If you want A-list arms, you’ve got to go to the source: Hollywood trainer Steve Zim, who has helped sculpt the toned arms of celebs like Laila Ali and Jessica Biel. He created the exclusive 15-minute workout below—based on moves from his new book, The 30-Minute Celebrity Makeover Miracle (Wiley; $24.95)—that, unlike other arm-bulking routines, equally works all the muscles in your biceps and triceps to give you the coveted long-and-lean look. Do these moves 3 times a week; for best results, change the order of the exercises each time.

Trainer tip:To boost your calorie burn and see results faster, march or jump in place for 2 minutes after completing each move.

Karate curl
for biceps
Stand with feet hip-width apart and arms down by your sides, holding a 5- to 8-pound dumbbell in each hand, palms facing in. In one fluid motion, bend your right elbow and sweep your hand in front of your body and up to shoulder height. Lower straight down, then repeat with your left arm. Do 3 sets of 15 reps per side.

Trainer tip: To keep the focus on your biceps, move your upper arm as little as possible.

 
Flare curl A
for biceps
Stand with feet about hip-width apart, holding a 5- to 8-pound dumbbell in each hand; arms should be slightly bent and out to the side, palms up.

 
Flare curl B
Curl both hands up until your arms form 45-degree angles. Your hands should be about a foot from the sides of your shoulders. Lower to starting position. Do 3 sets of 15 reps.

Trainer tip: Keep your elbows stationary throughout the exercise.

 
Triceps push-up A
for triceps and abs
Lie facedown with your forearms, palms, and knees on a mat. Your elbows should be directly below your shoulders, with hands and forearms 6–8 inches apart.

 
Triceps push-up B
Keeping your knees on the mat, straighten your arms and push your torso and thighs up. Your body should be in a straight line from your knees to your head. Slowly lower your body to complete the rep. Do 3 sets of 15 reps.

Trainer tip: To best target your triceps, don’t allow your elbows to flare out to the sides during the move.

 
Kickback with a twist
for triceps
Holding a 5- to 8-pound dumbbell in each hand, arms by your sides, stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Keeping your back straight, bend your legs slightly and lean forward from the waist until your torso is nearly parallel to the ground. Raise your elbows until your upper arms are even with your back. Your elbows should be bent to 45-degree angles with your palms facing each other. Keeping your upper arms still, extend both hands behind you, then rotate your wrists so that your palms are up. Turn your palms back to face each other and bend your elbows to bring weights back toward your body to complete the rep. Do 3 sets of 15 reps.

Trainer tip: Do the move slowly—don’t use momentum to raise and lower the weight.

PHOTO: DAVID MARTINEZ

Q: What’s the difference between natural and organic on beauty-product labels?
A: This is an excellent but tricky question. Neither term, as it applies to beauty, has an official definition. But natural typically refers to ingredients derived from plants, minerals, or algae. Organic describes substances grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, and processed without man-made chemicals.

For a beauty product to bear the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) certified-organic seal, 95 to 100 percent of its ingredients must meet the agency’s organic standards for food; there are no separate rules for cosmetics. Products with at least 70 percent organic content can use the phrase “made with organic ingredients”—but not the seal.

Change is afoot, though. The National Standards Foundation (NSF) is working with outside groups, including organic-cosmetics manufacturers (like Burt’s Bees) to create an organic standard specifically for personal-care products, which should take effect in the next year or two.

By Jolene Edgar

PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO

Related Links:

Sure, organic deodorant sounds like a great idea. But if your experience is anything like ours, you’ll probably agree that natural sweat stoppers can leave much to be desired. Now we’re happy to report that some new organic deodorants that recently hit the market really do sop up wetness and leave you smelling sweet.

How do we know? We rolled ’em on, then hit the treadmill—and no one nearby looked the least bit offended. Among the best: Nature’s Gate Organics Fruit Blend Deodorant ($5.50), a stick that uses baking soda to banish odors and organic fruit, floral, and herbal extracts for scent. We also like Erbaviva Organic Deodorant ($16), a spray mist that combines ingredients like grain alcohol, sage, lemon peel, and patchouli and tea tree oils.

Related Links:

Can you go natural and get a great looking glow? You can if you follow these five simple tips for creating the gentlest beauty regimen ever. View the Slideshow

After learning about our planet’s problems, the chart-topping musician and mom switched to an ecofriendly lifestyle. Here’s her no-hassle approach.

“I used to try to recycle my plastic a bit,” Melissa says. “But after seeing a presentation by Al Gore three years ago, I decided to really make a change. When people are considering being ecofriendly, they think, ‘I’m gonna have to give up things.’ But it’s not true. I don’t feel like I do without at all.”

I use Seventh Generation biodegradable, nontoxic laundry and dishwashing detergents. People don’t realize that every time they wash dishes, chemical detergent can go into the ground and surface waters and affect the ecosystem. The products I use don’t break down the environment.

I love Prescriptives products because they’re gentle on my skin. My favorite is the Comfort Cream ($38.50).

For the twins, I use Seventh Generation diapers, which are brown and look kind of like a paper bag. But they fit well, and they’re made from chlorine-free materials.

I drive a diesel Excursion. It’s the hugest SUV, and I run it on 100 percent biodiesel fuel. A guy comes by and fills up the gas tank right in my garage.

After going through breast cancer, I realized I had to eat what I call closer-to-the-ground foods. The bulk of my family’s diet is fruits and veggies straight from my garden or local farmers’ markets.

I use canvas bags for grocery shopping and trips to the mall. I think the world is at a tipping point right now. People say it costs so much money to buy organic. But the more people buy it, the more the prices will come down.

By Jennifer Graham Kizer

The recent review of research that pooh-poohed vitamin C for colds isn’t the last word. Some researchers argue that the dosage used in many of the studies reviewed by the Cochrane Collaboration was too low (500 milligrams), and that because you lose a lot of C when you urinate, you need repeated dosing to knock out a cold.

“Taking C early on can help reduce the severity of colds, but it’s not clear why,” says Mary L. Hardy, MD, medical director of the Simms/Mann–University of California, Los Angeles, Center for Integrative Oncology. She recommends taking 500 mg twice a day at the first sign of a cold and continuing for five to seven days. In fact, studies show that among people who are under physical stress (marathon runners, skiers, and those living in very cold climates) 1,000 mg of C daily cuts the incidence of colds in half.

Skin softener
Got winter-weary skin? Make this simple body scrub, courtesy of Miiamo, a destination spa in Sedona, Ariz. Blend 1/2 cup sea salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil, and 4-5 drops of lavender oil. Apply with smooth strokes and rinse.

Sinus remedy
Stuffy? Mix 1/2 cup warm water with 1/2 teaspoon noniodized salt, says Diane Heatley, MD, of the American Academy of Otolaryngology. Using a neti pot, pour the mixture into one nostril; it’ll flow out the other. Repeat on the opposite side.

Stain buster
To remove coffee-mug stains and shine dingy wooden cutting boards, sprinkle them with kosher salt (a natural abrasive) and scrub with a sponge, says Bruce Mattel, associate dean for culinary arts at the Culinary Institute of America.

Drink cooler
Mattel’s suggestion for chilling champagne in a flash: Place bottles in an ice bucket with a layer of ice at the base, followed by a layer of coarse or table salt. Repeat layers until full, then add cold
water. Salt speeds the drop in water temperature.

 
By Susan Hall

How to end bottom-line battles, build up college savings, and more—from
finance coach Lynnette Khalfani-Cox.

Q: My husband and I constantly fight about money, especially when things are tight. How can we get on the same page?

A: Money battles are a frequent source of frustration for couples. The biggest culprit generally isn’t how much is in your bank account, but your clashing money styles (you’re a spender, he’s a saver, and so on). Another huge problem is lack of communication. Let’s face it: Most of us aren’t comfortable talking about money—even with our spouse.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Have a nonconfrontational “monthly money date” with your husband. Adopt this mantra: disclose, discuss, and decide. Start by disclosing the debts, assets, income, savings, pension benefits, and loans you each have. Then get at what drives your arguments by each completing this sentence: “What stresses me out (or scares me) most about our financial situation is …” Is it really about a lack of money, or is it something else? For instance, perhaps you’re handling all the financial affairs, and it’s totally stressing you out. Once your fears are out in the open, you can discuss your financial priorities. (I suggest setting them in this order: paying off debt, building savings, and setting aside funds for specific goals.) Then you’ll be able to decide together where to save and where you can splurge.

Q: I’m stressed about not having money for my kids’ college education. What’s the best plan?

A: There are lots of options, but the best one, hands down, is the 529 Plan. These are state-sponsored college-savings accounts that let you sock away as much as $250,000 for tuition, fees, books, supplies, equipment, and room and board by investing in mutual funds. Earnings are tax-free, and your children can attend virtually any school in the country. You can sign up for any state’s plan, but check out your own first, because many states offer juicy tax breaks for residents—Connecticut, for example, allows 529 tax deductions for up to $5,000 a year for individual filers and $10,000 for joint filers.

You can make saving easy by setting up monthly automatic deductions from your bank account into a 529. Grandparents and other relatives can contribute, too (some states even offer them tax breaks for it). To learn more about 529 plans, go to www.savingforcollege.com.

Q: I make more money than my friend, and she often can’t afford to go to the places I choose. How can we have fun without the money thing hanging over our heads?

A: One solution is to scale back on the fine dining and expensive outings with this friend. (What’s motivating you to choose places she can’t afford, anyway?) Save the pricey plans for nights out with a friend who has more disposable income. But you can also get creative. Suggest lunch instead of dinner at that hot new bistro. Tell your friend “let’s grab some appetizers”—and mean it. Seek out complimentary or inexpensive wine and food tastings (try www.localwineevents.com), or snag a pair of discounted theater tickets at www.theatermania.com.

And try letting her take the reins with plans sometimes. Yes, she may pick restaurants or activities that wouldn’t top your list. But if you keep an open mind, you may be pleasantly surprised by a new cuisine you never thought to try, neighborhoods you hadn’t discovered, or fun places that are also easy on the wallet.

Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, is the author of Your First Home: The Smart Way To Get It and Keep It. Find out more about Lynnette online at www.themoneycoach.net.

Our sexpert, Linda De Villers, PhD. chimes in on how to handle size issues, oral sex, and how waxing affects your romance and health.

Q: My husband is rather well-endowed, which has become a bit uncomfortable as I’ve gotten older. What can we do?

A: Despite the cliché that “bigger is better,” a man’s generous proportions can sometimes pose a problem for women, especially around menopause, when a decrease in vaginal lubrication can become an issue. The solution? Insist on lots of foreplay—anything from kissing to watching sexy movies. Whatever guarantees excitement for you.

When you’re ready to go further, have some water-based lube on hand to supplement your own natural fluids (try experimenting with different brands to settle on a favorite). Intercourse from behind or side-by-side results in less depth of penetration and will be especially helpful if your partner’s length, not girth, is the issue (either can be problematic). Any position that puts you on top is a good choice, too, since you’ll have more control over the action; tell him to lie back and enjoy. As for couples who have the opposite problem, missionary style maximizes penetration, making him seem larger; you can help by bringing your knees up to your chest.

Q: Oral sex seems like an afterthought in our relationship. We want to do it more, but both of us feel awkward. Can we change that?

A: First, give each other a pat on the bum for wanting to make a positive change—for many women, oral sex is the easiest way to reach orgasm. Not sure how to raise the subject? While you’re fooling around, mention how much you liked it the last time you tried some oral play. That may be all the suggestion he needs. Or show him the love first; he’ll probably be happy to reciprocate.

If gagging is a concern when you’re “giving,” use your hand to guide his penis toward the insides of your cheeks, or control its depth by circling your hands around the base. Positions like sitting or kneeling may work best; experiment with several to find your favorite(s). And pull in a pillow or two: Getting comfortable will free you up to pay attention to your partner’s reactions—his sounds and movements should cue you to what’s most pleasing (on the receiving end, give him plenty of feedback, too). There are even how-to DVDs like The Sinclair Institute’s The Art of Oral Loving ($19.95) if you’re a visual learner. Above all, the timeless advice for sports and music holds true for oral play: Practice makes perfect. Adding a session every so often will cut down on the awkwardness, but it’ll still feel like a special treat.

Q: My husband wants me to try a Brazilian wax. Should I?

A: Ever since Carrie Bradshaw got a Brazilian (botched, actually) on “Sex and the City,” more and more women are going mostly-bare down there. Still, the look—achieved by using hot wax to remove all hair from the pubic region and labia, leaving only a thin vertical “landing strip” up top—is not for everyone.

Some key questions to consider if you’re considering joining the ranks: Does it hurt? Yes, absolutely, though taking aspirin beforehand can help. (Some waxing fans claim both the pain and hair regrowth diminish over time.) Are you prepared to expose your nether regions to an aesthetician and get into some interesting positions? Are you OK with forking over $25 to $50 every month to maintain the look?

There are a few real (if rare) health risks. If you experience nicks, abrasions, or an ingrown hair, you’ll be more vulnerable to infections. And an inexperienced aesthetician could burn you (so get a recommendation from a regular client). You’ll have to avoid tight clothing, saunas and hot tubs, vigorous exercise, and oral sex for 10 hours postwax, because you’ll be slightly more susceptible to bacteria. Oh, and numbing creams like Icy Hot? A definite no-no. Bottom line: Let your feelings—not your husband’s wishes—make the call. You could always start with a standard bikini wax (just shaping and trimming), and work your way up to a Brazilian.

 
From our resident sexpert, Linda De Villers, PhD. Linda is a certified sex therapist based in California and author of Love Skills.
 
Related Links

1. Don’t smoke.

2. Maintain a healthy weight.

3. Find a job that challenges your mind.

4. Get a good night’s sleep.

5. Drink green tea.

6. Meditate.

 
By Julia Sommerfeld