
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 amateur!)
(more…)5 things I have learned being “Out of the Office”
When we’re around 7 or 8 years old, people start asking us what we want to be when we grow up. Most kids I knew responded with things like astronaut,…

You can change up your ab workouts by incorporating extra equipment, like plates or heavy books. Photo by Victor Freitas
Weekly roundup: Kelp for the win
RECIPES AVAILABLE HERE Customizable DAOFitlife Meal Plan and Grocery List Links Customizable DAOFitlife Meal Plan and Grocery List Template Google Sheet Downloadable DAOFitlife Meal Plan and Grocery List Template Excel DocumentPrintable…
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…
How to use the Chinese Medicine approach to food to get your mojo back
Do you drink smoothies for breakfast and/or eat salads for lunch? Do you often feel tired and run-down for no obvious reason? Are you always freezing? If any of this…
Weekly roundup- running apps and masks
This is my weekly roundup of new nutrition, exercise, and recipe ideas based on what I ran across online this week.
(more…)Celebrity wellness trends
This week prepare to be amused and informed by some popular celebrity “wellness” trends.
(more…)How to maximize results from your workout*
The time we spend even making time to workout is precious. So you don’t want to waste your time. I combed the internet and consulted with Neda Khalili, a veteran Equinox trainer, to get you the complete guide. You can find all of the videos in the DAOFitLife playlist if you want to watch them after reading the article.
*Peer reviewed and co-authored by Neda Khalili, NASM certified trainer
(more…)5 top fitness myths, busted
*Peer reviewed and co-authored by Neda Khalili, certified National Academy of Sports Medicine Trainer
Today, we are going to unpack five of the most common exercise myths to help you get to a healthier you! It can be so confusing when we are surrounded by so much proverbial “noise” and one moment “coffee is good,” and the next can be “coffee is bad.” I want you to feel like you can have some clarity, enjoy and sustain a healthy, REAL lifestyle, and tune out some of that every changing radio static! So here we go!
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Get the perfect equipment for your home and travel gym in this week's update. Photo by Kelly Sikkema
DAOFitLife Weekly Update – August 11
RECIPES AVAILABLE HERE Customizable DAOFitlife Meal Plan and Grocery List Links Customizable DAOFitlife Meal Plan and Grocery List Template Google Sheet Downloadable DAOFitlife Meal Plan and Grocery List Template Excel DocumentPrintable…
Working hard but not getting results? Here’s why and 10 things you can do
*Peer reviewed and co-authored by Neda Khalili, National Academy of Sports Mediciine certified trainer
“I’m working out every day. I’m eating healthy. But I am not seeing results!”
This is a common challenge when we have a goal that involves some aspect of fitness – whether this is losing weight, getting stronger, achieving a goal like running a marathon. It’s exciting at the beginning, and a lot of work.
And then the results are in. And…you are the same weight. Or even gained a few pounds.
(more…)DAOFitLife Weekly Update – August 4
Here is my weekly roundup of fitness and food faves.
(more…)The DAO of Not Giving a F*ck
I have to admit I am kind of a self-help junkie. I know it has a negative connotation, but even as far back as when I was 8 years old…

Look at your underlying diet. It may be so depriving you want to nosedive into fries. Photo by Karsten Winegeart
Cheat meals suck, here’s a better way
I have been getting some requests for a post about cheat meals, so by popular demand, here it is.
(more…)DAOFitLife Weekly Update – July 28
RECIPES AVAILABLE HERE Customizable DAOFitlife Meal Plan and Grocery List Links Customizable DAOFitlife Meal Plan and Grocery List Template Google Sheet Downloadable DAOFitlife Meal Plan and Grocery List Template Excel DocumentPrintable…
Is BMI BS?
Lately I have come across a number of weight loss programs and food/meal/exercise plans based on calculating a baseline “BMI” and achieving a certain target. We all of course get our BMI read out to us at our annual physical – and as a result, we are defined as overweight or underweight based on a predetermined ideal ratio of height and weight. But why is this outdated, plausibly biased metric still a baseline? There are some things about BMI that you need to know.
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One good tip for staying cool is to find and memoraize the shady areas where your usual routes are. Also the O2 from the trees will cool you down! Photo by Stanislav Vlasov
The DAO of hot weather walking
One of the few silver linings of this pandemic was that it made walking cool again. Power walking was no longer just for the neighborhood grandparents; it was THE way to get cardio and regain our sanity. And surprisingly, lean out! I could not believe what a huge difference walking made in my ability to feel less stress. Within 6 months, I had lost 7 pounds WITHOUT the gym. Walking is an incredible exercise for even strengthening all those little joints and ligaments that you may not even be aware of and how all of the muscles of your body are truly working in unison to move your body through space—- and it is low impact, low equipment, and free!
(more…)DAOFitLife Update – Week of July 21
This week, I am going to focus on summer snacks! Given how hot it is outside, I think sometimes we just want to have a satisfying snack rather than a…

Stress is needed in small doses for productivity, but too much can throw your hormones out of whack. Photo by Elisa Ventur
Why cortisol can mess with you and how to stop it
Cortisol is like the evil stepsister of collagen, which I write about in my other post. More is not better and can sabotage our well-being. So let’s see how cortisol affects us, and what you can do to keep it at bay.
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