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Joanne Lichten Profile

  • One of the country's most prominent dieticians, Dr. Lichten is known for helping busy people stay healthy through simple manageable changes.

  • Dr. Lichten is a consultant with Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute and has served as a media spokesperson and nutritional consultant for Yoplait, Starbucks, NatureMade, NutraGrain, and many other companies.

  • The author of over 300 articles, Dr. Lichten's talent for translating research into practical action is unrivaled, as demonstrated by the 1,000+ programs she has delivered for companies and conferences nationwide.
  • Known as “America’s On-The-Go Health Guru”, Dr. Jo Lichten has presented over 1,000 keynotes and programs for busy professional adults looking to boost their energy, production, and happiness. A registered dietician with over 25 years in the field, she is a consultant with Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute and a media spokesperson and nutritional consultant for Yoplait, Starbucks, NatureMade, NutraGrain, and many other companies.

    Rather than focusing on “time management,” Dr. Jo helps professionals make small simple changes to their lifestyle so that they have more energy to handle what work and life throws at them without getting drained or burned out. Dr. Jo has appeared on 300+ TV and radio shows and has written articles or has been quoted in 300+ newspapers, magazines, and websites. Additionally, she is the author of four books, including REBOOT – how to power up your energy, focus, and productivity.

    • View Extended/Alternate Bio

      Joanne Lichten PhD, RD (a.k.a. “Dr. Jo”)

        • is an accomplished author, speaker, freelance writer and media spokesperson who helps busy people stay healthy, sane, and productive. Dr. Jo has appeared on 300+ TV and radio shows, presented more than 1000 programs at conferences, and has written articles or has been quoted in 200+ newspapers, magazines and websites. She’s also the author of three books including

      Dining Lean

        • and

      How to Stay Healthy & Fit on the Road.

      As a media spokesperson, she has worked with companies including KFC, Yoplait, SlimFast, Canola Info, NatureMade, Burger King, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, and NutraGrain. Her work includes TV and radio appearances, speaking at conferences on their behalf, writing print material for professional and consumer publications, and exhibiting at trade shows.

      As a proven, professional speaker, Dr. Jo is recognized for her energy and audience participation. Dr. Jo has presented over 1000 programs to a wide variety of companies and conferences in North America including Compaq/HP, AT&T, Chicago Title, Exxon/Mobil, Marriott, US Border Patrol, IBM, Associated General Contractors, National Wellness Conference, Restaurants & Institutions Summit, and DIET 2005. She offers plenty of real-life, practical advice that even the busiest of people can incorporate into their lives. Dr Jo’s most requested topics include How to Keep Your Energy Up All Day Long; How to Stay Healthy & Fit on the Go; What Every Woman Wants: More Energy, Better Looking Legs, and Peace of Mind; Nutrition Trends in the Food & Restaurant Industry; and Swimming in a Sea of Priorities.

      Dr. Jo is the author of three books including Dining Lean: How to Eat Healthy in Your Favorite Restaurants and How to Stay Healthy & Fit on the Road. She has appeared on more than 300 TV and radio shows including CNN, Fox News Channel, Living Better TV, Talk Radio Network, Radio America, and Let’s Talk Travel with AAA. Her articles and quotes have appeared in 20+ newspapers, magazines, and websites including the Washington Post, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, Business Traveler, Cosmopolitan, NorthWest Airlines World Traveler, Muscle & Fitness, Fit, Women’s World, Weight Watchers, Prevention, and Cooking Light.

      Dr. Jo, a registered dietitian, was the Chief Nutrition Officer at Burger King Corporation from 2003-2004. She earned her Bachelors (SUNY) and Master’s degrees (Virginia Polytechnic Institute) in nutrition and began her career as a clinical dietitian. At the age of 26 she became the founding director of the Dietetics Program at the University of Texas/Pan American where she developed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dietetics Program and earned full national accreditation. Dr. Joanne Lichten earned her PhD in adult education from Texas A&M University researching the difficult issue of how to help people make healthy changes in all aspects of their lives.

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    Joanne Lichten's Speech Descriptions

    Dr. Jo helps busy people stay healthy, sane, and productive. She has tailored many of her programs to meet the needs of busy business professionals who have achieved great success in their careers, often at the expense of their health and personal life. Dr. Jo helps audiences make the connections between how they feel, what it physically occurring in their bodies, and why. Every program is packed with small simple changes you can make to the way you eat, think, move, and sleep so that you can up your energy level and focus on living a fuller more productive life.

    How to Get Healthy and Fit on the Go
    With everything we have to do at work and at home, who has enough time to take care of ourselves the way we should? Dr. Jo offers inspiration with small change suggestions that make a big difference in our overall health and well-being. Discover:
    • Healthy ideas for “desktop” and “dashboard” dining
    • Healthy snacks to help keep your energy up
    • Quick dinner ideas for the whole family
    • How to fit exercise into a busy day
    • Which supplements work and which are hype

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    Eat Out & Lose Weight
    Do you enjoy eating out but find it difficult to keep your weight down? Dr. Jo will navigate the nutritional backroads from bistro to burger joint during this fun and informative program. Dr. Jo, author of Dining Lean, eats out more than 500 times year. She’ll share:
    • The fittest fast food
    • What (other than grilled chicken) is healthy on the menu - you’ll be surprised!
    • Simple requests (chef-approved to taste great) that make almost any food healthier

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    How to Keep Your Energy Up All Day Long!
    You’ve got so much to do. Have you ever wished you could keep going and going and going like the Energizer® battery? Learn proven health tips that will help you keep your energy up including:
    • How to control your thoughts and worries that tire you out
    • Powernapping to recharge the brain cells
    • Simple changes in your diet to prevent the blood sugar swings that zap your energy

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    Swimming in a Sea of Priorities
    Are you feeling that there’s too much to do and not enough time? Feeling guilty that you don’t spend enough time with your loved ones or on the things you enjoy? In just a short time, you’ll feel more on track with your priorities and less stressed. We will:
    • Establish your personal priorities & identify the true stressors in your life
    • Learn how to stay focused at work and let it go when you’re home
    • Create steps to smooth the transition from work to home (one of the most stressful periods)

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    What Every Woman Wants: More Energy, Great Looking Legs, & Peace of Mind
    Feeling fat, frazzled, and fatigued? It’s no wonder! The average American woman is working full time both at work and at home. If you’re looking for more energy and enthusiasm, Dr. Jo can help. This fun, funny, and motivational program will make you feel more relaxed, more in control, and ready to make some simple “no big deal” changes that will make a big difference in your life. Find out how to:
    • Feel more energized throughout the day with just a few simple changes
    • Get in control of your weight without having to succumb to another “diet”
    • Cope with those aggravating “little things” that cause so much of our mental and physical distress
    • Find needed time for yourself

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    How to Stay Healthy & Fit On the Road (for the traveler)
    Whether it’s business or pleasure that takes you on the road, travel can zap your energy. Dr. Jo, author of How to Stay Healthy & Fit on the Road and former contributor for USATODAY.com’s business travel section, shares quick and easy tips for healthier travel and happier homecomings! Learn how to:
    • Eat healthy in any restaurant - even fast food
    • Creatively fit in fitness and have fun!
    • Get a good night’s sleep at home and while traveling
    • Manage jet lag and stress

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    Nutrition Trends in the Food and Restaurant Industries
    Does it seem like nutrition experts are always changing their mind about “health”? Which direction should your company be moving in? Learn about:
    • Previous diets and their impact in the food and restaurant industry; what’s the next trend?
    • How to balance consumer demand, industry pressure, and the bottom line
    • How to market nutrition - including consumer’s ideas about portion size and value

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    Lean, Mean Restaurant Cuisine
    Americans are currently eating four meals a week in restaurants - and restaurants are under fire to offer healthier options. Dr. Jo, the author of Dining Lean, will navigate the nutritional backroads from bistro to burger joint during this fun and informative program. She’ll share:
    • The fittest fast food - are they financially successful?
    • Why “health” on the menu item often means disaster
    • Simple requests (chef-approved to taste great) that make almost any food healthier
    • Who’s doing what? - restaurants with healthier options

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    The Obesity Epidemic and the Food Industry
    With two thirds of all Americans either overweight or obese, there has been much finger pointing (and lawsuits) at the restaurant and snack food industry. Most restaurants and food companies are responding with healthier offerings. But are consumers buying? Dr Jo will cover:
    • Past and present health-related lawsuits - who are the players?
    • Current and pending frivolous lawsuit legislation
    • Consumer surveys regarding responsibility - who do consumers blame?
    • Consumer attitudes and behavior regarding healthy eating - why do they differ?
    • Restaurants and companies that are adapting - how successful are these healthful offerings?

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    Mainstreaming of Healthy Options
    It’s hard to imagine that just 35-40 years ago restaurants didn’t offer any healthy options. There were no diet sodas, margarine, grilled chicken sandwiches, or anything other than iceberg salads. People didn’t request salad dressing on the side – and there wasn’t a diet dressing available. And, back then, certainly no one paid for bottled water. We’ll examine the past and then look to the future.
    • History of healthy options in restaurants
    • What pushed the demand and how successful are they?
    • What didn’t work and why?
    • What healthy products are predicted to go mainstream in the upcoming years?

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    How to Make More Dough in Dietetics
    Would you like to earn more money? According to the 2005 ADA Dietetics Compensation and Benefits Survey, the average registered dietitian earns $45,760 (with a median of 15 years of experience). That’s less than entry-level four-year-degreed professionals including engineers and sales representatives (salary.com). Using stories and statistics, Dr. Jo will summarize the results of research of dietitians who have remained in the dietetics field and earn over $75,000. Find out:
    • What and where are the best paid jobs in dietetics
    • What traits high earners have in common
    • How YOU can develop these skills without going back to school
    • What classes dietetic students should take to prepare themselves for the higher paid positions
    • How to negotiate your next raise or salary - step-by-step! You’ll never earn more if you don’t ask
    • And lots more valuable advice from big-time earners to help you reach your earning potential

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    How to Sell Yourself & Your Ideas
    Everyday someone else is encroaching on our territory. If you don’t learn how to “sell” yourself and your ideas to your clients, employees, administration, prospects, and to the media, these unqualified “salespeople” will succeed at your expense. Find out how to:
    • Get comfortable with the idea of “selling”
    • Motivate others to remember you and what you do
    • Persuade others to listen and respond to your ideas

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    How to Get FREE Publicity
    Want more business? Don’t waste your money on advertising! Instead, get it for FREE! Find out how to get quoted in newspapers & magazines and interviewed on radio & TV. After this program you’ll be able to:
    • Explain why some people get publicity and others don’t
    • Write a press release that gets results
    • Describe what to do (and not to do) when the press and media calls

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    Healthy Eating on the Menu
    With one quarter of all meals eaten out, we can no longer tell our patients to avoid restaurants - or to just eat the grilled chicken. Dr. Jo, author of Dining Lean, navigates the nutritional backroads from bistro to burger joint during this fun and informative program. She’ll share:
    • How to guesstimate calories, fat, and carb exchanges for most menu items
    • The healthier choices at chain restaurants
    • Simple requests (chef-approved to taste great) that make almost any food healthier

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    Dealing with Difficult Personalities
    Remember when Mom said “treat others like we want to be treated?” Well, she was wrong. It’s when we treat others all the same and get bad results that we label them “difficult.” We will:
    • Complete a style survey to uncover which quadrant we and others fall into
    • Discover ways to work better with all the “difficult” people in your life
    • Realize key words to use - and those not to use - with your difficult people

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    How to Fix an Attitude
    This program isn’t about folks with a pleasant, easygoing attitude. We’re talking about the person who has a chip on their shoulder. Like a pebble thrown onto a still lake, the ripple effect of their negativity can bring down even the most positive people. Discover how to:
    • Handle negative comments and evaluations without reacting
    • Deal with the negative people that you have to live with or work with
    • Monitor your own attitude so you don’t catch the negativity “bug”

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    Stay Calm, State Your Case, and Be Listened To
    Has anyone ever misinterpreted what you said? Can you handle angry people? Do you get the respect you want and deserve? Learn how to:
    • Express yourself clearly to minimize misunderstanding & build collaboration with others
    • Find the “middle” ground so you don’t offend people nor get walked all over
    • Set limits with other, give feedback that helps people grow, and respond to criticism

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    Joanne Lichten on Speaking

    Small ‘no big deal’ changes really can make a big difference.

    SPEAKING.COM: What do you want people to learn / take away from your presentations?

    LICHTEN: There are three big takeaways in my presentations:
    1. Small “no big deal” changes really can make a big difference.

    2. Not everyone has to do the same things.
    3. There’s no single right way.

    For example, when we talk about sleep some people say they will add a sleep mask to block out light (since light can even pass through closed eyelids), while others opt for a bright light at their desk during the morning hours to reset their body clock. Many discover that even early afternoon caffeine is keeping them up at night and that smaller doses of caffeine can actually improve focus better, because larger doses increase anxiety.

    Another instance is when we talk about movement. You can actually see the relief in the room as we discover that smaller movements throughout the day can improve creativity and energy while counting towards your daily exercise requirement. Those with diabetes or pre-diabetes realize that even 10 minutes of walking or stair climbing after a meal can bring their blood glucose down to normal levels – without medicine – because insulin isn’t needed during exercise to move that glucose.

    SPEAKING.COM: What kind of special prep work do you do prior to an event? How to you prepare for your speaking engagements?

    LICHTEN: I frequently interview 5-10 attendees to get a better idea of their day, responsibilities, struggles, etc., so I can offer relevant examples and suggestions. I also love preparing short videos to invite people to attend the session. In addition, my programs are science-based so I constantly keep up with the literature about productivity and health. While I do present CEU programs to medical groups (which require more detailed research), my corporate and association programs use the research in a much subtler way. They just KNOW that I KNOW my stuff! This is especially important with C-suite clients.

    At first I thought maybe something was stuck in my teeth. Eventually I asked the attendees what was going on and it turned out that my face was blowing up from an allergic reaction.

    SPEAKING.COM: Have you had any particularly memorable speaking engagements / unusual situations arise while on the road?

    LICHTEN: In the 20+ years that I’ve been speaking there have been many. Some were just inconveniences, like getting stuck on the tarmac for hours or not being able to get out of a city before a snow storm and having to sleep in the airport. Luckily, I often travel with snacks.

    One of my experiences that stands out is staying at a hotel in Pennsylvania where there were no blinds on the windows because it was a historic hotel and they wanted to keep it in period. It was charming, but very difficult to get to sleep that long summer evening with a ton of light beating into the room.

    Another time I arrived three days early for a speaking engagement in Cork, Ireland so I could get acquainted with customs and food. I was surprised to find out when someone mentioned that “goose fat” (well, anything fried in it) was their favorite food. After I shared that I often ate peanut butter and toast for breakfast, the audience looked at me dumb-founded because peanut butter is never consumed at breakfast in Ireland.

    Perhaps the most unusual situation I’ve ever had was when I was teaching a full-day program for CareerTrack. During the course the audience started looking at me strangely. At first I thought maybe something was stuck in my teeth. Eventually I asked the attendees what was going on and it turned out that my face was blowing up from an allergic reaction. I took an antihistamine, finished the day, and – looking kind of like E.T. at that point – went to the ER where I spent most of the night. I now carry an EpiPen with me at all times.

    SPEAKING.COM: What types of audiences would most benefit from your message?

    LICHTEN: I love speaking at corporate and business association meetings where I’m the only “off-topic” presenter – or so they think – until they realize how just how crucial rebooting their energy is to improving their productivity. I enjoy speaking at women’s and medical conferences, too.

    SPEAKING.COM: Which of your keynote speaking topics are your favorites and why?

    LICHTEN: Reboot Your Energy. Again, it’s about how small changes in the way we eat, think, move, and sleep can reboot our focus, energy, and productivity. So much work went into the development of this program (and the book) so I can present material on so many different angles and levels.

    For example, when speaking to a conference consisting of medical staff and inspectors at the Nuclear Regulatory Agency, I focused on the research and practical solutions/best practices for sleep/shift work and fatigue. When I recently spoke to Janney financial branch managers, we covered all four areas, but with more of a broad stroke.

    When speaking at The Advisory Board Company conference, my program focused on sleep and eating healthy in restaurants for all the business travelers. I also shared “Dr. Jo’s Hotel Room Workout.” It’s a H.I.I.T. workout that I’ve been doing for decades in hotel rooms around the world. Right at the end of the program, we turned up the music and did a three-minute version of it. The planners told me later they were pleasantly surprised at how everyone got up and participated. On the contrary it was no surprise for me. I’ve done the H.I.I.T. workout with several groups, and it’s always an audience favorite.

    After hundreds of free engagements, someone from Compaq Computer Corporation (later bought by HP) asked me if I speak to companies and what do I charge. At that point, I didn’t even know that the speaking industry existed.

    SPEAKING.COM: What inspired you to start doing speaking engagements?

    LICHTEN: I wrote my first book in 1991. This was a local book, unlike my four other books which are national. When more than 5500 copies were delivered to my doorstep, my husband asked, “And how do you plan on selling all these books?” Well, I hadn’t thought about that.

    First, I got the book into all the bookstores, but, as you know, books don’t sell by themselves. So, I offered to speak to every group and booked myself on every radio and TV show. After hundreds of free engagements, someone from Compaq Computer Corporation (later bought by HP) asked me if I speak to companies and what do I charge. At that point, I didn’t even know that the speaking industry existed. That year I did $26,000 worth of business with Compaq…and my speaking business took off. I got into national speaking after six years working with CareerTrack.

    SPEAKING.COM: How much do case studies, personal stories and/or humor factor into your keynote speech content?

    LICHTEN: A lot! My early years were with CareerTrack where they encouraged us to change it up every seven minutes. As a result, I always interject personal stories (usually with some humor), quotes, writing exercises, small group activities, and large group activities. While I never tell jokes, my silliness and self-deprecating humor always brings out the laughter. My sense of humor always comes out in the surveys and audiences say that I bring energy to the conference.

    SPEAKING.COM: What are some of the successes you’ve helped clients make?

    LICHTEN: I love presenting programs, but I have often wondered if people stay motivated to make any changes afterwards. In order to find out, last year I developed my Reboot challenge which consists of short video messages that are delivered via email post-program to those that sign-up for it. The planners were thrilled to hear about this continued connection. More than half of every audience has signed up and my open rates average 68%.

    In addition, I am active on social media giving people many ways to reconnect with me – and they do!

    SPEAKING.com Exclusive Interview with Joanne Lichten
    Easy Ways to Boost Your Energy, with Fitness Speaker Dr. Jo Lichten
    In this interview, health and fitness keynote speaker, Dr. Jo Lichten discusses:
  • Simple strategies for rebooting your energy.
  • Her personal battle with anorexia and bulimia.
  • The biggest misstep people take when trying to make healthy changes. Read the Full Interview
  • "We’re all being asked to do more in less time, which is difficult when we’re already running at full capacity. That’s where REBOOT comes in."
    - Joanne Lichten

    What People are Saying about Seeing Joanne Speak

    Rating Entries

      “Joanne is consistently well-prepared, highly informative, interesting, and humorous. Employees frequently call and request repeat performances. Joanne is highly regarded.
      – Mary Beth McGowan, MS, RN, HealthPaq, COMPAQ (now HP)

      “I think Joanne was absolutely DYNAMIC. As a trainer it was very refreshing to see this presentation done SO WELL. She was interesting, organized, stayed on target, fun… Great mixture of humor, and great examples that kept us ALL enthralled.”
      – Adele (Didi) Reynolds, Trainer Int’l, LLBean

      “Thank you! All the evaluations reflect superior ratings, but more importantly, the participant’s comments include words such as ‘transforming’ and ‘renewed hope.’ You gave these people the chance to feel and live those words.”
      – Judy Gerner, Director, The Anderson Network, MD Anderson Cancer Center

      “Your practical advice, real-life examples, anecdotes, and humor helped us to develop our own personal strategies for managing stress. One of the participants said, “this is the most practical stress management course I’ve ever taken.”
      – Amy Serritella, AT&T, Chicago

      “You know how to provide a comfortable learning environment. Your exercises and group interaction really got them thinking about innovative win-win solutions for their own particular conflicts.”
      -Lauren Kirby, Director Corporate Training, Univ. Houston

      “Chicago Title appreciated the fun and uplifting “Stress Solutions” program you presented to our employees. You are a true professional! We all walked away with practical advice that will help us to manage our job-related stress.”
      -Mary Ellen Snell, Corporate Marketing Director, Chicago Title

      “It has been a pleasure working with you over the last four years and your upbeat and professional demeanor is always appreciated. In each of the programs you presented, the attendees have been offered practical advice… Especially helpful is the way you enable the participants to discover their own role in any situation – so, instead of reacting, they can focus on a healthy, proactive response.”
      -Annette McMahon, NE Training Logistics Manager, Marriott Int′l

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