

Accountability is key. So is buying super cute workout clothes (although, they do not have to match!) Photo by Boxed Water Is Better
How to keep your COVID fitness routine going – or starting
By Neda Khalili (Certified NASM Trainer) and Lili Kazemi When will this all end? How will we ever get back to normal…. What is normal?! I definitely do not have…

A nice hot stew can keep you going through the week. You can make it in an Instant pot, Tagine, or Wok! Photo by Louis Hansel
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,…
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…

We can work anytime, anywhere but that does not mean that we should! A bad posture like this is a recipe for pain and disaster. Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com
Posture is the new Prada
And "tech neck" is the new pandemic. Posture affects everything and goes so much by the wayside; especially when we have all of these different forms of fitness and we…

The new Ballet by Equinox class can make you appreciate how hard ballerinas have it. But it's FUN. Photo by David Hofmann
The DAO Weekly Hotlist
New workout discoveries I just fell in love again. Last week Ballet by Equinox launched in DC, one of only three cities (including NYC and LA around the country). These…

You may have to run before or after the light of day this winter - but don't let that break your stride. Photo by Fitsum Admasu
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.
(more…)The DAO Weekly Hot List
Here’s what HOT this week in the fitness world.
(more…)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…

With the right gear and right attitude, you can still be active in cooler weather. Photo by Alex Vans-Colina
The DAO of Cool Weather Workouts
Whether you still want to avoid gyms during the pandemic or are just sick of working out at home, working out outside has a lot of benefits. It’s a natural…

You can get a lot of mileage and HIIT workouts from a kettlebell, both at home in the gym. Photo by Ambitious Creative Co. - Rick Barrett
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…
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…
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…
The DAO Weekly Hot List
What's hot this week? By Neda Khalili, NASM certified trainer. Depression in the Winter comes in Surprising Variations: As the weather gets colder and the days get shorter, many suffer…
Are you in a toxic relationship?
The recent events surrounding the tragic death of Gabby Petito, and the trial of Elizabeth Holmes, founder of Theranos, have been all over the news and social media. Much of the focus has been around the scandal and the drama surrounding these two attractive blonde women, who have captivated the public and the media for very different reasons. What conversations have missed is one glaring fact brought to light by these events – that over 70 percent of women experience abuse from their domestic partner, and one in three women in a DAY die.
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A normal dogwalk is a great example of a "non-workout-workout" that will keep you fit! Photo by Honest Paws
The DAO of NEAT: How you can get fit without the gym
Many professionals are under the misimpression that the fact that they may not have time to work out an hour a day means that their fitness prospects are doomed. FALSE.
On the flip side, the part of the population that leads the Peleton board every day may believe that this is all they need to do to get shredded. FALSE.
(more…)The Little Black Dress Method™ to Meal Planning
There are two main obstacles that trip up meal planning for busy professionals: 1) Time; 2) Decision fatigue. I have a solution for both in this article. If you need a guide to planning meals that won’t be a second full-time job, you are in the right place.
This is the DAO Little Black Dress Method for Meal Planning. ™
(more…)Weekly roundup: Therapy in a nutshell, berry parfait
Here is my regular roundup of interesting articles, workouts and recipes.
(more…)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.
(more…)The DAO of ordering at restaurants
I have seen a lot of my colleagues who travel frequently marvel at how the period we have been working from home has produced effortless weight loss. Well, not really.…

Washing your hands gets all the attention, but washing your face properly is just as important! Photo by Audrey Fretz
Weekly roundup: setting boundaries, wash your face right
Here is my regular roundup of interesting articles, workouts and recipes. RECIPES AVAILABLE HERE Customizable DAOFitlife Meal Plan and Grocery List Links Customizable DAOFitlife Meal Plan and Grocery List Template…