The Return of the Thigh Gap
Ah, the thigh gap—the airy aspiration of the 90s and early 2000s, as iconic as butterfly clips and low-rise jeans. Back then, passing the "pencil test" (where you could supposedly…
Calorie Tariffs: The Hidden Costs to Your Waistline
Tariffs often dominate the news, but there’s another kind of “tariff” that’s rarely discussed—the calorie tariff. If what you import from your hand to your mouth exceeds what energy you export from moving your body, that is one kind of surplus you do not want. These cost uplifts can sneak into your daily habits and inflate both your wardrobe budget and your waistline. In this article, we’ll explore three surprising sources of “calorie tariffs” and simple strategies to manage them effectively.
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Keep Your Fitness on Track During the Holidays
It’s official – travel for the holidays is back. About 70% of Americans said they have travel plans to travel for the holiday, Airport officials and industry analysts say passenger traffic for the Nov. 24 Thanksgiving holiday through New Year’s is set to reach or exceed 2019 levels.
This post updates the hottest tips for staying sane and healthy during Thanksgiving.
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Stay Fit on Vacation: Top Tips from a Cruise Fitness Director (new PODCAST!)
In the debut episode of the DAOFitLife podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Alyssa, a seasoned fitness director on a popular cruise line. Alyssa’s journey is one of passion, perseverance, and unique insight into the world of health and wellness at sea. We delved into her path from land-based fitness to navigating health on the waves, and she shared fascinating tips on how she helps cruise guests optimize their wellness, even in the middle of the ocean. Here’s a look at some of the highlights from our discussion.
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The Science of Lying
Lately I have noticed an uptick in one niche of entertainment that I will call the “Grifter Docudrama”. It’s all about lies – but not just one-off lies, lies that are perpetuated for years, catapult people to success, and then once they are found out, are torn down and shamed by society. What is more intriguing than the virtue-signaling is the key mistakes these characters, real and fictional, made. If they had lied more strategically, or quit while they were ahead, they may never have been exposed. It’s now all about “telling your truth” – and that is a very grey area in today’s society.
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Fall Fashion Dos and Don’ts
As the crisp air of fall begins to settle in, your office wardrobe is due for an upgrade. This season, fashion trends blend timeless sophistication with modern touches, making it…
A lady drinking from a soda can.
The Fizz-tastic Probiotic Sodas Adventure: Happy Guts on Tap
Discover why probiotic sodas are the smarter choice over diet sodas. Explore gut benefits, natural ingredients, lower sugar content, and delicious flavors for a refreshing, healthy option.
Women doing quick workouts at the gym
Unleash Quick Workouts: Strategies for Fitness on the Fly
Unleash quick workouts. This guide reveals strategies to stay fit on the go, from dressing right to planning ahead, making sure you get and stay fit while busy.
Side view of professional climber female at the rock climbing wall at the gym. Light background with copyspace
Increase Your Energy Without Caffeine
As you can tell by the other posts on this site, we highly endorse caffeine as a way to aid energy levels and focus. But there are other non-caffeinated ways you can increase your energy which can either substitute for caffeine or act like an accelerant to that caffeine buzz. Let’s dive in.
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Flavors of the New Iced Energy Drinks Include Melon and Tropical Citrus. Photo Credit: Starbucks
New Obsession: Starbucks Iced Energy Drinks
Attention caffeine addicts! The silver lining in this soupy hot summer is the new line of Starbucks energy drinks. They have almost no calories, no aftertaste, and can caffeinate and cool you down. At this moment, coffee seems very unappetizing, especially when the temps reach the 3 digits. Even iced coffee can feel dehydrating. Enter the Starbucks Iced Energy brand, which has quickly become our go-to caffeinated treat.
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Best Energy Drinks: The DAOFitLife Guide
When it comes to boosting your energy levels, there are a plethora of options on the market. From classic favorites to new contenders, here’s a rundown of some of the best energy drinks available today, including Red Bull, Alani Nu, Bang, Ghost, and Celsius.
With of course the caveat that caffeine content is a highly important and individual health consideration, the great thing about energy drinks are that they 1) are way less calories than a latte (usually only about 5-10 per can) ; 2) are super tasty; 3) can give you a boost for exercise in the heat.
Here is DAOFitLife’s Top 5 Energy Drink recommendations. Note all of these brands have minimal to no sugar, so if you still want to shop around, make sure you read the label (as per the DAOFitLife guide here) so you don’t inhale a lot of calories.
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How to Detox Fast
Just in time for summer, this is your guide to detox fast from what summer brings. Summers are for travel, whether it be for vacation or work – and while jet setting can be exciting, coming back and dealing with a reset can be rough. Our summers are also filled with packed social calendars – backyard BBQs, sporting events, weddings, and pool parties. If you’ve overindulged in rich foods, enjoyed a few too many cocktails, or simply thrown your sleep schedule out of whack, it’s time for a detox. But who has time to detox when you have a crazy busy work and life schedule?
The key to bouncing back is to go HARD: Hydrate, Acclimate, Restore, and Detox. Don’t be fooled by the acronym. It’s easy, simple, and will have you feeling the pep back in your step in no time.
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How to Maximize Your Massage
Getting a massage can be relaxing, but it can also take up precious time and be really expensive. You can rarely get away without paying at least $150, if not $200, for a high-quality massage—and that’s even before the tip. Here are some do’s and don’ts to ensure your massage is worth both your time and money.
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Is there such a thing as natural Ozempic?
One in EIGHT Americans have tried some type of weight loss drug, according to a recent Bloomberg article. For about 1000 dollars a month, that is hardly affordable. But what if there was a natural alternative? According to the below video that I came across in my inevitable weekend YouTube rabbit-hole digging, there are natural foods and supplements that produce the magic hormone that also suppresses appetite in Ozempic. Let’s dive in and see what the claims say.
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Best Protein Bars When You Are On the Go
We are constantly lectured to eat whole foods and have sit-down meals. But with our busy schedules, sometimes that just isn’t possible. You can’t always get organic veggies on the go when you are traveling. Have you ever tried to stuff kale in your Gucci sling?
Sometimes you may be stuck in meetings for hours without enough time to sit down and eat. Or you may be traveling and stuck in the middle of nowhere with no readily accessible healthy eats. So you need to know the best realistic alternative: protein bars. This post compares the best protein bars you can have as a backup.
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The Solution to the “Great Exhaustion”
“If life’s journey is endless…where is its goal? The answer is – everywhere.” – Rabindranath Tagore
In the wake of the “Great Resignation” in 2022, 2023, and 2024 have become the era of the “Great Exhaustion,” widely reported by publications like the Wall Street Journal, New Yorker, and Time Magazine. The problem is written about often, but where are the solutions? This question echoes through boardrooms, classrooms, and living rooms alike. This may sound like the ideal entry point for an influencer hocking lion’s mane extract – so rejuvenating, right? WRONG. Your social media scroll is fueling your fatigue.
But we can’t just blame the Gram. It’s a lot bigger of a picture when we are really looking at this from a mental wellness picture. In this article, I dive deep into the problem and offer practices to turn your exhaustion into rejuvenation.
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The DAOFitLife Hot List – What’s Trending in Wellness
This week in the DAOFitLife Hot list, we look at how to get rid of neck lines, grow your hair, and shed your skinny fat and dad bod. Grow your…
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Unlocking Wellness: The A-List Guide to Cupping Therapy
In the realm of wellness practices, cupping has transcended its ancient origins to become the darling of celebrities and athletes alike. From Gwenyth Paltrow’s Goop empire to Michael Phelps’ toned physique, cupping has graced the limelight, leaving curious souls wondering what the fuss is all about.
Cupping is not just for celebs! I have been “cupping” for years. This is one of the top ways I find to destress and relax, plus relieve the inevitable shoulder and neck tension that comes with a stressful job.
Let’s take a dive into this ancient therapeutic art, exploring its origins, the experience, and the multitude of benefits it offers.
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How to Stay Motivated All Year Long
Are you motivated to start your fitness journey, but worried about how to avoid giving up two weeks in? You can stay motivated and build momentum with these streamlined tips tailored for the fast-paced lives of professionals.
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Kick Any Craving With These Healthy Food Swaps
One thing that is so hard to deal with over the holidays when you may have more down time is cravings. Whether you are with the fam, on a holiday, or just relaxing at home catching up on your TV sport or show of choice, you probably will experience cravings. These are heightened in the winter “comfort food” season, when we tend to feel a little more down (see my article here about that) and just more low energy.
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