charity: water is one of 10 charities competing for $100,000!

Levi's is giving away $100,000 to the charity that receives the most votes- that's 20 wells that can help serve 5000 people in developing nations. We'd love your help in staying in 1st place.

It takes 20 seconds (we counted) and voting is open until November 16th. Check it out here! http://goforth.levi.com/fortune and help spread the word.

charity: water is a non-profit bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. Visit http://charitywater.org

Common trouble zones on the body for both men and women are arms, thighs, abs and butt. First, if you’re on a mission to make these areas trouble no more, remember this, ignore any advertisement that promises that you can still get the body that you want or get great abs without having to do anything at all. It does not work that way. You’ve got to do work.
Some important keys to reshaping that body that you want are:
•Exercise and good eating habits should always be kept together. You can join a gym exercise at home to a workout DVD, or take up a new activity such as walking.
•Engage in some form of resistance training (body weight, kettle bells, dumbbells).
•Eat lean, eat often and drink water.
•Find some time in your schedule for the gym or for exercises you can do at home even without equipment. Do not let anything stop you. There will be setbacks. Keep motivated! Keep Moving! Keep Committed!

Natasha Linton
NYC Personal Trainer

When you’ve got children what’s better than being able to play with and keep up with them? Better yet, when you’ve got children what is better than being able to do those things without getting out of breath?

Keeping fit is so important; not only for a great body, but also for daily life. For new parents you’d want to be able to pick your baby up and carry him or her around with ease. You’ll not only have to carry a baby around, but I’m sure you’ll have a stroller and other luggage as well. Exercise helps with that.You have many options whether you have all the time in the world or no time at all.

Also, whether you are a gym member, or don’t have a gym membership. There are so many exercises you can do at home, at the desk, or in your hotel room. One great exercise to help with the picking up and carrying is the front raise. You can use dumbbells, a medicine ball, any equipment you have at home such as gallon water bottle with sand or you can start with the water (a weight that is manageable where you can still feel resistance).

Front Raise

Stand with your feet shoulder width apart

Both arms straight out in front of you holding your equipment

While your arms are kept extended and straight, raise the equipment over your head and back down to starting position which is about chest level, and extended out

To your family’s health!

Natasha Linton
NYC Personal Trainer

Here are 8 ways for you to beat stress. T’is the season to feel a little stress especially if you are one to leave holiday shopping until the last minute. These work anytime of the year as well.

1. Laugh- call up old friends who you can joke with and bring up funny memories

2. Treat yourself this season- put yourself on top of your shopping list this year.

3. Leave the desk for lunch- try to get your mind off of work for at least the lunch break

4. If it’s hard to leave the desk for lunch, get up and take a walk around the block when you get a break.

5. Go jogging or bike riding

6. During your commute to and from work, lock the world out of your world. Ignore the phone and sit back and listen to some music or read a good book.

7. Exercise- this is a great way to beat stress and feel happy

8. Try not to save your holiday shopping until the last minute. If shopping online you’ll want that piece of minid when your gifts deliver on time. If going to the stores, trust me, you’ll feel stressed out when those shelves are empty and you still have quite a few people to shop for

Recently there have been print, tv, and online ads from the Corn Refiners Association about how good for the body high fructose corn syrup is (HFCS). They claim that HFCS is ok since it is ‘made from corn”, “nutritionally the same as sugar”, and fine in moderation. This advertisement campaign can be found at http://www.sweetsurprise.com/. This has caused quite a stir between two parties; those who believe its damaging for our bodies, and those who believe its just fine in moderation.

There is a correlation between the growth rate of diabetes, the obesity epidemic and the higher usage of High Fructose Corn Syrup. HFCS is found in many foods that are often high in calories and low in nutritional value. It is found in many manufactured foods like candy, cereals, pizza, cookies, beer, yogurts, and even baby foods. Fast food restaurants use it throughout many of their products from the buns, condiments, drinks and other items. If concerned, you can limit the amount of foods you consume that contain HFCS. As you can see it’s everywhere. Also, those concerned with genetically altered foods should avoid this. It is processed with genetically modified enzymes.

Natasha Linton
NYC Personal Trainer