Interview: Monica Shaw of SmarterFitter
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(This is the fifth in a series of interviews with the top women fitness bloggers I could find!)
Monica Shaw writes at SmarterFitter where you can find “Less diet, more brain”. Her web site is “designed to help people make smart fitness decisions based on hard data”.
I asked Monica the following questions about her blog:
1) Why did you decide to start your blog or how did you start it?
Smarterfitter.com grew out of my personal interest in fitness and food. I’m a science nerd who likes to know the details. I’s not enough to know that “flax seeds are supposed to be good for me, so I’ll eat them.” I want to know why flax seeds are special, and furthermore, I want to read the science behind the claim. The more I know, the smarter my choices, it’s plain and simple. Writing about all this stuff is a great way for me to remember the things I learn and share it with a community of like-minded geeky folk. “Wait, I’m not a geek!” some might say. Anyone who wants to understand the logic behind the choices they make is a geek in my book. Science geeks, art geeks, DIY geeks, archaeology geeks… all geeks are welcome at smarterfitter.
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?
I can’t speak for all women, but I know that the biggest obstacle for me is having the willpower to overcome challenges in my environment. The modern world makes it tough to lead an “active life”, with cars being the main mode of transportation and packaged-meals being the main delivery device for food. This is changing, but ever so slowly. I’m lucky enough to live in London, a big city where it’s possible to get almost anywhere by bike or on foot. But there’s still pressure
all around. Social events almost always take place at the pub, a fixture on almost every street corner in London. Turning down a pint or a bowl of hot chips is tough in a society where drinking is the norm. It makes us feel either deprived or like a social outcast. Ick. Nobody likes that. Maybe the real obstacle is less about willpower than it is about perspective. I’ve certainly had to change
my perspective on my environment by learning to embrace the things that encourage good habits rather than fuss over all of the negative influences. It’s a similar mantra to AA’s serenity prayer:God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.I’m not religious, but there’s some truth to that. Still, there’s no avoiding onslaught of tempting cake and chocolates that arrives with every coworker’s birthday. But if we create the right environment and get our habits straight, it’s a lot easier to avoid overindulgence and love ourselves for making the choice that we know will make us happy.
3) What do you consider to be the most unique or helpful thing about your blog?
As its name suggests, smarterfitter is all about using our brains to get fit. My hope is that smarterfitter encourages people to make smart, rational choices based on real evidence rather than false promises for “rapid weight loss” or some similar claim. That was the goal in starting the blog, though I should really listen to my readerson this one. Most people tell me the best part about the blog is the food. I’m a vegetarian and my meat-eating readers say the recipes give them good advice for cooking with veggies (I forget that this isn’t obvious to many!). So much for my geeky intentions. But that’s okay; food is my obsession and I love to write about it. I’m just glad other people like it to.
Please take some time and visit Monica’s blog: SmarterFitter!
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Related Posts:
- Eating healthy to stay healthy
- Interview: JoLynn Braley of The Fit Shack
- Interview: Crabby McSlacker of Cranky Fitness
June 26, 2008
Interview: Spin Diva of Family In Shape
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(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!
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Related Posts:
- Interview: Lauren of laurensfitness.com
- Interview: Crabby McSlacker of Cranky Fitness
- Interview: Angie Schumacher of Women’s Diet and Fitness
June 25, 2008
Interview: Sally of InDenialHealth.com
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(This is the third in a series of interviews with the top women fitness bloggers I could find!)
Sally has a great blog at InDenialHealth.com. She uses humor, experience and good advice to help motivate and encourage people to change to a healthier lifestyle.
I asked Sally the following questions about her blog:
1) Why did you decide to start your blog or how did you start it?
Actually, my blog started out life in another form as a health and technology site. This came about due to my profession as an e-health administrator. What we started to notice was that our stories on health and trying to find motivation were really popular. Our technology stories eventually gave way and we made the big decision to start a new site with a new name and new direction. This coincided with me getting older and realizing that I’m finding it harder to stay motivated with my health journey. In actual fact, aging is probably one of the most important motivational factors we have to getting fit and healthy but for most women it’s put on their list of *Must Do’s*!
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?
Themselves. Women put everyone and everything before their own wants and needs. Kids, partners, work, home and family are all more important to them and that’s why we are so amazing!
Unfortunately, we are wired this way as part of a primal instinct to protect. This can be very challenging living in a modern world and I think many women put the thought of their health in the back of their minds and just hope that nothing bad happens. And it works for a while, until it doesn’t anymore. The irony is that the very best thing we can do for our family is to make sure we are well, happy and healthy.
3) What do you consider to be the most unique or helpful thing about your blog?
Our blog is a little different in that we recognize for many people, being healthy or coming to terms with a health condition can be challenging and often people try and live in denial, hence the name!
We hope that indenialhealth.com can provide information that is helpful to others without all the hype that you often find on health related sites. Our wish is that we can really connect with people who are either coming to terms with the need to be healthy or those who are still working towards making positive change.
Please take some time and visit Sally’s blog: InDenialHealth.com!
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Related Posts:
- Interview: Crabby McSlacker of Cranky Fitness
- Interview: Angie Schumacher of Women’s Diet and Fitness
- Interview: JoLynn Braley of The Fit Shack
June 24, 2008
Interview: Lauren of laurensfitness.com
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(This is the second in a series of interviews with the top women fitness bloggers I could find!)
Lauren blogs at laurensfitness.com, plays professional volleyball in Europe and is a Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer from Australia. She is also beginning a Masters Degree in Strength and Conditioning.
I recently asked Lauren a few questions about her blog:
1) Why did you decide to start your blog or how did you start it?
Currently I can’t personal train because I play Volleyball full time in Europe. I missed it, and I wanted to be able to do it again in some form. I find there are a lot of misconceptions and a lot of terrible info out there. I want to make sure people get some correct information on body and fitness, and hopefully open up their mind to a few more concepts. Not to mention bust some myths as well, there are a lot still going around the fitness industry that boggle 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?
Simply realizing that you can always find time to exercise. 30 minutes 3 times a week is all you need to get some gains. Time is used as a factor for women not being able to exercise, but in reality it is just a matter of changing their mindset around to find the time and schedule it into their routine.
3) What do you consider to be the most unique or helpful thing about your blog?
Probably the rehab stuff that I talk about on the blog. I find that is my most popular area, and one that is a little more hard to find. I’m finding people are getting a lot of use out of my fascia release and soft tissue posts. It’s an area that a lot of people don’t even know exists, but can bring them a wonderful pain free and mobile existence!
Please visit Lauren’s blog at laurensfitness.com!
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Related Posts:
- Interview: Spin Diva of Family In Shape
- Learn from the best women fitness bloggers!
- Interview: Angie Schumacher of Women’s Diet and Fitness
June 23, 2008
Interview: Crabby McSlacker of Cranky Fitness
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(This is the first in a series of interviews with the top women fitness bloggers I could find!)
Crabby McSlacker and Merry Sunshine write an excellent fitness blog called Cranky Fitness. Crabby knows how difficult sticking to a healthy lifestyle can be and offers lots of practical advice to make it easier.
I recently asked Crabby a few questions about her blog:
1) Why did you decide to start your blog or how did you start it?
I have a LOT of opinions about health and fitness, and my family and friends were getting really tired of hearing them.
Sample conversation:
Mom: “Guess who I saw a the grocery store today, do you remember Alice who used to live…”
Crabby: “Coffeemate??? Mom, when did you start using Coffeemate in your coffee, don’t you know it’s full of transfats?”
Mom: “So Alice ended up divorcing her husband and went back to college and you know what she’s doing now?”
Crabby: “It says “Fat Free,” sure, but just look at all these hydrogenated oils in the ingredients! How can they get away with…”Anyway, my family and friends seem relieved that I now have Cranky Fitness, which is probably a better outlet for my griping.
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?
The biggest obstacle is that living a healthy lifestyle is a pain in the ass.
Unfortunately, despite all the cheerful magazine articles, it’s really hard and time consuming to get in shape, shop for and cook with healthy ingredients, force yourself to eat broccoli instead of brownies, get enough sleep, avoid products that will kill you eventually… the list goes on and on. Sure, some aspects are fun sometimes, like eating a ripe peach or going on a beautiful beach walk with sunny skies and a cool breeze, but that’s the exception, not the rule. It sometimes takes going to the gym when it’s the last thing you want to do, or eating a healthy salad instead of a cheeseburger. It’s not always fun and easy, and so why would you stick to it unless you’re extraordinarily motivated? Most people just aren’t.
3) What do you consider to be the most unique or helpful thing about your blog?
Well, while we do try to provide useful information occasionally, we’re quite irreverent and whiny and silly and opinionated. Whether this is “helpful” or not is debatable, but I can certainly say we’re unique! Oh, and we have the BEST commenters–often that’s where useful information can be found when we’re just spouting off and being goofy.
Please take some time and visit Crabby and Merry’s blog: Cranky Fitness!
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Thanks! I really appreciate all your support!
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Related Posts:
- Interview: Angie Schumacher of Women’s Diet and Fitness
- Interview: Sally of InDenialHealth.com
- Interview: JoLynn Braley of The Fit Shack
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