose that there would be a lot of real ski deals to be booked in ski resorts this Christmas as potential skiers remain back home to beat the recession. Initial numbers just now publicised show that ski areas are 90 percent full during the New Year and Xmas period. 12 % higher than the same period last year.

One will have more luck in Jan that presently has a 33 % reserve rate. Signs of a recession is across the key February ski holiday month which has 62 % bookings, 3 percent less than last season. Booking desks in the ski resorts of Les Grands Montets, Luz Ardiden, Les Contamines-Montjoie and Flegere have noted good demand during Dec advanced by the brilliant early winter season snow. La Plagne has stronger bookings compared to last year, whilst Les Arcs experienced a supreme Christmas.

However there is substantial call for bigger ski chalets, 6 to 9 places, as folk group-up to save the pennies. Evidence shows that do it yourself skiing trips are holding up, perhaps evidence that keen skiers are not going to sacrifice their ski holiday. However inquiries for the big tour operators are down on last year.

One very easy way to diet is simple calorie counting. Calories are energy. You have to expend energy to lose weight. If you take in less calories than you get rid of, your body uses the energy already stored in your body, your fat, to keep going.

First, determine how many calories your body needs to maintain your current weight. Active males should multiply their weight in pounds by 15, and active females can multiply their weight in pounds by 12. So an active female who weighs 150 pounds would need around 1800 calories per day to stay at 150 pounds (150 multiplied by 12 equals 1800).

Next, determine how many calories you should consume daily in order to lose weight. To lose weight safely, about a pound or two a week, you should take in about five hundred calories a day less than needed to maintain your weight. The exampled active female above would need around 1300 calories a day to lose weight gradually.

So let’s start calorie counting! Think of your allotted amount of calories as a daily allowance to budget. Candy and other high-calorie foods taste yummy, but they cost more. For 1300 calories, for example, you could have maybe lunch at a fast food place and some potato chips for dinner. Not very much. Or you could have an egg for breakfast, a baked potato with sour cream for lunch, baked chicken and steamed veggies for dinner, several pieces of fruit for snacks, plenty of diet sodas or water, and still have enough allotted calories left over for an after-dinner low-fat ice cream sandwich.

Making a game out of calorie counting can be fun and rewarding. Looking for ways to eat more tasty low-calorie food can be a family affair, and you can look back over the week and see your success. Calorie information is on the web, too, so there doesn’t need to be any guessing.

Over the last few weeks at BioForce Golf, we have had many questions about golf fitness exercises.

Questions such as: are these type of exercises beneficial to someone who has had a lower back injury, what are the best types of exercises to improve my clubhead speed, and what flexibility exercises can improve my back swing?

Through many of our free daily golf tips on our website, we have provided answers to these questions and many more. One area of golf fitness I get quite a few questions about revolves on how to implement golf exercises into a golf swing improvement program.

Many of the individuals who come to our site are not experts in “working out.” I’ve written my golf-specific exercise manual, YOUR BODY & YOUR SWING, to help you develop a program for yourself.

Probably one of the most-asked questions is: how do I go about introducing certain exercises into my golf fitness program?

At times, certain individuals are unable to perform an exercise in its basic form. They are either out of shape, suffering from an injury, or too stiff to perform it correctly. A Russian Twist may be too difficult for a beginner to execute correctly. It takes great core strength, endurance and flexibility to complete the exercise to the limit.

In this type of situation there are “baby steps” you can take in terms of implementing such exercises into your golf fitness program.

I like to call this the “position, movement, tolerance” training guideline. This is an easy methodology to follow in terms of implementing exercises into a training program.

We’ll use the Russian Twist exercise in my book, YOUR BODY & YOUR SWING, as an example.

When you are implementing a golf fitness exercise(s) into your golf swing improvement program, you must be able to place the body in the correct starting position of the exercise.

For example, if I were to have you perform a Russian Twist, first I would ask you to place your body in the correct position for the exercise. In this situation it would be knees slightly bent and placing your torso in a position where the “abs were turned on.”

Hold it Right There!

Just placing your body in the correct position for an exercise requires effort from the body. If you were able to place your body in the correct position, I would then ask you to “hold” this position for a certain amount of time. This would indicate you are strong enough to add movement to your golf fitness exercise.

On the other hand, if you were only able to hold the starting position of the Russian Twist for 15 seconds before your lower back started to bother you, this is an indicator to me that this is where we begin your golf fitness program. I would have you “hold” the start position of this golf exercise for a certain number of seconds and sets. This would, over a period of time, develop more strength and endurance in those golf muscles.

Once we have reached a good “hold” time on a golf exercise, we then progress to adding “movement” into the equation. Movement simply stands for range of motion (how much movement you can do). Every golf exercise has a certain range of motion you move through to get the greatest benefit for your golf game.

In the Russian Twist example, a full range of motion would be a full shoulder turn to the left and right of center. Again, at the beginning you may be unable to make a full shoulder turn. So what do we do? We slowly work on increasing the “movement” within the golf exercise until you are at a point of full range.

As with the idea of “position,” we do the same with the idea of “movement.” We gradually increase until you have achieved a full range of motion in the golf exercise. Once this is achieved, we move on to the final stage of implementing a golf-specific exercise.

The final stage of implementing any golf exercise into your golf swing improvement program is “tolerance.” Tolerance can be defined as performing the correct number of sets and repetitions of a golf exercise for it to be beneficial to your golf game.

No Pain, No Gain!

The idea of “no pain, no gain” does not work in this situation. Rather, you want to be able to perform a self-prescribed number of sets and reps of every golf exercise in your program. This prescribed amount of work is up to you, the individual golfer, and what you feel is best for your body.

Too little work will provide you no benefit. Too much work or following the “no pain, no gain” mind-set can increase the possibility of injury greatly.

You need to use your best judgment on every golf exercise in your program. This will allow you to perform each golf exercise with the correct technique, develop (maybe over time) the correct range of motion of each golf exercise in your program, and finally take each exercise to “your own level of tolerance.”

It is very easy to implement golf exercises into your golf swing improvement program. Follow the simple rule of “position, movement, tolerance,” and this should help you dramatically in the development of your golf fitness program.

Once you’ve mastered the exercises and routines in your current exercise program, you’ll be ready to take it to the next level, a more advanced program.

Sean Cochran

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2005 PGA & 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website www.bioforcegolf.com. To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com.

It was thirty minutes before the big game; St. James’ Boys School and Holy Cross School were both in their locker rooms waiting to come out for the shoot around warm up. Both coaches assembled their teams and began to pray, “O Almighty God today is the big game and we pray in your name to give our boys a win.”

Pretty comical when you really look at it, both coaches praying to the same God for the same outcome but only one will get the answer prayed for. When the game is over, is it the team’s skill and player’s talent that will win the game or the prayer of the most righteous coach that wins the game.

There are examples of athletes appealing to God in every sport. When a player on a basketball team shoots up the ball at the last second without even looking they say, “He threw up a prayer”, and when a football quarterback throws the ball all the way to the end zone at the end of a game hoping someone will catch it they call it a “Hail Mary” pass.

So does God answer the prayers of one coach and his players over another coach and his players who are in the same game? Of course not!

Acts 10:33: Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. 34: Then Peter opened [his] mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 36: The word which [God] sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) 45: And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

So was it the big game that Peter was declaring that the Holy Ghost was interested in; or was it that the Gentiles also received the gift? What about the when the Word declares, “Then cast your cares upon Him because He Cares for you! No request to small for He who sees the sparrow fall” is God not promising that no matter what size or weight the issue is He will hear your prayer? So we come to the conundrum, which coach will have his prayers answered. The easy answer is whichever coach wins. The right answer is that God respects no man over another and that the team that wins wins because they are more equipped to win. They are better prepared, better skilled; execute the game plan better and many more factors. So as both coaches bow their heads in prayer before the big game the players can be comforted by the fact that pray is communication with the Heavenly Father and that comfort may just be what they need to get their game in gear and win.

Do a web search to plan a fishing vacation and you will find hundreds of thousands of sites. Planning a fishing vacation, whether to your local lake for a day or off to Belize for a 15 day exotic excursion, can be a trying experience. How do you narrow down the choices to find the fishing destination that is right for you?

After all, “fishing is not a matter of life and death, it is much more important than that.”

The best way to select a fishing destination is to begin by identifying your priorities. Is this to be a warm weather experience, or do you prefer to go ice fishing? Do you want to fish Saltwater (surf, deep sea, reef) or Freshwater (lake, stream, river, etc.)? How many anglers are joining you, or are you a single angler?

If you are going as part of a group, it would be a good idea to sit down with everyone else who is going and discuss precisely what it is that each person wants out of the experience. It is not enough to simply decide you want great fishing, because that can mean very different things to different people.

Does great fishing mean catching a fish on nearly every cast, or catching only one fish all day–provided that one fish was a giant? And what constitutes a “giant” to you? Would a 20-pound chinook salmon make you happy, or would it have to be a 50-pounder?

What fish species are you interested in fishing for? Although this sounds like an overly simplistic question, it definitely needs to be discussed if this is to be a successful group outing. Do you want to catch lake trout, walleye, northern pike, bass, salmon? If members of the group have different ideas, you should pick a location with multiple species.

What is your preferred method of fishing? (trolling, spin/bait casting, light tackle, fly fishing, etc.) Do you want to fish from shore, from a drift boat or raft, or wear full length waders?

Your level of fishing experience is also a crucial consideration. Choosing the right guide to help with equipment choices and techniques is critical. The more experience you have, obviously the less advice and help you will need.

Other considerations include, will any non-fishing companions be joining you, and is this strictly a fishing trip or will other leisure or even business activities be involved?

A final consideration–what is your realistic budget? Let’s face it, money is a deciding factor for most of us. You need to be honest about how much you are prepared to spend–and how to spend it. If you have $1,500 to spend on a trip, do you want 3 days at Lodge X with most of the comforts of home, or 7 days in a tent camp where you cook your own meals, but have a better shot at a trophy fish?

Once you have established clear priorities about the fishing and accommodations, and roughed out a budget, it’s time to start looking at what individual venues have to offer. Search the Internet to find exciting and affordable locations. State or provincial tourism departments or fish/wildlife agencies are excellent resources to find fishing lodges within specific areas. Even the U.S. Forest Service website has valuable and free information about thousands of fishing locales within the U.S.

Before you go, you need to check to make certain that all of your equipment is in safe working order. You might be a long ways from the nearest tackle shop. First, check your rod and reel. Both of these pieces need to be in top condition. Also check the type of line you should be using (you will probably want to take several different types).

Finally, check your tackle box, especially hooks, flies, sinkers and lures depending on the species of fish you are after and the conditions you expect to encounter.

Best wishes for a great trip, whether it be steelheads in Alaska or giant snakeheads in Thailand, you’re ready for the ultimate fishing experience!

With more than fourteen years as a professional speaker, trainer, and storyteller, I have learned many hard-fought lessons that work to make presentations powerful. These techniques work whether we are speaking, giving workshops, or leading meetings.

Repeat, repeat, and repeat! Winston Churchill stated, “If you have an important point to make, don’t try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time with a tremendous whack.” Thinking that people listen and hear what we say, We assume that people hear us the first time. To really make a difference, we need to repeat with force and passion. The time tested formula for planning an effective speech is “Tell them what we are going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what we told them.”

Remain in control! When giving workshops and leading meetings, I always encourage participants to interrupt and ask questions. I have found, however, that if the question is way off the topic or is even a “gripe” of some sort, the best way to handle the situation is to say that I will cover that point later, or will be glad to discuss it at the break or at the end of my presentation, workshop, or meeting. Otherwise, the rest of the participants can be turned off completely and we lose their attention.

Be present and audience focused! The audience must know that they are the most important people in the world to us at that moment. Rather than worrying about what we are going to say next or how we are doing, we must focus all of our attention, being, and concern on how the words we are saying are affecting the participants.

Help participants visualize! Realize that people learn when they can visualize our points. Use clear, professionally produced visuals that enhance but don’t detract from the presentation. We need to help the audience see and be a part of our stories, so they start to visualize their own stories.

Watch the words! When giving advice to the audience, it is easier for them to accept and digest the material if we use more “We should …” “We could …” “We need to …” instead of “You should …” “You could …” “You need to …” And, profanity will NEVER enhance a presentation.

Be yourself! Using other people’s material, trying to be like another presenter, or playing the role we think our audience expects can rob us of our credibility, sincerity, and enthusiasm. If we are not expert in and passionate about the topic an audience wants, we shouldn’t accept the invitation to speak. The audience can tell. Give the audience something unique and special. You have what it takes!

Chris King is a professional speaker, storyteller, writer, website creator / designer, free agent, and fitness instructor. Sign up for her eclectic E-newsletter, Portfolio Potpourri, at http://www.PowerfulPresentations.net You will find her information-packed E-book How to Leave Your Audiences Begging for MORE! at http://www.OutrageouslyPowerfulPresenter.com and her business website at http://www.CreativeKeys.biz

Want to become a successful writer? Easy. Just write an article a day.

Writing is a skill that demands the easy interaction of various parts of your brain.
This interaction isn’t developed without practice, nor does the interaction seem to
remain steady unless you consistently practice — unless you write every day.

=> Please write an article a day for seven days

I promise you, at the end of the seven days you will be a better writer – a writer
primed for success, no matter what kinds of writing you do. You’ve been reading
articles in newspapers, magazines and online for years. You know how it’s done.
Doing it will bring out that hidden knowledge you have and make it consciously
usable.

Use the BEST formula below to get your articles written.

The BEST formula is an easy way to remember basic article structure. I discovered it
in June Duncan Owen’s book How To Write And Sell Articles, and I’ve been forever
grateful, because it makes writing articles easy.

==> The BEST formula for writing articles

BEST is an acronym for —

B — Bait

E — Explanation

S — Step

T — Termination

Let’s take this step by step.

==> The BAIT

The BAIT is also known as the hook. It’s an intriguing beginning for your article.

Pick up six different magazines, ones you have at home, or ones you go and buy.
Look at the baits, the first couple of paragraphs, in each article in those six
magazines. All the baits in the articles will be different.

Don’t spend too long writing the bait for an article. I often write the bait after I’ve
finished an article. When you’re writing your seven articles for the next seven days
— and forever afterward — don’t be too enraptured or concerned with the bait
paragraph or paragraphs. Your bait is important, but not so important that you stall
over it, and never get around to writing the article.

==> The Explanation

This part of your article explains the article’s subject, or thesis. If you’re writing
about a computer program, you can explain what the program does in a nutshell, or
why the program is important. If you’re writing a personality profile, the explanation
tells the reader why he should read the profile.

Sometimes you won’t need an explanation, it will be covered in the article’s headline
and the bait.

==> The Step (s)

The Steps are your argument. They can be individual anecdotes, or pieces of
evidence. If you’re writing about a computer program, the Steps could be various
ways of using the program, or how to get started with the program. If you’re writing
a profile, the Steps could be your subject’s career, his family life, the details of his
run for office, or the details of how he won the tennis championship, what others
say about him, and so on.

I usually write the steps in any order, and then rearrange the order with appropriate
transitions as I work through later drafts.

In a short article of 300 words, you won’t have space for more than one Step.

==> The Termination

The ending of the article.

In the case of the article about the computer program, it could be how many people
have bought the program, when the next version will be available, or where you can
buy it.

In your personality profile, the ending could be a final quote from the subject.

A circular ending, when you manage to refer to the bait or the explanation in the
ending, is satisfying, and is an easy way to wrap the article up without working too
hard.

Although the BAIT formula seems like a simple formula, it will release your
creativity. It gives you a structure, which is always the hardest task in writing an article. So go ahead. Write an article a day for the next seven days. At the end of the
seven days, you’ll be a successful writer. I promise.

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