Heater @ Adobe Stock
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…
Dmitri Kohn @ Adobe Stock
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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innatyshchenkoe @ Adobe Stock
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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Are you still scrambling to buy gifts? Here is an easy solution
It’s the most wonderful – and crazy – time of the year. On top of your to-do list, you have gifts to buy! The good news is, it’s such an easy solution – basically everyone wants to get fit and take care of themselves, but a lot of times we forget to or just don’t want to spend 30 bucks on a candle. If someone gets one as a gift, though, that is a whole different story. This year, consider giving the gift of fitness with presents that cater to self-care, healthy indulgences, and exercise essentials. In this article, we’ll explore fantastic fitness-related holiday gifts that span categories from self-care to exercise equipment, offering something for everyone on your list.
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Sip, savor and stay skinny with this coffee creamer guide
For many, the comforting ritual of sipping a steaming cup of coffee is a cherished part of the day. However, concerns about weight gain often loom large, especially when considering the addition of creamy, flavorful coffee creamers. The good news is that with a mindful approach and a few clever techniques, it’s possible to enjoy the indulgence of coffee creamer without tipping the scales. In this article, I will give you specific recommendations and a great method to make sure no matter what you choose, you can sip and stay skinny! Thanks to my husband’s friend Chris H for inspiring this article!
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MelissaMN @ Adobe Stock
Your Low-Cal Guide to Summer Starbucks Drinks
You know it’s summer when you start seeing pictures of the frothy, creamy, colorful Starbucks drinks pop up on the menu.
What you might not know is that many of these favorites, even when not supersized, are the calorie and sugar equivalent of a large candy bar. And have far in excess of the recommended sugar intake sometimes on a daily basis. While following my 80-20 approach can definitely leave room for an indulgent Starbucks drink as is, regular consumption of these “empty calories” will not only add up but will leave you unsatisfied, as there is no significant amount of protein, fiber, or fat in any of them.
But you don’t have to be left out in the heat. You can have your cake and eat it too on the reg. Here’s how.
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Photo by No Revisions
Spring Cleaning: The Sneaky Workout You Didn’t Know You Needed
Spring cleaning may not be the most exciting task on your to-do list, but it can actually be a sneaky way to get a workout in. Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) is the energy we burn during our daily activities, and cleaning and organizing your home can be a great way to boost NEAT and burn some extra calories. In this article, we’ll explore some common spring cleaning tasks and how many calories they can burn per hour, as well as tips on how to tackle cleaning out and organizing your closets and kitchen cabinets.
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Liubov Levytska @ Adobe Stock
The Rise of Gua Sha: How a Traditional Practice is Revolutionizing Western Skincare
You probably have seen it on some form of social media – women rolling odd shaped jade tools over their faces. This practice of gua sha is centuries old, but it has resurfaces as a way to decrease puffiness and act as a “natural botox”.
But is it really that magical? Here is what you need to know and my experience. As an initial reaction, I found that a regular gua sha practice was so much more than skincare. It helped relieve tension in my jaw, forehead, and sinus pressure. So read on if you have any of these issues especially at your job! This is now part of my daily routine – rise, wash face, coffee, lemon water, meditate, and gua sha. By the end of this five minute routine, I feel like a million bucks and ready to face the world!
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Photo Credit: Jongjit Wongsrikasem
How to Stay Fit Over Spring Break
Spring break is a time to let loose and enjoy yourself, but it doesn't have to come at the expense of your health and fitness goals. Whether you're planning a…
Don't tear your hair out! Read this instead. Photo by denis_vermenko @Adobe
A Million Little Tabs – How to Stop the Tab Madness and be Productive Again
Is your daily life consumed by jumping from one tab to another? Do you constantly lose track of what you are working on and find yourself staring blankly at a row of open tabs? Have you ever opened a tab for an article you are interested in reading, knowing deep down you realistically will never read it but it just makes you feel better to have the tab open? Do you multitask during calls, clicking through different tabs and then totally have to make someone repeat a question?
We have ALL been there. Modern corporate culture has a twisted, tab-hoarding problem that is draining our productivity. So how can we take it back?
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Photo by Minna Lim
Exactly how to do stealth workouts in the middle of the day
The Wall Street Journal had a recent article, “Why Working Out During the Workday Is the Ultimate Power Move”. The article has an interview of CEOs who humblebrag about being able to disappear for two hours unaccounted for to do sets at the gym. This is the exact kind of messaging that makes the rest of us think that we have to be some big wig to “get away” with midday workouts.
I beg to differ. I have been doing mid-day workouts for years – when I was an on the clock government worker, as a junior associate at a law firm, and now as a director at a Big 4. The secret is knowing exactly what you will do and exactly how you will do it. And being PREPARED. You may not be the CEO of a company, but you should be the CEO of your own body.
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Rule # 1: Do Not Punish Yourself with a Workout! Blackday @ Adobe Stock
The 5 Best All-time Hangover Cures
Yes, that’s right, 2023 is going to be our year! But first, you have to get through day 1. And most of us will not wake up on January 1st fresh as a daisy. It’s ok, you earned the right to celebrate. Whether you stayed up later, ate more treats or just had one too many glasses of champs (or um, shots) here is your ultimate DAOFitLife hangover toolkit.
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Do you have to choose between being sad or skinny? Read on to find out what your options are. terovesalainen @ Adobe Stock
Do you want to be sad, or skinny?
Would you rather be sad, or skinny? Would you rather be fat and happy, or thin and sad? These are questions that magazines are actually asking mostly women about the fact that treating depression and anxiety would some forms of medication could potentially cause weight gain
The articles featured in Vice and Self magazine echo a deeper sense of self- conflict about mental health – at what cost do we pursue our well-being and happiness? For some this can mean taking prescribed medication, which can lead to intended and unintended consequence. And one of the biggest ones whispered about in anonymous forums is this: weight gain.
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She has the "turtle" down. You will be an expert too! Photo by Tamara Bellis
How to Look Amazing in Photographs
According to the Smithsonian Magazine, the world’s first selfie was taken in 1839 by Robert Corneulius, an amateur chemist and photography enthusiast, in the back of the family store in Philadelphia.
Whether you remember taking rolls of film to the drugstore or only have ever taken pictures with a Smartphone, photos define our lives – our headshots invite potential employers and connections on LinkedIn, and we capture real life moments on vacations, with friends and family in real time.
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Photo by svklimkin @ Unsplash
How Working Out Like a Whirling Dervish Can Make You Fall In Love With Fitness
“Wherever you are, and whatever you do, be in love.” – Rumi
The thrill of the pandemic workout craze is fading. UpSwell’s survey found that while 50% of respondents returned to the gym within 9 months of restrictions lifting, nearly a third (27.71%) of all respondents still have not yet returned to the gym, and 31.23% are working out less in 2022.
Peloton, the exercise bike company that saw huge success in the early days of the pandemic only to flounder as sales slowed, reported a $1.2 billion quarterly loss recently.
SoulCycle will close up to a quarter of its studios across the U.S., including six reportedly in the New York City area, amid adjustments related to the pandemic, the fitness company said Tuesday.
How do we bring it back? Enter Rumi, and Sufism.
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Wait, what? Mewing isn't just for cats? Photo by Jeanie de Klerk @ Unsplash
Mewing – Gimmick or Gamechanger?
Spoiler alert: Other than the picture, this has nothing to do with cats.
But it does have to do with an important topic. Imagine walking through a gym. You pass by the weight room section and see various people sculpting their biceps with curls, benching, squatting, deadlifting, meticulously doing upper and lower ab work on the large mats. What is missing from this picture is that you do not see anyone working on the one body feature that defines us more than all of the other parts together – the face.
Now turn to your own face. Where is your tongue? According to the “mewing” phemonmenom, your “tongue posture” could potentially impact facial aesthetics, sleep and breathing quality and overall body posture.
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Even though most of us don't carry cash and most places don't accept it, you should think of saving money like putting it away in your digital wallet. Photo by Emil Kalibradov @Unsplash
The DAO of Financial Fitness Part 2
Financial fitness part I covered how to get the best bang for your buck from services. Financial services Part II will cover goods and products and how to save money on commonly needed items.
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Photo by Alexander Mils
The DAO of Financial Fitness – Part I
“Time is money.” You’ve heard that phrase, right? But I argue it isn’t. Unlike money, you can never make back the time you waste. Yesterday is gone forever, and unless we find dramatic new technology to cryopreserve ourselves and freeze time, we cannot get it back.
But money is also money. And if you think about it, we waste a lot of it. The good news is, there are hacks that will make you richer and thinner.
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Photo by Creative Christians
How to Cure Tech Neck
Did you know looking down at your phone is like putting the weight of a bowling ball on your neck? Not to mention, when you add stress, your neck will tense up further. The way we sit in front of the computer and look at our devices means we are always looking down. Overt time this causes your head to move forward, and eventually throw off your neck alignment. This is known as “tech neck.” And this is beyond an annoyance. Over time, untreated neck issues can cause massive tissue damage and harm to the spine including slipped or herniated discs. The good news is, there are easy hacks and exercises you can do right now to ease the tension in your neck and cure the related headaches.
Here is your guide to cure tech neck AND get better posture below.
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