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August 21, 2026

Exercises

How to get Michelle Obama arms

The weather is already summer like in many places on the east coast. And we all know what that means. Lighter clothing, particularly in the upper body area. Thanks to former First Lady Michelle Obama, it is now acceptable to show some bicep. Her arms weren’t just on display for special events like the Oscars or the Inaugural ball. She showed off those arms shaking hands of foreign prime ministers and presidents, at her husband’s first inaugural address, in her first official photo. Notwithstanding some unavoidable pearl-clutching (jelly much?), her arms left their own legacy as a fashion and political…

Week 10- DAOFitlife Meal and Exercise Plan

Here is my weekly update on my meals, exercise, and recipes. RECIPES AVAILABLE HERE (UPDATED FOR WEEK OF MAY 6) Customizable DAOFitlife Meal Plan and Grocery List Links– Week 10 Customizable DAOFitlife Meal Plan and Grocery List Template Google Sheet (updated for week 10) Downloadable DAOFitlife Meal Plan and Grocery List Template Excel Document Printable DAOFitlife Meal Plan and Grocery List Template PDF DAOFitlife Exercise Plan – Week 10 Exercise Template Links Customizable DAOFitLife Exercise Plan Google Sheet Template (updated for week 10) Downloadable DAOFitLife Exercise Plan Excel Document Printable DAOFitlife Exercise Plan PDF Meal Plan  I am on week 2 of no…

Lili bicep curl

Week 9 – DAOFitlife Meal and Exercise Plan

Week 9 of DAOFitlife meal and exercise plan has a few new twists. This week I have tweaked my diet in two ways: I am starting to eat a little early breakfast before my workout. I do this by either eating a few bites of my oatmeal mix half an hour before my workout, or eating a date and a few nuts beforehand. A Medjool date is fairly big and good for a burst of instant energy. In my article on pre and post-workout nutrition, I outline the pros and cons of eating before the workout. I am going to…

Why Down Dog is now my favorite fitness app

During the pandemic, I have probably tried free trials and paid for subscriptions of no less than 50 fitness apps. Yes, this was mostly research for the blog – mapped out in my Fitness app decision tree. But it was well worth the investment, because after countless hours of planks, burpees, and squats, developing a decision tree, and slogging through unbearably annoying instructors and lots of freezing issues, I have done it. I have found the holy grail.

assorted-color pebble lot

Week 8 – DAOFitlife Meal and Exercise Plan

Note: Please consult a physician before pursuit of any exercise or meal plan. This is solely intended as a meal and exercise diary, and is not prescriptive. T-1 month until I am a bridesmaid in a wedding. This is mainly post-Easter remorse, but I am doing a sugar detox – so very much focusing on eating more healthy fats, proteins and vegetables. Eating a breakfast with a good amount of healthy fat definitely sets me up for success. And, I have a whole article for you to read about why fat is essential for a fit body and mind. DAOFitlife…

How to get back into running and best apps

Getting back into running isn’t easy – and I know, because I am doing it. I haven’t decided whether to sign up for a race, yet, but I am taking a slow approach to doing treadmill running and increasing my time/miles. Here’s are some helpful tips if you, too, want to get back into running – how to get motivated, how to improve quickly (including apps). Tip #1: Take it slow Start by walking, like I have been for the past several months. This will both help get you used to a longer workout, and build you up from a…

woman in green tank top and black leggings doing yoga on blue round trampoline

The DAO of CARDIO

Do you have a “love-hate” relationship with cardio?  I DEFINITELY do. Let me count the ways. On one hand, after a good run or spin class, you feel that “high.” The sweat is cathartic You are detoxed. That playlist you would never disclose publicly absolutely rocked. On the other hand, it is time consuming. It can be boring. You can only queue up so much on the Netflix app.  So the question is, are there any really good reasons to do cardio? Does it get you results? And what role does it play in weight management?

person sitting on top of gray rock overlooking mountain during daytime

The secrets of being “naturally thin”

First of all, I am not talking about myself. I wish. I will be the first to admit I have to work hard to be fit. After a while, it becomes more effortless because the habits are so integrated into my day-to-day routine that I don’t even give it a second thought. Some of the habits I have learned are from my “naturally thin” friends. Who are these “naturally thin” people? These are people (who we hate) who always seem to stay thin without putting too much effort into diet or exercise, or who may not work out at all….

The Bride Guide to Getting Fit

If your wedding is coming up, or if you just got engaged and want to look amazing on your wedding day, you are in the right place. I have been through the trenches of training and adjusting diet for the big day. Especially losing the weight you inevitably gain when you fall in love. Why is that? Decadent dinners, wine, ordering pizza with your boo while Netflixing. And then the rude awakening – a looming wedding and all the baggage it comes with.

Week 2 – The DAOFitlife Meal and Exercise Plan

On a weekly basis I update my meal and exercise plan google sheets so you can see real time what I eat, drink, and how I move. You can download the templates and customize them for your own meals and workouts. And I have a rolling update of my fast and simple recipes HERE. This week, I feature the Ezekiel BLT and my Zoodle recipes. Note that I also endorse intermittent fasting, including the 5:2 method, which I describe here. I overnight fast on a case-by-case basis, meaning I usually eat my first meal at 11-1130am. What drives this approach…

The DAO of strength training

It is really hard, if not impossible, to make noticeable changes to your body without incorporating strength training. Most people shy away from it or do it wrong. In this post, I will share what I learned from training with numerous top-tier trainers over the years. What is strength training? The term “strength and conditioning training” refers to the format of exercise which highlights building the strength, size, and endurance of skeletal muscle. It can include these types of workouts as tools, but it is also good to be aware that you don’t have to be picking up a weight…

woman lifting black and gray barbell

Best Strength Training Apps

As part of a comprehensive fitness routine, strength training is important to keep that balance with cardio. It isn’t one over the other – in my experience, they are both necessary. There is something powerful about lifting and moving your body in ways you never thought possible. That extra testosterone boosts confidence, both in and outside the gym.

Week 1 – The DAOFitlife Meal and Exercise Plan

As part of this series, in the interest of full transparency AND possibly giving you some great ideas, I will provide a tracker of all my meals and workouts for the week. Each week, a new exercise and meal plan will be published. I keep a repository of recipes HERE. DAOFitlife Meal Plan -Week 1 This plan will change week after week. As a static constant, it will embody principles from the following articles: The DAO approach to food , eating, and meal planning – keeping it simple, variety cycling, and keeping ready to go meals and snacks on hand; The 80//20…

person wearing orange and gray Nike shoes walking on gray concrete stairs

The DAO of HIIT

HIIT (High intensity interval training) is an important ingredient in your cardio soup. It is an excellent fat burner, and has an after-burn effect of raising your metabolism and burning more overall calories during the day. Plus. challenges your agility, and makes you feel, well, superhuman! Cardio, as I explain in this article, is important to a holistic approach to health and exercise. HIIT is like an amazing accessory that makes the entire outfit. Read on to get the quickest, most effective workouts you can knock out twice a week. What’s the skinny? This article reviews the best HIIT workouts…

woman in red tank top and black leggings doing yoga

How to stay fit in a COVID world

The “new normal”.  Our worlds, once so big, have gotten very small. It’s almost the one year anniversary – the worst.anniversary.ever. Gyms and workout studios are closed (or closed, reopened, closed and kind of reopened).  Peloton sales have gone UP.  App sales have gone through the roof – the fitness industry, besides the toilet paper industry, is a real winner in these “uncertain times”. There also have been winners and losers in the fitness sphere on the consumer side. I hear binary feedback from my audience – either they got in the best shape of their lives, or suffered from…

woman in purple crew neck t-shirt and black shorts sitting on white floor

The Battle of the Bike-related apps: Peloton vs. SoulCycle/Equinox

Yeah, I am going there. I feel like I have a fiduciary duty to my corporate audience to do so. So here we go: how do we finally settle the battle of the at-home workout between Peloton and SoulCycle? As you will find out, it’s really about the Peloton v Equinox brands, as well. Also, note that Peloton and SoulCycle are not the only games in town. NordicTrack, a long-standing brand, is getting into the game with its iFit bike and treadmills. For the iFit bike experience, there is also a studio class experience, as well as simulated scenery rides,…

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