Archive copy by Jenni Baden Howard

Judging by the number of models who pass through the doors of the Better Bodies Cross-Training Center in New York's Flatiron district, you'd be forgiven for mistaking the place for a thriving agency. This is where Elite Model Management responsible for handling the careers of Cindy, Linda, Nadja and Amber sends its girls to be honed and toned by 38 year old Brian Moss, the modelling industry's own Mr Motivator. With over 15 years' experience in the fitness business, Moss has earned himself a reputation for getting results fast. His customised routines are designed to focus on each girl's specific goals. Initially these may be short-term - she may want to lose weight or to firm up for a specific job - but the secret of his success is an exercise routine and eating plan which works as a blueprint for life.

Moss is sensitive to the emotional pressures involved in an industry obsessed with body image. 'To some extent, 1 think all women have a distorted body image, but models tend to be more critical,' he says. 'The issues are the same but amplified.'

And according to Moss, a healthy body has nothing to do with weight. 'People are still very numberconscious,' he says. 'I have to show them that it isn't all about scales. The term "overweight" is meaningless; it's antiquated. Research now shows that muscle is a very active tissue, and if you have lean muscle mass on your body, you can increase your metabolic rate. You can actually burn calories indirectly through having muscle. Not only that, but weight training helps to maintain bone density.' The Moss 'Quiet Muscle Workout', originally developed for his Elite clients and designed to build long, lean muscles while burning fat, includes a variety of cardiovascular exercises, from swimming to Step, together with a made-to-measure, low-weight workout.

'I consider myself an educator,' Moss reflects. 'I'm really into the reasons why you should do something. Once you understand why it's important to improve your muscle tone, then you're willing to accept the weight increase that goes with it.' To demonstrate to his clients how different foods affect the body in different ways, Moss gets them to keep a daily food diary. 'We do a weekly check and try to knock out all the empty calories those that don't do the body any good.' It's all about learning the power of food positive and negative, he says. 'It's about your whole life, not just now.'