Lisa Fields

Cherry Hill, NJ USA
Website: http://www.writtenbylisafields.com/
Contact

Professional Experience

My ability to quickly track down statistics, experts and medical studies, combined with my innate curiosity to know something about everything, makes me a natural-born reporter, writer and researcher. For 20 years, I've written for publications like Reader's Digest, WebMD, Ladies' Home Journal, Self, Shape and Fit Pregnancy. The topics I tackle most often pertain to health, nutrition, parenting, pregnancy, fitness and pop culture. I also write profiles of interesting people, and I cover culturally significant events. I've written extensively about sleep problems, children's health issues, nutrition, pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Expertise

Writer
20 Years
Reporter
20 Years
Researcher
18 Years

Specialty

Family, Children & Teenagers
20 Years
Lifestyle
20 Years
Health
20 Years

Industries


Magazine - Large Consumer/National magazines
20 Years

Total Media Industry Experience

20 Years

Media Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)

WebMD (10+), Reader\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ (10+), Shape (1-2), Good Housekeeping (1-2), Ladies\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ (1-2), Pregnancy & Newborn (1-2), DK Publishing (1-2), Octopus Publishing Group (1-2)

Corporate Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)

BlueSpire Marketing (10+), Time Inc Content Solutions (10+)

Other Work History

Research Associate Editor, Reader's Digest, 2002-2006 Associate Research Editor, Woman's Day, 1998-2002 Research Associate, Total TV, 1997-1998

Technical Skills

fact-checking, researching, writing, reporting

Foreign Language Skills

Spanish (reading, not writing)

Computer Skills

Word, Lexis/Nexis, Medline

Equipment

laptop, digital recorder, fax, webcam

Showcase

Lifestyle and Psychology

If you're divorced, or have ended a long-term relationship, well-meaning relatives and friends may encourage you to start dating again soon. But how will you know when you're ready for a new relationship?
Lasting contentment can be ours, say happiness experts, if we look in the right places. The field of positive psychology has found that people who tend to be happier perceive all events more positively than unhappy people, who are more likely to sulk after a boss criticizes their work or find faults in seemingly pleasant situations.
Many new moms are insecure about their looks, whether it's the baby weight they can't lose, the dark circles under their eyes or the frumpy way they dress. But your self-esteem shouldn't have to suffer in silence. Take note of common new-mom stressors, and find out how to overcome them.
Although you aren't pregnant for long, the dramatic ways your body changes can profoundly influence the way you feel about yourself during that nine-month period and beyond.
Meditation is simply a calming daily exercise -- not weird, not trendy. You don't need to be Buddhist, sit in an uncomfortable position or buy special equipment. Sitting and concentrating on your breathing helps you focus on the present, instead of regretting the past or worrying about the future.

Personal Essays

When my daughter was young, I borrowed the classic children's book "The Giving Tree" from the library to share with her, since I'd loved the story as a child. Unfortunately, reading it as a mom turned me into a blithering mess.
Before my daughter was even born, she began amassing drawer-fuls of adorable baby outfits. I had a lofty plan for that pint-sized wardrobe, well before she had the chance to wear a stitch of clothing: Once she outgrew everything, I decided, I'd turn her clothing into a memory quilt.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Before you were pregnant, you probably hadn't heard that your legs would get hairier or your nipples would darken as your baby grew inside of you, but you learned these and other quirky details while venturing through the trimesters. Now you might be wondering what nursing-related secrets lie ahead.
Many women find themselves unsure of what to eat while pregnant, surprised that the guidance they receive focuses more on taboos than ideal foods. Read on to learn about the seven foods recommended by registered dietitians and health experts for nourishing you and baby.

Parenting

Many parents warn their children about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Fewer parents, though, know that they should also warn against so-called "games" that are so risky they can lead to injury or death.
Runny noses. Stomachaches. An itchy rash. These are a few of the typical ailments that occasionally plague children everywhere. But what if something more serious develops, like an extremely high fever or a stiff neck? Do you rush to the emergency room, call the doctor or simply wait it out at home?
Twice as many diapers to change; two babies wailing at once; double the laundry. As soon as you're handed two -- or more! -- bundles of joy at the hospital, you'll realize you're about to have a very different experience from the other moms you know.

Sleep

Many sleep-deprived people drag themselves through the day, skipping physical activity and relying on sugary pick-me-ups. But these habits don't fight off sleepiness for long, and over time, they can contribute to weight gain or, at the very least, sabotage your efforts to lose those last few pounds.
Taking your fitness to a new level might have as much to do with sack time as saddle time: Many cyclists are chronically sleep-deprived.
If you've got a young child who wanders into your bedroom at night -- and are wondering what to do about it -- you're not alone. Plenty of toddlers, preschoolers, even school-aged children nationwide are sleeping with their parents at least some of the time. Here's how to reclaim your bed.

Nutrition and Fitness

Every December, my friend and I spend a full day making 500 chocolate truffles in five gourmet flavors, then give them to friends and relatives as holiday gifts. You can wow your sweetheart this Valentine's Day with delicious truffles, following recipes and instructions for tempering chocolate.
Your ability to see, touch, taste, hear and smell can make a multisensory experience of a meal. But don't let your fab five fool you into overdoing it. Our simple tricks can help you use your senses to eat better naturally.
For pregnant women, the best snacks combine things from at least two food groups, like apples, peanut butter and crackers. With protein, fiber and healthy fats, you'll stay full between meals.

Profiles

Most people today have no idea how Babe Ruth crossing home plate or Lou Gehrig delivering his farewell speech appeared in living color: the keepsake images emblazoned on the collective memory are in black-and-white. Graig Kreindler is trying to change that, one memorable baseball scene at a time.
A New York City landmark, the Empire State Building has endured for generations as a national symbol of romance, thanks to its breathtaking views of Manhattan and the popularity of romantic films such as "An Affair to Remember" and "Sleepless in Seattle."
On a sunny but brisk winter day, Jeremy Edmunds scans the Atlantic Ocean, peels off clothing down to his swim trunks and prepares for an afternoon dip in the cold, choppy water along Coney Island in Brooklyn, NY. At 1 o'clock, he runs screaming into the ocean until he is waist-deep in frigid water.
Seward Johnson has made a name for himself by sculpting ordinary people doing ordinary things -- reading newspapers on park benches, clipping hedges, eating hamburgers -- but his background is anything but average.

Health

Yes, everyone wants to have fun in the sun. But the steamy season can also present some serious health challenges -- including a few you'd never expect.
With the click of a mouse or a swipe of your finger, you can learn to sleep better, save your skin, stress less and still have energy for your favorite yoga video. Upgrade to your fittest, happiest self with our top tech tools, every one of them tried and texted.
When a heart attack strikes, it doesn't always feel the same in women as it does in men. Women don't always get the same classic heart attack symptoms as men, such as crushing chest pain that radiates down one arm. Many women experience vague or "silent" symptoms that they may miss.
Do you sit in your car while commuting to an eight-hour-a-day desk job, then unwind in front of the television all evening? If so, you may have "sitting disease." That's the new buzzword for a sedentary lifestyle, which may raise your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity.