A new year a new you, right?? New Years is a great starting point, but never forget that resolutions are great only when we stick to them.   Yesterday, I held a Twitter Chat with Driscolls to discuss my article about Jumpstarting your Metabolism in 2013. Me and a ton of fitness fans went over all of my tips from my article,  ”5 Ways to Jumpstart Your Metabolism in 2013,” and I even got the opportunity to give away copies of my book and Driscolls berry coupons!

Berries are essential to a well-rounded diet. They’re low calorie, loaded w/ vitamin c, fiber, calcium & potassium. They can help your weight-reducing hormones work properly and slow down digestion. Driscoll’s has a great recipe for Strawberry Cucumber Basil Water, pictured above, which is a fantastic bubbly, sweet and spicy alternative to soda.

As for jumpstarting your metabolism, something to think about that may be new for you in 2013 is to make sure you’re eating frequently. It may seem strange for dieters, but by having small, nutritious meals throughout the day instead of 3 large means will do a HUGE favor to your metabolism. When you eat a lot of food at once, even if it’s the same caloric amount as your smaller meals, your body processes it differently. Eating smaller meals will also keep your energy up throughout the day.

Want to know 4 more ways to jumpstart your metabolism? Check out Driscolls.com for my article, and let me know what you think!

This session is the second installment of my series to keep you fit during your pregnancy. You will start seeing the changes in your body during this trimester, so it is extremely important to train the right muscles group in order to keep the right posture. No matter what your fitness level was before, you can start these courses and find workouts that are right for you. Go directly to the Second Trimester course here and let me know what you think!

This year I filmed a series of 5 video courses outlining for to stay fit in each Trimester of pregnancy for BrainPickin.com. As a fitness trainer about to have a baby, I have firsthand experience!!

After the intro, the first course starts at the beginning, in your first Trimester. I designed these courses to be accessible to everyone, regardless of your fitness level before you became pregnant. There’s a list of Do’s and Don’ts of the trimester, the best moves to target muscle groups you’ll need to be a stronger mom, and exercises to boost your energy. Check out the full half-hour course on BrainPickin.com.

So recently my BrainPickin course on fitness, nutrition and wellness during pregnancy was released! Check it out on BrainPickin here.

BrainPickin.com is a new website where experts share their advice through video lectures and answer your questions online. My series focuses on staying fit inside and out during pregnancy. All you’ll need to do to watch it is set up a brainpickin account through email, twitter or facebook.

This video is an intro to the course, which includes a TON of information about staying fit. Check it out and let me know what you think!

Watch the segment here: http://news.yahoo.com/video/losangelescbs2-15750780/fit-vs-fat-which-healthy-foods-are-really-packing-on-the-pounds-30763523.html

Swap your dried fruit for fresh, your trail mix for almonds and your yogurt for greek after watching this. I’m spreading the word on Fit vs Fat in this segment on CBS 2 and busting some diet myths. Cheese isn’t necessarily bad for you, yogurt isn’t necessarily good for you, and I’ve got a better movie snack than popcorn. Check it out on Yahoo.

I’m ALWAYS saying you don’t have to get to a gym to get into shape. What if I told you that you don’t even need to schedule out time in your day to stay in shape? When you can fit exercise into your morning schedule, you really have no excuses left!

The key to this is starting off right. When you wake up, immediately hit the floor and do 10 pushups. When you get to the kitchen, fit in your cardio while your breakfast is cooking. 20 jumping jacks, 20 squats, 20 front lunges, and 20 tricep dips on your kitchen chair before the buzzer goes off will get your blood pumping, your metabolism revving and  burn calories!

I’ve laid out a 10 point plan to get you going before 10am on Redbook, check it out: 10 Ways to Fit in a Workout Before 10 a.m.

Read the Entire List on Forbes: 10 Foods That Are Surprisingly Good For You

Do you begrudgingly pick up skim over whole milk because it’s supposed to be the better choice? Do you always order the chicken when you really want the duck? Then this article is for you! In my list of 10 delicious foods that are surprisingly good for you, you may just find out that your favorites do more for your body than you thought.

1. Potatoes

When they’re not fried or covered in mayonnaise, potatoes are actually very healthy for you.  Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD, author of the New York Times best seller S.A.S.S! Yourself Slim recommends potatoes because they’re relatively low in calories, especially red potatoes at 88 calories each, and are packed with fat burning carbohydrates. Sass explains, “When you cook & cool a potato they form what’s called resistant starch, which is like a fiber you don’t absorb. It fills you up, you don’t have to worry about burning it off, and it triggers your body to burn more fat.” One study found that replacing 5% of your carb intake with resistant starch burned 20-30% more fat in the hours after the meal.

2. Corn

A lot of people consider corn a throwaway vegetable but it’s really a whole grain, says Sass. 90% of Americans don’t get the recommended 3 daily servings of whole grains, and corn can be a great mix-in for salads, and vegetable side-dishes to add a boost to your daily diet. Another benefit of corn is that it’s packed with antioxidants. One study even found that corn has twice the amount of antioxidants found in Apples. In America, corn is in peak season in October and November; try it for your fall diet.

Want to read the other 8? Check out my full article on Forbes: 10 Foods That Are Surprisingly Good For You

Photo via theblaze.com

I try and keep politics out of my work – unless that work IS the politicians! My latest article for Forbes has tips for everyone, from the voters to the President. Read the full article, “7 Ways to Stay Fit on the Campaign Trail” on Forbes.com

Fun Facts on Campaign Fitness:

Mitt Romney has been known to jog, take the skin off of KFC chicken, and the cheese off of pizza. He sells refillable water bottles on his campaign store. It’s also been reported that he runs 3 miles a day, wherever he is – talk about anytime, anywhere, no excuses!

President Obama plays basketball often, snacks on cut veggies on white house plates, and keeps a fruit basket on hand on Air Force One. Also, his First Lady is an avid proponent of nutrition (and must do some killer arm exercises!)

With the stresses of Election Day right around the corner, can they keep up these healthy habits? Definitely! In fact, adding to their health and fitness routines can raise their energy levels, keep their minds sharp and focused and their eyes on the prize. Check out my 7 Ways to Stay Fit on the Campaign Trail and see how your favorite candidate measures up!

If you think muscles are just for meatheads or gym rats think again! Did you know that just 30 minutes of exercise a day can make you a genius? Ok, you still might not become Einstein but you can get pretty close. Check out the 6 ways that working out can make you smarter.

1. Increases Energy

The more you move, the more energized you will feel. Regular physical activity improves your muscle strength and boosts your endurance, giving you the energy you need to think clearer and come up with new ideas. A good 15 minutes of moving around, even just around your living room, makes your body produce more energy on a cellular level.

2. Sharpens Focus

Dr. John Ratey, author of “Spark – The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain” says that exercise improves your brain in the short term by raising your focus for two to three hours afterwards.  If you have a presentation or speaking engagement try to work out beforehand; you’ll be at your peak when you have to perform. In the long term, it can even help starve off brain aging and Alzheimer’s. This works on the cellular level through neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to improve itself with blood flow and levels of brain-derived protein. He calls it “miracle-gro” for the brain, and it all comes from regular exercise!

Read more ways exercise makes you smarter at Forbes.com.

There’s no question that charismatic people are some of the most successful individuals out there. Professor Wiseman at the University of Hertfordshire in the UK estimates charisma is 50% innate and 50% trained. They key ingredients of charisma are simple actions that, with practice, become a part of your personality and improve your interactions with everyone around you, increasing your overall satisfaction with life. Here are 7 qualities of charismatic people that you can incorporate into your life.

1. Listen Actively

When you listen, give them your undivided attention and ask questions. Do NOT check your phone more than once in a conversation – better yet, don’t check it at all!  A study by the University of Colorado found that active listening helps avoid misunderstandings and opens people up to get them to say more. Actively listening will improve communication with those around you, whether you’re working with them or living with them. People tend to remember good listeners as positive people.

Read about more traits of charismatic people in my article on Forbes.com.