New York, N— On January 23rd, hip-hop legend and weight loss advocate, Fat Joe, will perform at an event celebrating the winners from Let's Move! Newark: Our Power (LM!NOP), a program created by Behavioral Health & Fitness Expert, Jeff Halevy, to fight childhood obesity. After improving his lifestyle, Fat Joe has recently lost over 100 pounds and has chosen to be a part of Let's Move! Newark Our Power to encourage our youth to follow his success.
Jeff Halevy was hand-selected to create Let's Move! Newark: Our Power by Newark Mayor Cory Booker, as an extension of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! Campaign, which Mayor Booker currently serves as the honorary Vice Chair. The program began in October of 2011 with 1,500 high school freshmen in five different Newark, NJ high schools competing against each other for the most minutes moved. Barringer High School has achieved the coveted winning title with an impressive 619,600 minutes moved, earning them a performance by superstar recording artist, Fat Joe, as well as a renewed attitude towards physical activity and wellbeing.
“I'm thrilled to be a part of something so instrumental in an adolescent's development and honored that Fat Joe has donated his talents and time to bring our nation one step closer in the fight against childhood obesity," said Jeff Halevy, creator of Let's Move! Newark: Our Power.
Obstacles associated with obesity hit very close to home for Fat Joe, weighing nearly 460 pounds at his heaviest. In 2000, he began to realize a lifestyle alteration was no longer an option but a necessity after Big Pun and nearly six of his friends, similar to his size, died from heart attacks. Subsequently, he spent much of his time at the gym and changed his eating habits, improving not only his appearance, but his overall health as well, as the diabetic of 16-years was able to rid himself of the disease. Despite his previous weight and health issues, Fat Joe is one of the world's most influential Rap artists. He has sold millions of albums, while masterminding chart topping hits and discovering hot new artists. Additionally, Joe has earned five RIAA gold certifications and two platinum certifications.
“Of all the challenges I have faced in my life, losing weight was probably the most difficult," said hip-hop idol, Fat Joe. “I am so happy to be able to spread the word on the dangers of obesity and join the Let's Move! Initiative with Let's Move! Newark: Our power."
The LM!NOP challenge in Newark will kick-off a national series to combat the overwhelming statistics on childhood obesity. Upon joining the program, each participating student received a MYTRAK, a cutting edge, credit card size, wearable health device, which measures both duration and intensity of physical activity. The 12-week program had students “Going for Green" on their MYTRAK device, turning the device's LED light from red to green, indicating that 60 minutes of physical activity have been achieved. MYTRAK donated 1,500 M2 units to the LM!NOP campaign, which included access to MYTRAK's online suite of health and wellness software that connects users with a team of lifestyle program advisors and community based support. Newark high school students will be rewarded based on their level of activity and in addition to the winners receiving a concert by a top musician, other prizes will include Nets Basketball tickets and Zumba® DVDs to designer apparel from ENYCE and high-end TRX® Suspension Training® equipment.
“It is shocking that 64 percent of Newark's elementary school children are obese or morbidly obese. Some 44 percent of our children aged three to 19 are overweight. If we are going to have a stronger city, we must have healthier children. We have challenged our high school students to live healthier lifestyles through this competition. Let's move toward a stronger and healthier Newark!" said Mayor Booker.
Jeff's expertise Behavioral Health/Fitness background paired with Fat Joe's music influence and the First Lady's Let's Move! Campaign will bring our nation one step closer in the fight against childhood obesity. LM!NOP is powered by MYTRAK and sponsored by ENYCE, a Sean Combs Company, Dr. Jay's, Zumba® Fitness, TRX®, Nets Basketball and The American Council on Exercise.
About Jeff Halevy
Jeff Halevy is a Behavioral Health and Fitness Expert and the CEO of Halevy Life, an integrative health and fitness company in New York. Jeff's distinctive expertise has lead to segments on various network television outlets as well as stories in Forbes, Men's Health and SELF. He earned his Behavioral Health credentials in Neuro Linguistic Programming and Ericksonian Hypnosis at The NLP Center of New York and his Exercise Science credentials from the National Academy of Sports Medicine and the C.H.E.K. Institute. Jeff Halevy lives by and teaches the notion that “tomorrow becomes never;" if change is going to happen, it has to happen now. He strives to improve the quality of people's lives and continues to do so every single day.
About the City of Newark, New Jersey \ Newark, commonly referred to as Brick City, is the third oldest city in the United States and the largest in New Jersey, with a population of more than 280,000 people. Newark sits on one of the nation's largest transportation super-structures including an international airport, major commuter and freight rail lines, major highway intersections and the busiest seaport on the east coast. With a new Administration as of July 2006, Newark continues to see signs of a strong revival. Its population showed growth in the most recent census. Its six major colleges and universities are further expanding their presence. The rate of production of affordable housing has doubled, and new businesses are moving in. There is still much work to be done but Newark is on its way to achieving its mission: to set a national standard for urban transformation.
About MYTRAK
MYTRAK Health System Inc. is a leading provider of innovative technology based solutions that help people meet their everyday fitness goals. Offering a lifestyle, health and wellness, and weight loss solution, MYTRAK combines consumer-friendly technology, with a team of lifestyle program advisors and community based support. MYTRAK's broad-based and customizable solutions help to motivate and encourage activity throughout the day. MYTRAK also provides an automated platform system specific to health and wellness focused organizations, including fitness providers, wellness organizations, employers, physicians and insurers.
Based on the concept of fitness as preventative medicine, MYTRAK has helped more than one million people worldwide define and reach their fitness goals.
About Fat Joe
Born Joseph Cartegena, the Bronx's own Fat Joe has earned five RIAA gold certifications and two platinum certifications in just over a decade, including a platinum master ringtone certification in 2007 for the smash single and video “Make It Rain." Leading the Terror Squad, Fat Joe earned an additional two gold RIAA awards for the master ringtone and digital singles of the blockbusting No. 1 pop (three weeks) and R&B/Hip Hip-Hop (seven weeks) landmark, “Lean Back." Joe's crossover smash “What's Luv," which introduced Ashanti to the pop chart, was a seven-week No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Fat Joe first charted in 1993 with his first solo single and video, “Flow Joe."
Jeff Halevy was hand-selected to create Let's Move! Newark: Our Power by Newark Mayor Cory Booker, as an extension of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! Campaign, which Mayor Booker currently serves as the honorary Vice Chair. The program began in October of 2011 with 1,500 high school freshmen in five different Newark, NJ high schools competing against each other for the most minutes moved. Barringer High School has achieved the coveted winning title with an impressive 619,600 minutes moved, earning them a performance by superstar recording artist, Fat Joe, as well as a renewed attitude towards physical activity and wellbeing.
“I'm thrilled to be a part of something so instrumental in an adolescent's development and honored that Fat Joe has donated his talents and time to bring our nation one step closer in the fight against childhood obesity," said Jeff Halevy, creator of Let's Move! Newark: Our Power.
Obstacles associated with obesity hit very close to home for Fat Joe, weighing nearly 460 pounds at his heaviest. In 2000, he began to realize a lifestyle alteration was no longer an option but a necessity after Big Pun and nearly six of his friends, similar to his size, died from heart attacks. Subsequently, he spent much of his time at the gym and changed his eating habits, improving not only his appearance, but his overall health as well, as the diabetic of 16-years was able to rid himself of the disease. Despite his previous weight and health issues, Fat Joe is one of the world's most influential Rap artists. He has sold millions of albums, while masterminding chart topping hits and discovering hot new artists. Additionally, Joe has earned five RIAA gold certifications and two platinum certifications.
“Of all the challenges I have faced in my life, losing weight was probably the most difficult," said hip-hop idol, Fat Joe. “I am so happy to be able to spread the word on the dangers of obesity and join the Let's Move! Initiative with Let's Move! Newark: Our power."
The LM!NOP challenge in Newark will kick-off a national series to combat the overwhelming statistics on childhood obesity. Upon joining the program, each participating student received a MYTRAK, a cutting edge, credit card size, wearable health device, which measures both duration and intensity of physical activity. The 12-week program had students “Going for Green" on their MYTRAK device, turning the device's LED light from red to green, indicating that 60 minutes of physical activity have been achieved. MYTRAK donated 1,500 M2 units to the LM!NOP campaign, which included access to MYTRAK's online suite of health and wellness software that connects users with a team of lifestyle program advisors and community based support. Newark high school students will be rewarded based on their level of activity and in addition to the winners receiving a concert by a top musician, other prizes will include Nets Basketball tickets and Zumba® DVDs to designer apparel from ENYCE and high-end TRX® Suspension Training® equipment.
“It is shocking that 64 percent of Newark's elementary school children are obese or morbidly obese. Some 44 percent of our children aged three to 19 are overweight. If we are going to have a stronger city, we must have healthier children. We have challenged our high school students to live healthier lifestyles through this competition. Let's move toward a stronger and healthier Newark!" said Mayor Booker.
Jeff's expertise Behavioral Health/Fitness background paired with Fat Joe's music influence and the First Lady's Let's Move! Campaign will bring our nation one step closer in the fight against childhood obesity. LM!NOP is powered by MYTRAK and sponsored by ENYCE, a Sean Combs Company, Dr. Jay's, Zumba® Fitness, TRX®, Nets Basketball and The American Council on Exercise.
About Jeff Halevy
Jeff Halevy is a Behavioral Health and Fitness Expert and the CEO of Halevy Life, an integrative health and fitness company in New York. Jeff's distinctive expertise has lead to segments on various network television outlets as well as stories in Forbes, Men's Health and SELF. He earned his Behavioral Health credentials in Neuro Linguistic Programming and Ericksonian Hypnosis at The NLP Center of New York and his Exercise Science credentials from the National Academy of Sports Medicine and the C.H.E.K. Institute. Jeff Halevy lives by and teaches the notion that “tomorrow becomes never;" if change is going to happen, it has to happen now. He strives to improve the quality of people's lives and continues to do so every single day.
About the City of Newark, New Jersey \ Newark, commonly referred to as Brick City, is the third oldest city in the United States and the largest in New Jersey, with a population of more than 280,000 people. Newark sits on one of the nation's largest transportation super-structures including an international airport, major commuter and freight rail lines, major highway intersections and the busiest seaport on the east coast. With a new Administration as of July 2006, Newark continues to see signs of a strong revival. Its population showed growth in the most recent census. Its six major colleges and universities are further expanding their presence. The rate of production of affordable housing has doubled, and new businesses are moving in. There is still much work to be done but Newark is on its way to achieving its mission: to set a national standard for urban transformation.
About MYTRAK
MYTRAK Health System Inc. is a leading provider of innovative technology based solutions that help people meet their everyday fitness goals. Offering a lifestyle, health and wellness, and weight loss solution, MYTRAK combines consumer-friendly technology, with a team of lifestyle program advisors and community based support. MYTRAK's broad-based and customizable solutions help to motivate and encourage activity throughout the day. MYTRAK also provides an automated platform system specific to health and wellness focused organizations, including fitness providers, wellness organizations, employers, physicians and insurers.
Based on the concept of fitness as preventative medicine, MYTRAK has helped more than one million people worldwide define and reach their fitness goals.
About Fat Joe
Born Joseph Cartegena, the Bronx's own Fat Joe has earned five RIAA gold certifications and two platinum certifications in just over a decade, including a platinum master ringtone certification in 2007 for the smash single and video “Make It Rain." Leading the Terror Squad, Fat Joe earned an additional two gold RIAA awards for the master ringtone and digital singles of the blockbusting No. 1 pop (three weeks) and R&B/Hip Hip-Hop (seven weeks) landmark, “Lean Back." Joe's crossover smash “What's Luv," which introduced Ashanti to the pop chart, was a seven-week No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Fat Joe first charted in 1993 with his first solo single and video, “Flow Joe."
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