As small business owners breathe a sigh of relief after finally being allowed to reopen, get to know the women, including two from Crown Heights, who sparked a movement to Reopen New York.

By Shterna Karp for Ami Magazine

Parnasah is not something to be taken lightly; we daven for it on Rosh Hashanah because it affects just about everything else in our lives. When businesses are closed and stores arent generating income, entire families pay the price. Mortgage payments are missed, utility bills go unpaid, and parents have trouble paying their grocery bills.

While the current health crisis is of national concern, with organizations like Open America Now calling for the government to let small-business owners return to work, four frum businesswomen in New York State have taken up the call closer to home. Suri Katz, Simcha Minkowitz, Sarah Chani Brafman and Sarale Gitter have established the Reopen New York coalition, the aim of which is not only to raise awareness of the inequity of permitting only larger businesses to operate, but to encourage people to take action. Small businesses can be even safer than big-box stores, they insist, and if they can stay open, theres no reason for them to falter and cause an insidious ripple effect with widespread economic consequences.

Small businesses make up 99 percent of employer firms in America. With only the big-box stores currently open, all of the cash is flowing into the remaining 1 percent, enriching corporations like Walmart and Target while the mom-and-pop shops go under. In a survey conducted by Main Street America in late March, only 16.4 percent of small-business owners said that they were confident of being able to remain open. A staggering 31.2 percent didnt think theyd be able to make it for another two months before having to shutter their shops permanently.

With the encouragement of Reopen New York, some shop owners are now opening their stores, risking substantial summonses or fines. Civil disobedience, they say, defined as the refusal to comply with certain laws as a peaceful form of political protest, is a time-honored American tradition. Even Al Gore, former vice president of the United States, defended the practice when he declared in 2006, Civil disobedience has an honorable history, and when the urgency and moral clarity cross a certain threshold, then civil disobedience is quite understandable, and it has a role to play.

However, the mission of Reopen New York isnt political; for these women, its about helping those who are staggering under the weight of lost parnasah. For some businesses its already too late, but for others theres still a chance they can be saved before going under completely. Having seen the carnage firsthand, these four courageous women have mobilized thousands of their fellow small-business owners, forming what Suri calls a force to be reckoned with. Their message is simplelet people support their families.

Sarah Chani BrafmanOwner of Gymies Gym in Crown Heights

When I was 23, I was teaching math, history and physical education in a local school in Crown Heights. I noticed that a lot of students had a talent for phys ed but no outlet, so I got an idea that one day I would open up a gym for kids. My friends were my angels because they were the ones who pushed me to make it happen. They came with me to scout for properties and sign a lease, and they helped me get my business off the ground.

It was a lot of hard work. All of a sudden I had to learn about labor laws, tax laws, how to manage a business and how to manage other people. In the beginning, a decade ago, I did everything from bookkeeping to cleaning and coaching.

Up until the pandemic, we had about 300 children coming to Gymies every week. Since then weve offered online classes, but only 45 or so students switched over. We lost 85 percent of our income, but we still have obligations like insurance and rent. Im a single mom with two kids, and the shutdown has the potential to be devastating. If the government doesnt allow small businesses to reopen, its only going to get worse for families.

I dont think Ive ever worked on anything this hard since I opened my business. I came on board as soon as my sister Simcha called me to tell me about the coalition. Im not even fighting for my own business at this point because safely opening a gym isnt in the same category as safely opening a store, but I couldnt watch other peoples hopes and dreams be shattered like that.

And if were not vocal now, whats going to happen if theres a second wave, G-d forbid? The government will clamp down even harder, and more people will go bankrupt. Some businesses can survive being shut for a few months but not twice in the same year.

When I saw that there was a crisis, I had to jump in. I also see it as an issue of discrimination, because theyre busy sending sheriffs to Boro Park while people are rioting and looting in the streets.

At first I was hesitant to go public, but then I reminded myself of all the people who are struggling. At the press conference, I spoke about the emotional toll that the stress of lost income is taking on children. My industry is children, and Im worried about them.

I got some backlash from people saying that reopening wasnt a good idea, but for every negative comment there were several positive ones saying things like Thank you! Someone in New York needs to do something.

Unfortunately, my own business has yet to reopen. I put up Reopen New York signs in my windows out of solidarity, but its not practical to open in-person classes. Most of my team has gone on unemployment. But the coalition has helped me feel less lonely because Ive met so many other business owners who can relate to our challenges. Theres a feeling of camaraderie. This has taught me never to underestimate the power of reaching beyond your circle.

Sarale GitterOwner of the Hair by Sarale Salon in Crown Heights

Four years ago, I had a well-paying job working for a jewelry company in Manhattan. But when my father got sick, I knew I needed something more flexible that would allow me time off to go home to Minnesota and help my parents. So I left my job and became a long-term substitute teacher, which covered my bills and still enabled me to go home, sometimes for three months at a time. This was my arrangement for two years, until my father passed away. By then I knew that I didnt want to teach long term and I didnt need the flexibility, so I started to explore other options.

One of my fellow teachers had been pushing me to go into hair styling ever since seeing me make braids for some of the girls, so I began to consider it. The only problem was that I didnt have the time or the money I needed to go to school for it. I was also fearful of what would happen if it didnt work out, so I looked around for other ways to acquire the skills I would need.

There was a top sheitel macher in Flatbush who gave lessons, so I asked her if we could cut a deal. I handed her my last paycheck, my very last penny, and asked her to teach me whatever she could in three hours, and I also asked if she would let me intern at her salon for two weeks. The woman agreed, and thats what happened.

After I finished my internship, I posted a flyer advertising wash-and-sets, and six months after my first client, I felt secure enough to leave teaching completely. A short time later I had enough business to rent my own studio. When we started hearing about the pandemic reaching New York, I was concerned about my clients. What if, G-d forbid, I got the virus and inadvertently passed it on to someone else, especially a person who was immunocompromised or at high risk for other reasons?

After giving it a lot of thought, I called the ten clients I had scheduled for the following day and canceled their appointments. It was with a very heavy heart, but it turned out to be the right choice because a few days later I learned Id caught the virus.

I was closed for my busiest season. The months and weeks before Pesach are so lucrative that I cannot skip working during that time and still manage. This year I didnt get the usual boost, and then I was closed for months afterward. Im out of the red zone now, but it was a miracle; many others have been forced to shut their doors forever.

Simcha and I have known each other for a while now. I helped style some of her photo shoots, and she brings her kids to me to get their hair done for simchahs. So when she asked me if I wanted to get involved, I said, Absolutely!

Thanks to the coalition, Ive forged relationships with a lot of other small-business owners. There was one upscale barber in Brooklyn who had been shut down by the sheriffs. He told us how much business he had lost. It turned out that hes also Jewish. I lent him my salon, and he spent a full day giving Erev Shavuos haircuts to men in Crown Heights. We need to be there for each other.

These days, I go to sleep and wake up thinking about the coalition. Its time-consuming, but theres still work for us to do. Some businesses have opened, but others cant afford the risk of civil disobedience. Any establishment with a state license risks losing it, which is suicide for their business because they wont be able to reopen even after the virus dies down. Governor Cuomo really needs to move up the dates because each phase means more time, and were running out of it. Right now our goal is to have everyone reopen.

This is not my usual modus operandi. You wont even find me on Instagram, but I have to fight for whats right even if it makes me uncomfortable. When Fox News interviewed me, I told them that were fighting for an important American principle.

My father was a refusenik, and my mother was often called a dirty Jew on the playground. My father had a gentle soul, but he had been beaten up so many times that he knew he had to gain the upper hand if he saw someone approaching him for a fight. Growing up with stories like that, I learned that you need to come to your own rescue. The government has nice programs, but at the end of the day it has its own interests in mind. If something has to change, you have to help make that change happen.

Simcha MinkowitzOwner of Amor Fine Jewelry in Boro Park

On the day our store opened almost two years ago, I was frightened. My husband and I had given up our steady paychecks and taken out substantial loans in order to get the business off the ground. What if no one showed up? What if our business didnt succeed? But I was also hopeful because it gave us the potential to provide for our family.

My husband had been in the jewelry business for 18 years when we branched out on our own. We started with a small location upstate just for the summer, and eventually it grew into a year-round store. Its a scary thing to open a business because you have to do everything from the ground up. You need a tremendous amount of bitachon, especially when so many people tell you not to do it. But theres no growth without risk, so we spread our wings to see if we could fly. We had six kids, and we decided to take the chance because we wanted to make a better life for them.

If people only knew what small businesses go through! Theres a reason for the idea that businesspeople see Hashems Hand more clearly than anyone else because they dont know where their next customer is coming from. We dont get a paycheck like other employees. We wake up every day and trust that Hashem will send customers to our store and provide for us. Baruch Hashem, our business really grew over time.

The recent corona lockdown caused us to lose a quarter of our annual income. But I do feel fortunate because were better off than many other businesses and Pesach programs that made no money at all during this time. At least we can do virtual appointments to keep us afloat, whereas some people have lost everything they had.

We didnt start the Reopen New York coalition only for ourselves. We did it for everyone else who is in the same boat. Ive heard so many horror stories of people losing their lifes work, and they exist in every community. If people are allowed out on the streets, in the parks and in the big stores, why not in the smaller ones? Why should people who have worked so hard to provide for their families lose their livelihoods? That can quickly spiral into losing their dignity, shalom bayis and mental health. We started the coalition with a conviction and a sense of kol Yisrael areivim zeh bazeh, because you cant just stand there and watch your neighbors house burn down.

One night I couldnt sleep and spent the whole night tossing and turning. As soon as the sun came up, I called Suri and asked her what we could do. Shes very even-keeled and immediately had a list of ideas. I knew shed be on board because she really cares about the community; she had even closed her stores a week before closing was mandated because she didnt want anyone to get sick on her watch.

After we started the WhatsApp group and began calling elected officials, people began posting videos of themselves talking about how the shutdown had affected them. Thats when the news networks got involved and more people started to take notice. We wanted to build on the momentum, so we went to Sarah Chanis empty gym and started working on holding a press conference.

We put together a diverse panel of speakers. Lorcan Otway, who owns several off-Broadway theaters, talked about how certain things didnt add up. How could people be allowed to crowd into a plane but not be allowed to sit in a socially distanced theater? We tried to find speakers to represent different communities, but it turned out that several of them were Jewish. Lorcan told me that hes an Irish gypsy but that his mothers mother was Jewish, and another speaker, clothier Elliot Ravens of Peter Elliot, was excited to share all the Yiddish he knows. Weve invited both of them to come for Shabbos after this all dies down, bezras Hashem.

After we went public, there was an outpouring of positive feedback. A rabbi in our community called us to say that what we were doing was very important and that we need to continue because countless families are depending on the coalition.

I challenge people who object to what were doing. Are they willing to pay our bills if our businesses fail? Will they make sure our families are fed?

Civil disobedience has always been a respected instrument for change in America, although ironically, de Blasio seems to respect violent civil disobedience more than he respects honest people who are just trying to make a living.

My parents were always involved in the community and cared about the welfare of each person. We had an open home. We all have to be there for each other. I hope that Hashem will see all the good and bring Moshiach, because were certainly ready.

Suri KatzOwner of Mezzo A womens clothing retailerwith locations in the Five Towns and Boro Park

It all began with a phone call.

A few weeks ago, my friend Simcha Minkowitz called me up. We have to do something about this situation, she said. Her husbands friend was on the verge of closing his store because his checks were starting to bounce. He didnt have enough business to survive anymore, and he had no idea how he would support his family. Even businesses that have been around for decades have been brought to their knees in the last few months. Owning a retail store myself, I knew exactly what this person was going through and the hard work it had taken to build up his business.

I used to own a childrens clothing store. I would go to Paris a few times a year for new merchandise, and while I was there, do some shopping for myself. My friends often commented on the clothes I wore because they were different from what they could find in America, so eventually I started shopping for them, too. They would hand me their credit cards before I left for Paris, and Id come home with at least one extra suitcase filled with clothes for them. I saw that there was a demand for up-to-date womens fashions, so we started Mezzo in the same locations wed used for our kids clothing franchise.

Thank G-d, a lot of our customer base carried over because wed built relationships with them over the years; some of them even invite us to their weddings. But running a small business is a lot of work. We source our styles in Europe and work with the companies to customize them for our market. For example, if a neckline is too low or a hem too high, the company will create a special version of the design that will work for our customers. For a good seven months out of the year Im up until 3 a.m. every night, but thats what I have to do to run our stores and support my family.

We have a website, but theres nothing like store traffic in a small business. This is especially true when it comes to apparel, because people like to try things on and see their options in person. On a typical day, around 500 customers walk through our doors, some of whom are lawyers or other professionals who want to look respectable and modest. The coronavirus brought us down to nothingand this was during the pre-Pesach season, which is usually the busiest time for retail. Having to close at such a time was a huge loss.

The first thing Simcha and I did was start a WhatsApp group for small retailers. Within minutes it grew to the maximum number of members a group can have, so we separated it into different chapters. Theres one for Long Island, one for Monsey, one for the Five Towns, and one that includes Crown Heights, Boro Park and Flatbush. A lot of the members said that if we didnt do something right away, it was all over for them.

People may not realize that the financial infrastructure of a community centers around its businesses. When people cant shop in local stores, the money doesnt stay in the community. It goes to the big corporations instead, and the store owners no longer have the means to pay tuition or support tzedakah organizations. If a store goes out of business, the owners cant pay their rent or car lease. They cant go to the grocery store. It snowballs very quickly.

Our complaint was simple. If big businesses can remain open, why cant we? It doesnt seem right that stores like Costco, Walmart or Target can sell toys, clothing and jewelry, but the small shops cant. Big stores arent even enforcing social distancing or safety measures like masks, which is something that the smaller stores are better equipped to do. We can control how many people come in and make sure that everyone is protected. Theres really no reason we cant be open.

We started by giving everyone in the group the phone numbers of their senators, councilman and Governor Cuomo. We launched a nonstop campaign of phone calls and letters, trying to get them to pay attention to us. We also established a social media presence to make our voices heard. There was some response from the politicians but not much, nothing that led to real action. But we did get responses from Ivanka Trump and Ben Shapiro, who retweeted a video Simcha made explaining why its not okay for Walmart to sell jewelry while she cant.

After that video went viral, we really started to gain traction, and over 18,000 New York businesses joined the coalition. Of those, less than 300 were frum establishments.

Our next step was to hold a press conference with as many major news outlets as possible. Bruce Backman, the head of Backman Consulting, helped us tremendously with this. We had nine cameras there from CBS, ABC, Fox and other outlets. Our message was that were not trying to break rules or make waves, just get the point across that small businesses can be safe. The press conference was held in Battery Park, with the Statue of Liberty in the background, which was intentional. We wanted to express the fact that our freedoms are important.

The Reopen New York coalition started with four frum women, but we knew that we needed more diversity, so we found speakers who would represent the full spectrum of small-business owners in New York. Our bottom line at the press conference was that the government cannot continue to favor the big guys, and we announced that the following Tuesday, May 26, we would be reopening. Our hope was that with so many people practicing civil disobedience, it would be hard for Mayor de Blasio to crack down on us.

After the press conference, a lot of major outlets started asking for interviews. People were starting to take notice, and many were encouraging us to move forward. In fact, we gained so much traction that our attorney, Ron Coleman, suggested a soft opening on Sunday before going full force on Tuesday.

At Mezzo, we changed our store hours so were now open 12 hours instead of nine. We also installed a buzzer so we can limit how many people are in the store at one time and still accommodate all of our customers. A lot of sheriffs were sent down on Tuesday and the authorities are definitely targeting our neighborhood, but were determined to ignore them. The worst they can do is issue a summons and possibly fines. Unfortunately, the sheriffs are good at harassing us. They stop by constantly and threaten to write us up. But this movement is saying, Well do whatever we need to do to feed our families.

Id like to point out that reopening isnt going to help store owners recoup their losses during the weeks they were closed before Yom Tov. If a kid outgrew his shoes, yes, he still needs new shoes, but most of the season is gone. People arent buying as much as before, and there are fewer selling days to move products. But at least its a step in the right direction.

It was scary to put ourselves out there. But I believed that we were doing the right thing. A lot of people have stopped by the store to say that they are proud of us for standing up for our rights. Ive gotten many messages telling us what a difference reopening has made. One person wrote, Thank you for helping us do this because now I can put food on my table for Shavuos. A little bit of oxygen has been breathed into peoples bank accounts.

Frankly, Im in awe of peoples emunah and bitachon. We are a nation of real believers who trust that they need to do their hishtadlus, and the rest is in Hashems Hands. We have such a beautiful community. Even competitors are happy to help each other out. We work as a single unit, and its incredible.

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Meet the Women Who Fought to Reopen - Anash.org - Good News

So here you are on the Internet again, trying to solve one of life's nagging but important questions.

You're an adult. You eat lunch. Often, you pack a lunch and take that lunch somewhere to store and, eventually, eat that lunch. You like eating that lunch. You sort of like packing that lunch, because, hey, look at you go, entrusting one of the meals you eat during the course of your day to yourselfnot to some fast-food grease house.

But it's that middle part that's been bugging you: What the heck kind of lunch box does an adult carry?

When you were a kid, this was easy. The answer was clear: You carried a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles lunch box and only a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles lunch box. And if one of your parents bought you, by mistake, say, a Street Sharks lunch box, well then you let them have it.

But you can't carry a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles lunch box as an adult. Or, you could, but that's not really an adult look.

Don't worry. You're in good hands. Because like a good parenta parent that actually listens to you for oncehere are 15 lunch boxes (and bags!) designed to help you carry that lunch you so lovingly prepared for yourself until its time to relish in all its glory.

In your desperate search for answers, you may find other lists like this on the Internet. But this list is more like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and those lists are more like the Street Sharks.

Read more:
15 Best Lunch Boxes and Bags for Work - menshealth.com

ROBBIE WILLIAMS is far trimmer than he was in his party days.

But it is not just giving up drink and drugs that has helped him slim down.

8

The singer, 46, only eats one meal a day dinner and has no sugar for six days a week.

The dad of three said: You know people say I have been fasting, well, no. I dont want to be but I am very productive from 1am until 5am.

I get a lot done and I wake up at noon. Then I will have a meal at 5pm and I will feel full.

But is it a healthy way to cut calories? Yasmin Harisha asks nutritionist Amanda Ursell if eating like the stars really works and to rate each diet.

2/5

AMANDA says: If you only eat once a day then you only have to worry about what is in that one meal and will automatically cut out concerns about overdoing snacks.

It must be one pretty big meal if Robbie only eats once a day for six days out of seven, and is maintaining his current weight.

8

This would make a very big load for his body to cope with. Its unlikely hed get all his vitamins packed into one meal.

PRO: Cuts out concerns for snacking on junk food and sweets.

CON: Not sustainable and can cause body to lose out on nutrients.

1/5

ELLIE, 33, sometimes goes two days without food and will limit herself to tea, coffee and water with added electrolytes.

Amanda says: Losing two days of nutrients by following a 40-hour fast is tough on the body in terms of all other vitamins and minerals.

8

This feels like an extreme way of keeping in shape. Id avoid this.

PRO: Fasting helps give the digestive system a break.

CON: This diet can leave you feeling wiped out, stressed and struggling to concentrate.

4/5

THE X Factor judge, 60, lost 4in from his waist by banning red meat, sugar and opting for light beer.

Amanda says: If these dietary moves are taken with an overall lifestyle overhaul, it could help with weight loss.

8

Cutting out red meat will see iron levels reduce, but you can make up for this vital mineral with wholegrains, green leafy veg, eggs, dried apricots and nuts.

PRO: Can help stop heart disease, stroke, arthritis.

CON: Red meat is one of our main sources of iron and the body needs it to produce new red blood cells.

5/5

REALITY star Kim, 39, sticks to eating foods derived from plant sources, as well as doing high-intensity workouts.

Amanda says: Very nutritious if well balanced. Be sure to have enough protein if doing regular training, and include plant-based proteins such as pulses, nuts and and tofu.

8

Avoid trendy processed plant-based snacks and stick with good old-fashioned, home-cooked versions.

PRO: You are likely to achieve your five a day and it can lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

CON: If you do not plan correctly, you may not meet your protein, vitamin and mineral needs.

1/5

THE 47-year-old actress follows the keto diet, which allows only 50g of carbs a day (ideally below 20g) but there is no restriction on fat intake.

Amanda says: This extreme diet has seen positive results when followed under dietitian supervision by people with epilepsy. Celebrities are using it to shift weight swiftly.

8

You will probably lose weight quickly to start. Side-effects can include low energy, sleep disturbance and bad breath.

PRO: You can feel fuller for longer as fatty foods take longer to process.

CON: Because of food restrictions, you may find this diet a tough one to stick to.

4/5

THE Pointless presenter, 49, would fast for 16 hours a day and eat in an eight-hour window with no limits on the types or amounts of food.

Amanda says: Of all intermittent fasting plans, this is one of the most sensible.

8

You are conscious of what and when you are eating.

Research shows our metabolism is better at burning fat during the night if we eat our last meal of the day earlier rather than later.

PRO: Great for cutting out grazing at night.

CON: Does not teach you much about healthy eating as it allows you to eat what you want.

4/5

THE singer, 32, has lost 7st. Diet is plant-based but allows dark chocolate and red wine.

Amanda says: Foods that are recommended on the Sirtfood Diet are said to stimulate proteins in our bodies known as sirtulins.

8

"They may play key roles in the way our bodies burn calories and control daily rhythms like sleep.

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"The plan uses healthy, nutrient-packed foods, so the likelihood is following it will help you to lose weight and feel well.

PRO: Can activate a type of protein to regulate your metabolism.

CON: Drastically restricts calorie intake, which can make you feel lethargic.

GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAILexclusive@the-sun.co.uk

Excerpt from:
We rate top celebrity diets from Kim Kardashians plant-based one to Adeles Sirtfood and Gwyneth Paltrows - The Sun

Looking for an easy-to-start workout regimen that can show results, without having to go to the gym or spend money on equipment?

Try walking.

It might not seem like the most efficient exercise available, but experts on the topic say it can help with weight loss, mental health and more. Even a few thousand steps a day can burn hundreds of calories, and it's easy to add some modifications to your routine to lose weight.

According to Cedric Bryant, Ph.D., the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, walking "certainly can" help with weight loss.

"It is a low-impact aerobic exercise that allows individuals to expend energy and burn calories, so it can certainly help with weight loss," said Bryant.

Some recommend walking as a form of exercise due to its simplicity and accessibility.

"I am a fan of walking as a form of movement especially if you're just getting started," said Marisa Moore, a registered dietitian in Atlanta, Georgia. "What's most important is finding a type of activity you like and will do."

If you are using walking as a tool to help lose weight, Bryant recommends walking for at least 45 minutes per day most days of the week.

"The basic recommendations in terms of general health and well being is to just to meet a minimum threshold of about 30 minutes of activity on most days of the week," he said. "If you're desiring to lose weight, you really want to work in the 45 to 60 minute range. The thing to understand is that it doesn't have to be all in one walking session, you can break it up through the course of that day."

Bryant recommends breaking up those walks into two or three large chunks.

"Maybe you go for a 30 minute walk in the morning, and then maybe it's another 15 or 30 minute walk following dinner or during your lunch break," he suggested. " "The idea is to try to accumulate, you know, for about 45 minutes to an hour of walking, which tends to correlate best with reasonable weight loss or or better weight control."

Trending stories,celebrity news and all the best of TODAY.

Bryant said it's difficult to guess how much weight one may lose while walking due to the amount of factors involved, but said that people can expect to burn about a hundred calories for every thousand steps they take.

"Generally, the amount of weight once can expect to lose and the impact that you'll derive from usually going to be a function of how frequently you do it in terms of days per week, as well as the duration that you walk and also the intensity at which you walk," he said.

Samantha Cassetty, a registered dietitian based in New York City, explained that "the average 40 year old woman who's 5 '4'' and 165 pounds might lose five pounds in two months if she went from inactive to walking for an hour five times a week."

But you can't out-walk a bad diet, Cassetty said. "She would have to make some healthy tweaks to her diet, which result in a slight calorie deficit (around 100 calories a day).

"Maintaining this workout routine and the healthy eating habits can help keep those five pounds off, but the walking alone isn't likely to result in additional weight loss," Cassetty said.

"Generally speaking, the average healthy adult will likely notice a difference in how they feel by incorporating more movement and sprucing up the diet," said Moore.

"You may or may not lose weight with diet and exercise changes though. Whether you lose weight can vary with personal genetics and metabolism, age, overall physical activity level, stress levels and even sleep."

Walking is one of the easiest exercise routines to start just pick a route and get going! Bryant recommends wearing comfortable footwear, but there's no need to invest in fancy shoes or other gear.

A good speed to start at is walking at a pace of about three miles an hour, or walking one mile in twenty minutes.

If you're looking for a metric to compete with, Bryant recommends trying to work your way up to 10,000 steps, which will help you burn about 1,000 calories.

If you're looking for a full-body workout, it's possible to amp up your walking routine by changing the terrain.

"Walking uphill or inclining your treadmill increases the intensity and challenge of the walk," Bryant said. "You can also introduce some intervals where you change your walking speed. If you're outside, maybe, you know, walk really briskly from from from a stop sign to a stop sign and walk at a normal pace until you get to your next stop sign. If you're on a treadmill ... walk comfortably for three minutes and then for the next minute or two, walk you know a half a mile an hour faster."

You can also add weights, though Bryant recommends avoiding hand weights and instead investing in a weighted vest, which can make you push yourself harder without putting stress on the joints.

If you're looking for an equipment-free way to burn more calories, you can try doing something as simple as waving your arms. A study by the American Council on Exercise found that moving the arms vigorously expends more calories.

"It may look a bit odd but but vigorously pumping the arm certainly adds to the intensity of the workout," Bryant said.

Of course, there are more benefits to walking than just losing weight. Like any other aerobic exercise, walking will help improve the function of your cardiovascular system, will lead to better blood sugar control, and help lower blood pressure.

"Any benefit you can get from other forms of cardio exercise, like cycling, running, swimming, you can derive all those same benefits while walking," Bryant said.

Walking can also have benefits for mental health. Bryant said that the exercise can help relieve and manage stress and anxiety, and said it can be an especially helpful activity during the coronavirus pandemic.

"I would tell people, during this time of a shelter in place and stay at home orders and so forth, to really pay attention and focus on how walking makes them feel, because I think that can serve as a great motivator to kind of keep them in the game in terms of continuing to walk," he said.

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Walking to lose weight: Does it work? - TODAY

Intermittent fasting is one of the most talked about diets (or lets call it a lifestyle). If you listen to nutritionists and fitness experts talk about their daily routine, there are high chances that youd hear them talk about following intermittent fasting (IF). From lifestyle coach Luke Coutinho to Dr Anjali Hooda, they all have been talking about the goodness of IF. Honestly, all the buzz about resting your digestive system made me start my IF journey - however, I started with 14 hours of fasting. I gradually took it up to 16 hours to test how it worked. And I wont be lying that post the initial hiccup, I actually got used to it. Thats when I heard a fitness instructor recommending a 3-day water fast - an extreme form of IF. While 3 days sounded a lot, I decided to try it for 2 days and here is how it went. Since I was used to fasting for close to 16 hours, my body was working fine until then. But once I crossed 18 hours, I started feeling ravenous, wanting to eat something but I resisted the urge. Some time later I started experiencing a mild headache. I kept on sipping on water and went off to get some snooze time. The first day was tough, and I did have a cup of black coffee to keep myself going. By the second day, the hunger was tolerable and subsequently, even the discomfort was gone. I was surprised that my mid day, I was feeling generally fine. In fact it was a big feat to know that I hadnt eaten anything for the past 38 hours! I was low on energy but high on motivation.By hour 45, I was already thinking about what I would eat once the 48-hour period gets over. I had read somewhere that one should never break an extended fasting period by binging on unhealthy foods so I prepped a healthy meal with chicken, vegetables and a small portion of rice. Overall it went great and it felt like I gave my metabolic system a boost. I am planning to do it soon again, how about you?Disclaimer: If you are planning to try it, I would advise you to consult a nutritionist or your doctor as this may turn out to be extreme for some. Written by Pooja Sharma Kaur

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Weight loss: This is what happened when I did not eat anything for 2 days - Times of India

Firstly, when we lose weight the calorie expenditure of our body decreases. Our metabolism decreases because less calorie is required to maintain and move a lighter body. Secondly, weight loss is always accompanied by increase in appetite. At the beginning of your weight loss journey, you might be able to control your hunger but as you reach near your goal, it may become difficult.

This is because of the hormone leptin, which tells our brain how much fat is stored in our body. In the starting of the weight loss journey, we have more stored fat, which leads to an increase in leptin level, resulting in loss of appetite. But with time, when we lose bodyweight, leptin level slows down, making us feel more hungry.

Both, change in the calorie expenditure and the effect of leptin in our body slow down the weight loss process in the end. But this happens for a very short period of time.

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Weight loss: Why is it difficult to shed the last few extra pounds? - Times of India

KEY POINTS

Ivanka Trump is very careful when it comes to her choice of food and she also follows a morning routine to make her mind and body ready for the day.

The First Daughter is already a mom of three, but she has successfully maintained her pre-baby figure. In fact, it didnt take long for Ivanka to slip back into her skinny jeans after she gave birth to her second child, Joseph.

Ivanka attributed her 30-pound weight loss to spin classes, salads, lean protein and homemade veggie soups, Shape reported.

Ivanka admitted that her perspective about food changed when she got pregnant with her daughter Arabella. It was at the time when she pushed herself to eat more salmon, chicken, salads and veggie soups.

Slowly, I started to actually enjoy, if not crave, these healthier options. Now healthy eating is the norm for me, especially at breakfast and lunch, she told the outlet.

Ivanka confessed that she doesnt follow juice cleansing. Shetried it, but it didnt work well for her.

I tried a juice cleanse, and it was a total disaster. For the eight hours that I lasted, I felt like I was on the brink of starvation. For me, it's about making the right choices, she added.

Ivanka doesnt skip breakfast. In the morning, her meal usually includes cottage cheese or Greek yogurt because she goes full fat. She told Fit Pregnancythat she prefers it with blueberries or raspberries and cereal.

Sometimes she enjoys oatmeals for breakfast with her children.

If they choose oatmeal, I get out all sorts of toppings chia seeds, berries, flaxseed, goji berries, cinnamon, walnuts, and almonds, she shared with My Morning Routine.

Ivankaalso consumes fluid excessively. She only drink water, Tazo passion tea or coffee. Her excessive fluid consumption even became a joke.

Theres an ongoing joke in the office that I never have less than three glasses of water and some form of tea or coffee in front of me, she told Harper's Bazaar.

Ivanka also told My Morning Routine that she starts her day at 5:30 a.m. to meditate or work out.

I like to be fully ready for the day before my children get up so that my mornings are completely focused on them, Ivanka said.

Ivanka meditates for 20 minutes twice a day. Sometimes she skips her afternoon session, but she always makes sure to not skip the morning one.

It's been invaluable in terms of calming my mind and allowing me to think more clearly, Donald Trumps daughter said.

White House Senior Adviser Ivanka Trump at an event in which her father President Donald Trump unveiled proposals for lowering child-care costs. Photo: Photo by Michael Vadon/Flickr

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Ivanka Trumps Weight Loss Secret: First Daughters Diet, Workout, Morning Routine Revealed - International Business Times

This year has truly been about health, however, the way it has dawned upon us have been scary. And when we talk about health, one of the most important elements we should consider is our body weight. Simply because we all know that being overweight increases our chances of catching infections. Yet sadly around 5 per cent of the country's population is affected by obesity. Obesity not just makes one look fat but also increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension and other serious diseases.

From crash diet, healthy eating to intense gym activity, there are multiple ways that people follow to lose weight. For some it is an easy ride while for others, it might seem just more than difficult.

A healthy diet along with regular physical activity is the best way to lose weight sustainably. And ultimately it is the diet, which has a bigger impact on your weight than even exercise.

According to experts, the humble dals present in our kitchen can be beneficial in losing weight. Here is a list of five such dals that you must include alternatively in your daily diet, to lose weight successfully and easily.

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Four dals that are best for weight loss - Times of India