Comments on: Food/fitness blogs: Pressure or Motivation??

By: LCD Protector

LCD Protector — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 19:53:07 +0000

.’* I am very thankful to this topic because it really gives useful information “;”

By: Denise

Denise — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:37:01 +0000

Yes! And I can’t wait to go!

By: Fitnessista

Fitnessista — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:00:42 +0000

spinning is excellent exercise and doesn’t impact the joints.. nothing wrong with choosing that over running!

By: Fitnessista

Fitnessista — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:00:04 +0000

haha wwfd. i love it
i wish i would have kept a blog or record of my weight loss journey too.. you’re right in saying a lot of bloggers are already to a point where we have it figured out, but it took a lot of pitalls and setbacks to get to fitness and nutrition satisfaction

By: Sheri

Sheri — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:44:31 +0000

I always get lots of motivation from reading the food/fitnees blogs. It gives me new ideas for recipes and for exercise. I could see depending on the person reading how it could effect them and their self esteem. Everyone is different and it could place pressure on some people to “match” what other people are doing. Sometimes I admit that I may feel a little inadequite to some of the other bloggers out there but then I think about what is right for me and how I am feeling and snap out of it.

When I blog I like to give a true picture of what I eat and how I exercise. I do not want to give a false picture of myself! I eat what I LOVE and exercise because it feels great!

By: Gena

Gena — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:21:01 +0000

Great discussion, gorgeous girl!

I think that, first of all, people need to be held accountable for what they do and don’t choose to read and fixate on. I realize that many blog readers are very young, but the simple fact is that blogs are public resources; how a person chooses to approach them is a personal matter, not the fault of the material.

I do think that blogs stoke and provoke a lot of comparison and competition, not to mention disordered habits. That’s too bad. I also don’t think it’s going to change, because it isn’t really the blogs, per se, that do this; it’s the psychological underpinnings of those who read them.

For every person that a blog triggers, though, there will be many others whom it can inspire, support, comfort, or motivate to better health. And in this regard, food and fitness blogs are great.

It would be nice to toss the negatives aside and focus on the positives, of course, but it’s impossible to instill in people (especially people in the throes of an eating disorder) a sense of comfort about what they do vs. what others do, or to quiet the need to compete. On time, treatment, and self care will do that. In the meantime, blogs will either be triggering or comforting, and which they’ll be will depend on the person reading.

Gena xoxo

By: ashley

ashley — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:31:21 +0000

I am just starting on this new healthy life journey. I love the food/fitness blogs (esp. yours!). I find them to be very motivating and I’ve learned so much.

My only problem- or thought- is that most people who have these blogs have already reached a “high level” of healthy living and eating. I would have loved for instance, to have read your thoughts when you first started your journey (when you started the South Beach diet) to track how you got to where you are today. Sometimes its nice to know that others experienced the pit falls and set backs that I continuously have now. I feel like the blogs I read make it looks so easy.

With that being said- I’ve started my own blog in the hopes that I too will one day make it look easy- but also show readers that it wasn’t always that way. Bottom line- I love the blogs- and I do think to myself WWFD? (what would the Fitnessista do?) ha. and it helps! Keep up the great work!

By: Emily (Healthy Fit Mama)

Emily (Healthy Fit Mama) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:55:30 +0000

I think for the most part food & fitness blogs are motivating, but I would be lying if I didn’t say that sometimes I feel a little inadequate because I’m not a runner. It seems like so many bloggers out there run marathons and, although I’m very fit, running just isn’t my thing. I just have to keep reminding myself that everyone has something that they’re good at, and other things they’re not so good at. For me, it’s Spinning rather than running.

By: Kimberly@Living Free

Kimberly@Living Free — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:23:25 +0000

I have had both experiences with blog reading. It really depends on what kind of state I’m in with my health. If I’m struggling with my health and trying to figure out what I can and can’t eat–reading a lot of blogs can be frustrating because even healthy foods can be a no-no for me. So, I see all these yummy foods and want to try them but can’t.

On the other hand, if it weren’t for blogs, I don’t know where I would be! I have found SO much inspiration from other bloggers. I have found some recipes that DO work for me and some that don’t. It has helped me to see how others view food in a healthy way. I enjoy my food more now than I ever have before. As someone who has had a history of an eating disorder, reading blogs has helped me learn what ‘normal’ eating looks like:)

I just recently started reading your blog and LOVE it! Can’t wait to try some of your recipes:)

By: Megan

Megan — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:09:25 +0000

Spark motivation! I would have never stood a chance without other women bloggers and reading about their journey. It gave me the strength and courage to start my own. It does take mental strength to realize that only jogging two miles in my first two weeks is actually good, and that I won’t see big changes over night… but I think if you can do that (mental check) then these blogs are a huge motivator!