Vote for Speed Skating

My girlfriend sent me an email asking me to support Paul & Abby, a father-daughter speed skating team. I watched their video and wanted to share their quest with you. Let's vote them to the top!

Paul writes in his email: Hi Everyone, just wanted to let you know that Abby and I entered a video in the ING Speed skating Challenge and we've made it to the top 16 in the country!! As you may know winners in this contest are based on public votes from across the country. Think of it as Canadian Idol - speed skating style.

Now it's up to you. We are asking you to do two things:

1. Register your email address and vote, Voting starts February 9. (ING wont spam you, they'll only use your email to remind you to vote)http://www.ingspeedskatingchallenge.com/signup.php

2. Send this email to anyone who might vote. It's going to take a whole lot of people to get behind this to win. Every voting round, we'll have the chance to win great prizes, including the chance togo to the ING Oval Finale this March in Calgary, where the video chosen as Canada's Best Speed Skating Story will be announced. We had a great time making this video and telling our story.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xxj6oibYA8

Thank so much.

Paul and Abby

Fitness & Faith Matters - newsletter

I am starting a new monthly health & fitness newsletter through Yahoo Groups. If you are interested in joining this group to receive the newsletter, please follow this link http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/FitnessAndFaithMatters/


Each newsletter will be loaded with bite-sized pieces of health and fitness information including:

Devotional article
A fresh, insightful 400-word article with a reflection on the similarities between the challenges of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and building a relationship with God.

Q & A
A factual answer surrounding the most common health & fitness questions.

Reflection
An insight into the regular challenges you may face when fitting exercise into your day. Each reflection requires a response from the reader.

Prayer
A prayer has been written for you. You may read this prayer, reflect and meditate on it, or you may choose to offer your own prayer to God.

Bible Truth
A scripture verse to find the joy and peace through God’s written Word, the Bible.

Top Tips
Clear advice on goal planning and exercise guidelines to set up a program for active living including:
Praise Moves: Full-body strength and stretching exercises to get you started
Challenge: A simple challenge to help you to apply active living to your day

A great escape

Looking for a great winter get-away? Why not take a holiday and spend a snowmobile weekend at the Pinery Cottage on Oxtongue Lake in Algonquin Park?


It's the perfect spot to enjoy snowshoiing, snowmobiling and skating. My husband, Bob, and our friends Neil and Rena spent a relaxing weekend in the two-bedroom cottage. Along with a cozy gas fireplace, the cottage featured a deep jacuzzi tub -- great for aching muscles after a day of sledding.


Check out our fun pics! I look forward to going again next year!

We had a wonderful time! Check it out http://algonquinpineryinn.com/fall.htm

Resolution Interview #13 - Violet Nesdoly

Name: Violet Nesdoly

Violet is a freelance writer who has had articles, reviews, stories, poems and activities published in a variety of print and online publications. She has also published two books of poems. Visit her on the web

Where you live: Langley, British Columbia (30 minutes southeast of Vancouver)

1. What activities do you enjoy most in winter?
Reading, drinking hot chocolate or cider, baking cinnamon monkey bread so the house smells nice. Seriously, I'm not big into winter exercise activities. But hubby and I do a mostly daily walk (about 55 minutes) even in the snow. The only days we won't walk is when it's icy underfoot.

2. What equipment is a must at this time of year?
A cozy afghan, a good book or the TV remote, and a fireplace. Oh, you mean for exercise? I've resurrected my old rubberized raincoat and bought a pair of waterproof pants so I can walk in the rain without carrying an umbrella. I also love my warm, waterproof Superstore boots.

3. How do you feel about New Year Resolutions?
I love making New Year Resolutions. It's keeping them that's hard.

4. What was the best resolution you’ve ever made?
Probably the resolution to memorize a Bible verse weekly. I didn't keep it, but I memorized more Bible verses because of the resolution than I would have if I hadn't made it.

5. What was the worst resolution you’ve ever made?
I don't think you can make a bad resolution. But a mistake I've made with resolutions in the past is sharing them. I know for many this is a good thing as it encourages accountability. But I like to tinker with my resolutions, to change them when they're not working for one reason or another, and I like to do this without having to explain why.

6. How do you manage to keep up your resolution into the summer?
If I do, it's probably after a history of trying and failing and trying again. Over the years, the lists of resolutions I've made show me what I think is really important. The same resolutions keep recurring year after year and these are the ones that will make it to the summer and beyond.

7. Do you share your resolutions with anyone?
I have in the past, but later I always feel squirmy about having done it. I don't think I will this year.

8. Do you record your resolutions anywhere?
Yes, I write them down somewhere -- mostly in my journal. I have a file called "Goal-setting -- Personal" which I've just looked into. It has my notes from the book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey, several other articles about setting goals plus some goals from 2002 and 2003. Obviously my file it isn't very current.
What I do regularly, though, is print out a weekly worksheet (I call it "Weekly writing planning and goals") which I tape into my daily planner. This keeps me reminded about my current writing goals (which I regularly change too).

9. What top 3 health tips do you have to manage in this holiday season?
Get some exercise every day.
Take it easy on the sweets - but don't deny yourself entirely, as that can lead to self-pity and bingeing.
Weigh yourself every day. I bought a digital scale just over a year ago, and the precise weight number each morning keeps me facing the facts.

Thanks, Violet! I have a goal-planning file as well that dates back to the early 90’s. It’s fun to review how my goals have changed over the years.

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Want to lose weight the healthy way?
Fit for Faith – 7 weeks to improved spiritual & physical health
Order your own workbook at http://www.kimberleypayne.com/

Blessings on the road to health!

**

Read more Resolution interviews:

#12 – Valerie Coulman
#11 – Susan Barclay
#10 – Ruth Meyer
#9 – Roger Keyzers
#8 - Mary Haskett
#7 – Karen Toews
#6 – Brenda Leyland
#5 – Gwen Robinson

#4 – Ed Hird

#3 – Donna Dawson
#2 – Brenda Wood
#1 – Bonnie Way