Meet Our Contributors!

You’re here because you’re committed to living a healthier, fitter life. And whether you’re looking for the latest heart-health news, easy ideas to makeover your favorite recipes, or answers to your biggest questions, our team of experts is here to help you. Check out the roster below to learn more about our expert contributors —and don’t forget to come back often and tell us how we’re doing. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Janis Jibrin, MS, RD
Janis Jibrin, MS, RD, is the lead nutritionist for SmartBalance.com as well as a contributing editor for Self Magazine and freelance contributor for other publications such as Good Housekeeping, Men’s Health, Natural Health, Prevention and others. In her private practice she specializes in weight loss and eating disorders. Janis is also the lead nutritionist for TheBestLife.com, fitness expert Bob Greene’s weight-loss and wellness website.

Ms. Jibrin is a registered dietitian with a Master of Science degree in Nutrition; she received her training counseling children and teens at Georgetown University Hospital. She lives in Washington DC.

Her latest book, The Life You Want! Get Motivated, Lose Weight and Be Happy (Simon & Schuster, 2011) was coauthored with Bob Greene and psychologist Anne Kearney-Cooke. It offers a road map to overcoming the barriers to weight loss (emotional eating, exercise aversion and other issues). The Best Life Guide to Managing Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes (Simon & Schuster 2009) was another Bob Greene collaboration, along with endocrinologist John J. Merendino, Jr., MD. This book takes a three-phase approach to adopting the diet, exercise and medication habits needed to successfully managing diabetes. Previous books include The Supermarket Diet and The Supermarket Diet Cookbook (both Hearst Books, 2006). Both are practical guides to shopping for healthful foods and preparing low-cal meals. Prior publications include The Unofficial Guide to Dieting Safely (Macmillan, 1998), a critical guide to weight-loss books, programs and strategies.

Michelle Kennedy

Exercise is crucial for heart health—and yet finding the time to do it can feel like a Herculean task. No more! Certified trainer Michelle Kennedy will provide effective—and quick—workouts that you’ll be able to sneak into your day—(almost) no sweat. She regularly works with clients who have heart disease, high cholesterol and even those who’ve had heart transplants.

Willow Jarosh, R.D., and Stephanie Clarke, R.D.

What are LDLs anyway? Why are trans fats so terrible? If you’ve got a question about the role nutrition plays in heart disease, Stephanie Clarke and Willow Jarosh are here to answer them. Within their private practice, C&J Nutrition in New York City, this pair of registered dietitians specializes in medical nutrition therapy, helping patients improve their cholesterol, blood pressure, and more through lifestyle changes.

Liz Krieger

Liz Krieger has been covering health, nutrition and wellness for the last 12 years for publications such as Self, Glamour, Real Simple, Fitness, Health, More, and WebMD.com. So you’d think that some of the advice and strategies she’s been writing about might have stuck—not so much. That is, until now. “Many members of my immediate family—my husband, my mother, and my father-in-law—have high cholesterol, and so we are constantly looking for ways to tweak our diets to help improve their heart health.” And for Krieger, that means finally learning how to cook. Make sure to follow along as she shares her hilarious kitchen escapades—and the lessons she learns along the way.

Beth Sumrell Ehrensberger, R.D.

There’s no shortage of health research out there, but sometimes it feels like you need an M.D. and a Ph.D. to figure out how it actually applies you. Lucky for us, this is exactly what Beth Sumrell Ehrensberger specializes in. She reports on the latest heart-health news and provides plenty of tips and perspective on putting those scientific findings into real-life action. During her career, she’s counseled cardiac patients, conducted extensive research for the Center for Science in the Public Interest’s Nutrition Action HealthLetter, and even created a curriculum for the state of Virginia on women's health and wellness.

Sidra Forman

Forget about ditching your favorite dishes because they’re too high in fat or calories—with a few simple tweaks, you can lighten them up and still enjoy all the same flavor. Sidra Forman offers up classic recipes with a healthier twist. She focuses on using seasonal, sustainable ingredients, and her favorite cooking methods are grilling and roasting, which do not require much fat and highlight the natural flavors of foods.