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August 14, 2026

Life hacks

sauteed dish served on plate

The DAOFitLife Weekly Hot List

Here are the hot links of the week! Nutrition Are you on the go in the morning, but not that hungry? A lot of people don’t have early morning appetities, but need some kind of nutrition to get through to lunch. Most of us opt for a cup or two of coffee, but did you KNOW that you can actually get coffee infused with protein? Try these protein coffee shakes from CHIKE (it even comes with a blender bottle) and it has almost no sugar! I am stoked to try the mocha flavor but if you cannot decide, you can…

red and gold beaded necklace

DAOFitLife Hot List – BLACK FRIDAY EDITION

You know you will be shopping this weekend! Scrolling through Amazon while the game is on, or during that car or train ride. Well you are in luck. It is the PERFECT time to stock up on fitness gear! Check out this Self article for the top buys. Not to mention, athleisure sales are on FIRE. Koral, and Alo yoga are having crazy amazing deals. Plus if you sign onto newsletters for the first time you get extra discounts, and a lot of the sellers are having clearance sales as well. Not to menton with Alo, you get a free tote…

silhouette of three women running on grey concrete road

All you need to know about cold weather running from a track and field champion

This is a follow up post from the last issue’s post on cool weather workouts. Cold weather running is its own art form, and this post explains everything you need to know about timing, gear, injury prevention and recovery. This post is guest authored by a real life devoted runner and former track and field star, my friend and longtime trainer, Neda Khalili.

woman blowing snow on her hands

The DAO of Fighting the Winter Blues with Food

It’s not unusual to start feeling a little stressed, sluggish, or just generally down at this time of year. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that’s believed to be caused by the changing seasons. Typically, symptoms begin to worsen around fall and peak during the winter months. This is a time when people are especially prone to isolating, given that it becomes so cold outside. Besides therapy that can help you work through the feelings, other external factors that you can control can help, like your diet. Talk to your physician as well if you feel that…

woman in black tank top and black leggings standing on white floor

DAO Weekly Hot List

Every week we give you a roundup of some of the coolest nutrition and workout trends. Even though summer is over, I am all about this Halloumi life! Halloumi is nice and meaty without the meat and just thing the thing to get creative with and also still give that satisfying “mmmph!” This salad sounds right up my alley right up my alley with the mix of spices, chickpeas, eggplants, and DATES!  If you are non-dairy or vegan, do not have FOMO. You can easily replicate Halloumi cheese with tofu – they have similar textures. Here is a recipe that…

empty gray airport seats during daytime

Dude, where’s my passport? A lawyer’s guide to international travel post-COVID

If you don’t have a solid hold on how to navigate the confusing world of international travel after COVID, buckle-up. Reading this article will prevent confused frustration and screaming matches like this: And the frustrating thing is, all the information is out there, but it’s buried in a bunch of different places. I resolved to gather every action, resource, tip and trap into ONE single place, for you my fellow fitprofessionals. Travel was a huge part of our careers and lives, and we will be going places soon again (and working out in them). So here you hvae it –…

grayscale photo of no smoking sign

A case for being uncautiously optimistic

“Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities – always see them, they are always there.” — Norman Vincent Peale When I was about 6 or 7 years old, my dad asked me to make a choice. Are you a pessimist or an optimist? It seemed easy enough at the time, once I learned the basic definition of those words. But throughout life, everything became less binary and focused on the “facts.” The last year brought back this memory and this question again. I’ve been doing some reading…

man reading magazine

5 Morning habits of multimillionaires, and why you should try them

Why is the morning so critical? First, it’s a key window of time for uninterrupted proactivity. We all have 24 hours a day. Beyonce has the same 24 hours, so does Jay-Z, so does Tim Cook, so does the President of the United States. We don’t get any more time than that. And making time only for the routine of the day will leave only room for just that. There’s no room for Greatness. 

person holding silver iPhone 6 with black case

The DAO of Zoomwalking

As we have lived into our somewhat new normal where everyone has had to make lifestyle shifts back and forth and back and forth again, with ever changing headlines- one shining light that has come through is the power of walking- specifically– walking meetings! With the magic of Zoom, Google Hangouts, and Microsoft Outlook and especially the features of their respective apps itself and the like, we can now, more than ever- be able to meet our obligations without sacrificing our literal and figurative backs.  Check out my first Youtube video (but cut me some slack – I am an…

woman in white long-sleeved shirt standing in front of pink wall

The DAO of Hair Care

Hair has always been an important part of who we are. It starts growing on our heads when we are still in the womb. Every day, we are dealing with our hair in some fashion – brushing it, washing it, styling it, or treating it. So it is fit to devote one of my blog posts to the do’s and don’ts of hair care. This is important especially if you are active – your hair needs even more extra care.  DON’T Wash your hair every day It may seem counterintuitive, but washing your hair every day can mean a greasier…

person holding red and beige twin bell analog alarm clock

Unlocking the mystery of intermittent fasting: Fad or phenomenon?- UPDATED for “Intuitive Fasting”

If I were to compare intermittent fasting to a celebrity, I would go with Lady Gaga. It seemed to explode on the scene out of nowhere, but didn’t succumb to being a fad or a one-hit wonder. It’s been timeless  – but it has attracted a lot of controversy. Lately, I came across the “Intuitive fasting” craze pushed by Gwyneth Paltrow, so I investigated and updated this post.

woman leaning on wall while sitting on bed

How to bounce back from that post – wedding post-graduation weekend hangover

In my last DAOFitlife update I talk wed about going to a wedding this past weekend. When we checked into the hotel, I noticed that there were lots of people clearly going to weddings and graduations… and of course, it’s the season! But this season is unlike any other because we are all like lions being let of our COVID cage. And as I discovered , I was ravenous for life – and food. And it was EVERYWHERE.

yellow banana fruit on green plastic pack

Whole Foods Shopping List: DAOFitLIfe

We all know the famous nickname for Whole Foods – Whole Paycheck. I do not get my staples from Whole Foods, but there are a number of speciality items that regularly make my list. I will also make recommendations about what type of produce and vegetables to buy at WF. 1. Miracle Noodles The best substitute noodles for Asian or Italian dresses ever. These are available Fettucine or Angel Hair style, and you can also get the pre-mixed flavored packets, like Pad Thai. I stock up on the plain kind and have it featured in this week’s Meal Plan and…

Trader Joe’s Shopping List

In order to survive a professional career and be domestic, I have become a “Trader Joe’s chef”. Which means, I buy stuff at Trader Joe’s that I can throw together in rando combinations and somehow make it delish. It’s a skill I developed after years of shopping at the Trader Joe’s in my neighborhood (the West End, in Washington, DC) on Friday nights when I was single. I’d leave work around 7 or 8pm (#consulting life) and take advantage of the fact that the Trader Joe’s would be empty so that I could do my shopping and explore the aisles…

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….

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