Welcome to this month's edition of LifeBalance eAction! the monthly email newsletter of the LifeBalance Program.

You are a member of the LifeBalance Program. Each month, LifeBalance eAction! is delivered to provide program updates, encourage members to make active lifestyle choices, and to offer members savings with the top recreational and cultural businesses. Within this monthly newsletter you will read about recreational and cultural businesses participating in your area, upcoming LifeBalance Member Events, special promotions from LifeBalance Providers, useful wellness tips and the chance to win LifeBalance prizes.

Want to learn more about using the LifeBalance Program? Read the LifeBalance Website Features section of this newsletter.

For a complete listing of related LifeBalance Providers, visit the LifeBalance Rock Climbing / Mountaineering page.

Get Creative with Arts & Crafts: Looking to get your creative groove on? Look no further than the activities, savings and events the LifeBalance Program offers members in the arts & crafts category. From classes in pottery to quilting to scrap booking to ceramics, find a new hobby or further your arts & crafts passion with LifeBalance.

For a complete listing of related LifeBalance Providers, visit the LifeBalance Arts & Crafts page.

Office Energy Boosters to Wake Up Your Body and Mind: If you're ready for a nap by mid-afternoon, you're not alone. Half of all employees report the energy drain that descends after lunch. Next time, try a quick, easy workout instead of coffee. Exercise can give you instant pep with no post-caffeine or sugar crash. Increased blood flow helps clear your head, and the release of pleasure chemicals such as serotonin improves your mood. Here are some shortcuts to doing a quick burst of activity in the workplace. Stairs: If you're lucky enough to have them in your office, use them, they'll get your heart pumping. Race up them as quickly as you can, then take them two at a time. Walk at a normal pace on the way down. Jump rope: You don't need the real thing. Close your office door or find a private corner, and try these different jumps for 15 seconds each: Begin with standard jumps, then quick skips (like boxers do), next do the twist, then jump side to side, and finish with jumping around the four corners of an imaginary box. Repeat if you have time. Chair aerobics: If you can't get away from your desk, quickly pump your arms overhead, and then twist at your waist as you punch out across your body, side to side. Follow with several quick toe taps, heel lifts, and a seated jog-lift with your knees. For a real heart pumper, try punching and jogging in place at the same time. A refreshed mind and spirit will follow. (Prevention)

Steps to Smarter Food Shopping: You came, you saw, you shopped. But then you got home from the supermarket and started unloading fatty snack items and processed foods. What went wrong? You fell back into the habit of shopping like an average American rather than a person with a dietary purpose. In an enticing palace of eating designed to lead you astray, here's how to stay on track. Make a list and limit your trips: Before you shop, write down what you need to reduce the chances of buying what you don't. Make your shopping list long so you have to make only one or two trips to the store per week. Besides being more efficient, this provides less opportunity to make impulse purchases. Avoid shopping on an empty stomach: When you're hungry, you're more likely to grab high-fat snacks and desserts. Follow the walls: Limit browsing to the perimeter of the store, where you'll find the freshest, most healthful foods: raw produce, low-fat dairy products, fresh lean meats and fish. Pay attention to portions: Check the serving size of packages and items. Ignore the pictures: Look at the side of the box instead for the facts, and choose foods that are high in fiber and low in fat and calories. Grade your grains: Want high-fiber bread? Look for the words "whole grain," "100 percent whole wheat," or "stone-ground" on the label. Breads labeled simply "wheat", even if they are brown in color, may not contain whole grains. Watch the language: Beware of foods labeled "no sugar added", the wording is carefully chosen, because the product may be loaded with natural sugar. You'll find the real story on the label, under "Sugars." Add some spice to your life: Instead of creamy condiments, load up on such spices as basil, chives, cinnamon, cumin, curry, garlic, ginger, horseradish, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, parsley, and hot sauces. They're very low in carbohydrates, fat, protein, and calories. Keep your eye on the cashier: You're waiting in line, nothing to do; you're a captive audience. It's no accident that supermarkets pile their impulse items next to the registers. Keep a couple of items from your basket in your hands. It'll stop you from reaching for the candy bars. (RD.com)

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: What are the names of the kings in a deck of cards, each represent a great king from history was correctly answered by Joann Gines of Washington. The Kings in a deck of playing cards representing a great King from history are Spades - King David; Clubs - Alexander the Great; Hearts - Charlemagne; and Diamonds - Julius Caesar.

In addition, the Queens are represented as Pallas - warrior goddess equivalent to the Greek Athena or Roman Minerva;  Rachel - biblical mother of Joseph; Argine - anagram of regina, which is Latin for Queen; and Judith - from the Book of Judith.

Furthermore, the Jacks are represented as Hector - Prince of Troy; La Hire - Comrade-in-arms to Joan of Arc; Ogier - Knight of Charlemagne; and Judas Maccabeus - leader of the Jewish rebellion against the Syrians.

This month's question is: "The State of Washington maintains the largest fleet of passengers and auto ferries in the United States and third largest in the world. The system, currently known as Washington State Ferries has a long history. What are the three former names of the Washington State Ferries System?"

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!

Special Savings at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle: Order before February 24, 2006 for any show in the 2006 season and save.

LifeBalance Members can get great seats and prices on tickets to an impressive array of Broadway events and performances at the Paramount Theatre in downtown Seattle for the 2006 season. Upcoming events include STOMP, Wicked, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Maya Angelou and the musical Chicago. Members must act quickly. The deadline to order is February 24, 2006, so visit Paramount Theatre in Seattle to order today.

Begin with the End in Mind: Have you already forgotten the resolutions you declared this year? You were excited the first week of January, but as time dissipated so did your passion for your growth. Instead of focusing on all the changes you want to make, think of one quality you want to make more of. For example, if your New Year's resolution is to lose weight or stop that nasty habit, then start to focus on what that accomplishment will give you, such as peacefulness, security, happiness, freedom, etc.  Like Stephen Covey says, "Begin with the end in mind" and your resolutions will happen more easily. (Brought to you by Jason Stein Coaching)

Each of us tossed out on average 4.4 pounds of waste per day per person in 2004. Recycling an aluminum can saves enough energy to run a television set for three hours. Every year, Americans throw out 24 million tons of grass clippings, leaves, and other yard waste. In addition, 1.6 million pens, 2 million razors and blades, and 200 million tires are thrown away each year. Approx. 40% of our municipal garbage is made up of kitchen and garden waste. It is estimated that 150 million computers will be discarded in the United States alone, enough to fill a hole one acre in area and 3.5 miles deep. Every Sunday, the United States wastes nearly 90% of the recyclable newspapers, about 500,000 trees. And one living tree can filter up to 60 pounds of pollutants from the air each year.

The Anxiety Job: As soon as anxiety gets your attention, its job is done. From that point on, there is no reason to maintain that anxiety. Anxiety is useful in making you aware of actions that need to be taken. After that, give your energy to a positive action and not to the anxiety. Take the steps to correct the problem and not to helplessly obsess over it. The moment you feel anxiety, look for, and begin to execute a positive course of action. Let it come, let it have its say, and quickly let it go as you take action to move forward.  (Global Fitness)

Get Involved Today: A happy employee is an invested employee. Get involved today! Volunteer for the safety committee, organize a company softball team, attend your company-sponsored events or start up a Toastmasters group, anything to get involved and stay involved. (Brought to you by Xenium Resources at www.XeniumResources.com)

The Harlem Globetrotters in Portland: LifeBalance is also holding a drawing for two tickets to The Harlem Globetrotters at Portland's Rose Garden Arena for Saturday, February 25, 2006.

To enter this drawing, simply fill in the form below.

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 1,700 recreational & cultural businesses throughout Alaska, Oregon and Washington. The LifeBalance Program Provider Network gives members the opportunity to quickly search for specific recreational and cultural providers 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 for many LifeBalance Member Events. LifeBalance offers members hundreds of special events at reduced rates with the top vendors, instructors, and venues. LifeBalance also has your ticket to the arts, including theater, dance, musical performances and more. Visit the LifeBalance Events Calendar for a complete listing and select the event that interests you and then complete your registration.

You can also easily print the LifeBalance Program materials and this newsletter by visiting the Printable Materials section of the site.

The LifeBalance Program always welcomes your feedback! Complete the LifeBalance Survey and let us know about new recreational and cultural businesses that you would like to see added to our existing network of benefit providers, new member events, suggestions for the LifeBalance website or even suggestions for this online newsletter.  If you would like to speak to a member of the LifeBalance Customer Service Team, please call 503.234.1375 or 888.754.5433.

The LifeBalance Program
Absolute Recreation Management, Inc.
503.234.1375 / 888.754.5433
www.LifeBalanceProgram.com / info@LifeBalanceProgram.com

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