(This is the fourth in a series of interviews with the top women fitness bloggers I could find!)

Spin Diva has a very informative blog called Family In Shape. She is an AFAA Certified Personal Trainer/Group Fitness Instructor and attends the University of Maryland University College. Her blog’s goal is to inspire families with ideas to help them lead a healthier lifestyle.

I recently asked Spin Diva a few questions about her blog:

1) Why did you decide to start your blog or how did you start it?

I decided to start a blog for several reasons. First, I really love to learn all that I can about health, fitness, wellness, food and exercise, etc. I can’t guarantee that it will all stay in my head the first time around, but I figure the more I read the more I’ll learn. Second, I like to share what I do know and what I have learned from other experts in the field of health and fitness with my readers. What’s the point in learning all this information if I’m not going to use it to help someone else? Finally, I like to write. I find that when I put on paper the thoughts that creep into my mind, I am able to focus and sleep better. My mind is clear of all my crazy thoughts and ideas. I took the opportunity to start blogging when I was asked to be a guest blogger on the Time4Learning web home school blog. This opened up other opportunities and then I participated in an online blogging course which lasted 6 weeks. This was the beginning of my current blog, Family In Shape, which focuses mostly on fitness and nutrition. Still I find myself wanting to talk about things other than health and fitness, therefore I created a blog called Early Morning Peace. This is where I just talk about anything that pops into my mind.

2) What do you think is the biggest obstacle that keeps women from engaging in a regular fitness routine and/or from living a more healthy lifestyle in general?

Motivation. This is the key to everything we do. From getting up in the morning, to cooking dinner and showering. You have to be motivated enough to commit to work towards your goals. I’m a Personal Trainer/Group Fitness Instructor, an online college student, military wife, mother of four busy kids ages 17, 14, 6, 19 months. My goals are to get my degree, to live a healthy lifestyle, to teach my children well and live long enough to see great grand children. The list doesn’t end there. Without motivation I would never reach my goals. We (women) give, give, give and somewhere along the way we stop taking care of ourselves. But you have to be motivated enough to dig a little deeper and push yourself a little harder everyday. Sometimes we have to say no to the world and yes to ourselves, even if only for one hour each day. I wish I could reach through my blog and inject that drive, that energy that tells someone, “go for a walk, take a bike ride.” Since I can’t physically do this, I hope I can provide enough information for people to become motivated and take back control of their wellbeing.

3) What do you consider to be the most unique or helpful thing about your blog?

One of the things I like about my blog is that its very non-technical. When I train people I talk to them so they can understand me, not so they can see that I know the name of a particular muscle. I’m not there to impress anyone, just to help them improve their health and reach their goal. The same goes for my blog. Sometimes something happens in my life that I can share with others and usually I find solutions which I also share. I am an optimist and see the glass as half full. For every negative event, there is a positive result and that is what I try to share with my readers. Just because I gave in to the cookies and milk monster cravings doesn’t mean that it’s all over and I should throw in the towel. My blog gives clear ideas for fitness, nutrition, ways to relax and have fun. I also like to include the kids in many if not all of the activities. Children learn from our own leadership–if we live a healthy lifestyle they will carry that on through their lives. I may not ever be a size 6 but while I exercised, ate healthy foods, limited not so healthy foods, etc… my kids were watching and learning. That to me is better than being a size 6–which I haven’t been since I was 16 I am most excited when someone leaves a comment saying that I’ve helped them make a change for the better.

Please take some time and visit Spin Diva’s blog: Family In Shape!