If this isn't part of your daily routine, you are already behind the 8 ball when it comes to weight loss and toning up. Having a 4 litre jug makes it easy to keep track of your daily intake. Everyone needs to get to the bottom of one of these everyday. I'm not going to lie, it's a challenge to finish the first few days but after a week it will be easy. Here's what you need to know about hydrating. 1. Your brain, blood, muscle tissue and organs are made up of 70% plus water. It is understandable why you don't feel good or function properly when dehydrated. 2. Water is 0 calories and gives you a full feeling which curbs appetite and replaces sugary drinks. Drinking lots of water before a meal will decrease your food consumption. 3. Water helps your organs function properly. Your organs remove toxins from your body which make you healthier. 4. Water aids with food digestion allowing your body to absorb the vitamins minerals proteins and carbs it needs while getting rid of the unhealthy fats you don't. 5. Drinking water revs up your metabolism. Dehydration is your body's enemy. It slows down metabolism and body functioning. As a matter of fact, your body will slow down metabolism to conserve energy when you haven't drank enough water. Your body needs adequate amount of water to function properly, especially during exercise and Dehydration inhibits the fat burning process. If you have any questions, let me know. Stay tuned for my next fitness tip on "How resistance training is your key to weight loss and why you should stop killing yourself running on the treadmill"

There was no mistaking the feeling of triumph that filled Isabela Onyshko after sticking the landing and closing out a flawless performance on the uneven bars in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday night. The 18 year old Manitoba gymnast was all smiles before the television cameras and the live audience on hand, a stark contrast to the steely-eyed determination and focus that is featured in most photos. The Minnedosa-born Onyshko is competing in her first Olympic Games and on Saturday was declared by the National Post to be the Manitoba ‘underdog’ that could surprise the gymnastics field. Little more than 24 hours later, she was being heralded by the CBC broadcast team as “the rock and the star” of the Canadian Olympic team. Isabela scored a 14.733 on the uneven bars, an event at which she has excelled in international competition. She won gold in the 2014 International Gymnix and repeated that achievement at the 2015 Ljubljana World Cup in this event. Her score put her team on track to secure a position in the top eight for a shot in the finals. However, misfortune struck when team mate Brittany Rogers, 23 year old New Westminster gymnast, fell during her routine. Rogers’ 14.2 score dropped the Canadian team to ninth place, excluded them from further competition. Still, Onyshko’s performances on the Olympic stage have placed her in the top ten individually and she will compete in the all-around finals this week. For her family in attendance and her peers who were watching at home – including her fellow members at the Brandon Eagles Gymnastics club, it was an exciting debut on the world stage. Onyshko, the first Manitoba gymnast to qualify for the Olympic team in 30 years, will take her shot at Olympic gold on Thursday afternoon and Manitoba is sure to be watching.

The rumors have been confirmed and the Wheat Kings will lose another valuable member of their team.  It had been reported late Friday night, in some media circles, that Director of Scouting Wade Klippenstein had accepted a job with a western conference team of the NHL. The post first appeared on Dean Millard's Twitter account where he posted “Brandon Wheat Kings will also lose Head Scout Wade Klippenstein as he's taken an NHL job with a western conference team. #Vegas??? “.  Millard works for TSN 1260 in Edmonton where is the a co-host of the Pipeline Show which weekly does an in-depth examination of the top hockey prospects coming down the pipe. Following Millard's post Greg Drinnan, who runs the popular WHL blog site, Taking Note, reported Klippenstein had accepted a job with the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL. According to Drinnan's report Klippenstein is slated to serve as a western scout for the Avalanche. Klippenstein has extensive experience in Western Canada having been with the Wheat Kings for the past 3 years as well as previous stops in Prince George, Prince Albert, Saskatoon, and Moose Jaw.  Even though he is changing jobs, and leagues, Klippenstein will not have to relocate something he was very grateful for.  "I'm very fortunate to not have to relocate with this job change"  said Klippenstein.  'The ability to allow my family to remain in our community (Coaldale) was a big factor in our decision" he continued. As the Wheat King's Director of Scoutng he would have played a key role in drafting current Wheat Kings Caiden Daley, Steilio Mattheos, Ty Lewis and Nolan Patrcik as well as prospects Rylan Bettans and Braden Schneider. “ I wasn't searching for other opportunities, but was very grateful for what had transpired” Klippenstein told bdnmb.ca.  He went on to say "I don't think anyone is surprised when there is movement in  Jr. hockey.  The WHL is proven development for not only players but also staff."    

Gord Paziuk summed up golf to me today “when Nike is getting out of golf there is a reason”. Right now Nike said they are down 8% in sales therefore no longer going to be in the golf industry. We reached out to some of the local golf pro’s and course owners to see where the current state and future of golf is going. Dave Scinocca, who would be one of the most recognizable names in golf in Brandon and Westman, had a simple message about the state of golf and that is to get more kids involved. But Dave did have good points in saying that current golfers are not playing as much as they used to….. New golfers have dropped off to some degree…… plus we have several good courses all within 45 minutes of Brandon that compete hard for the golfing dollar. The lifeline of the local golf course are the corporate events or big tournaments like Dreams for Kids or Birt Cup. He said without them we would have to raise course prices so high. Chris “CK” Kading, pictured below, from Deer Ridge Golf Course has another theory that other local operators agree with. The City of Brandon has made the price for the City run Rec Centre at such a low price that it has a huge effect on local golf course operators. Kading feels very strongly that the City of Brandon should not be in the golf business. In addition he feels that the course is in terrible condition. When BDNMB asked the Mayor Rick Chrest for his thoughts on the low prices he stated that Council felt that $16.00 was all it was worth at the time. Additionally Kading feels the City prices are “predatory pricing which would be illegal for private business and at worst unethical for the City of Brandon.” Jason Earl owner of Glen Lea Golf Course has some great feedback. There is a huge problem in the industry right now and that's no secret. Our rounds and memberships at Glen Lea are down a fair bit compared to an average year over the last 15 years. We are turning to other ways to try and generate revenue for the golf course. This includes things like: selling clay. We are also looking at, and in the process, of doing market research for other demands (outside of golf) in the Westman area that might help us bring revenue in for Glen Lea. We are very fortunate to own the majority of the surrounding land around the golf course. This will allow us to grow (if the golf industry ever becomes healthy again in Westman) or try different business avenues to help bring in more revenue to help the golf course survive. Other areas that we need to expand to help grow golf, include: more school programs for the kids, junior leagues / programs, lessons, approaching businesses to both sponsor golf programs and have them promote more golf outings for their employees, corporate memberships, promote family nights, etc. It's unfortunate that the Westman golf rates do not reflect the costs of doing business, resulting in the golf course industry in our area not being healthy. Every year our cost of doing business increases a large amount and our golf season is always the same length. On average (average of last 10 years), we are open 188 days a year. 52% of the year we are open. Factor in days that we're closed for bad weather (Rain days, too hot, too cold, etc.), plus the month and half at the start of the season and month and a half at the end of the season were we charge discounted rates for Spring/Fall,,,, and that's a small window to bring in revenue. Scott Kozoroski from Brandon Source for Sports said they are basically seeing a decline in golf sales over the past 5 years. Golf is a low margin product (which I didn’t know ) so therefore to tie up money in inventory and floor space perhaps both are better spent on more profitable sports. On a good note Scott said they have seen a big increase at the Tamarack Golf Tournament in the age groups. 4 – 10 year olds (Cubs). Lets face it golf is and will always be an expensive and time consuming sport. But if you travel and play golf in Calgary, or Vancouver, you will see Brandon and Westman prices are at times one quarter less expensive than other cities in Western Canada. Golf is maybe for the first time in decades facing some huge challenges and with some help and luck and cooperation perhaps it can turn a corner.

It was an exciting night of hockey action this evening at the Sportsplex in Brandon, MB as the Wendy's Summer Hockey League Division 1 champion was crowned. A couple of hundred rowdy and raucous fans took in the night's action as the Domino's Packers toppled the Browns Social House Contenders 8-4. Dominos scored the first 5 goals of the game before Browns stormed back with 3 unanswered goals of their own in the final minute of the 2nd period narrowing the gap to 5-3. Dominos regrouped and rallied to score a couple of early markers to start the third putting the game out of reach. Philadelphia Flyers draft pick, Travis Sanheim led the charge offensively with 3 goals and an assist in helping the Packers claim their first ever championship. Former Brandon Wheat King Shayne Wiebe and Florida Panthers prospect Jayce Hawrlyuk also had 4 points (1g, 3a) in the game. Five different skaters register 2 points for Browns Social House including Scott Glennie, Quinton Lisowy, Dan Chartrand, Josh Kobelka and Tyler Coutler. Browns had reached the finals after earlier in the week thrashing Tastee's Badgers 20-1 while Domino's advanced after defeating last year's champions Houston's Scramblers 15-9. Tonight's win was especially gratifying to Marian University forward, and Brandon product, Cole McCaig who captured his first division 1 title after having competed in the previous 4 championship finals, losing all 4.  McCaig tells bdnmb.ca that he thinks the last time he won a game that meant this much to him was back in bantam.