Well I had to start somewhere. I admit, it’s been a little hard getting back into blogging. It’s like that old friend you keep meaning to call, but the longer you wait to call, the more you feel bad about not calling, and then you never call at all. And then you feel sad.
This blog is not about sadness, so I’m diving in head-first, like I did this morning at the swimming pool. It was my first swim in weeks. My goggles fell off when I dove in, but I didn’t care – it felt great to be back in the water.
While swimming, my mind drifted to something I’ve been thinking about quite a bit these last few weeks: where do I want to go with Smarter Fitter?
I’ve been writing this blog for a couple of years now. What started out as a link blog has become something more personal. And as the blog has evolved, so has my own life. I’ve fallen away from gyms and workout schedules and more into a “this is life” approach to health and fitness.
Here’s what I mean: in California, I didn’t do a lick of exercise. But I did kayak, snorkel, hike, play volleyball, run errands on foot, cycled to coffee shops, and did a lot of walking around campsites and state parks. I never really thought about exercise, but I somehow feel healthier after all of this. Part of that is the nature of vacation. But part of it is the sun and the freedom of the fear that if I don’t “exercise”, I’m gonna turn into a blimp.
So where do I go from here? I thought I’d ask you: what do you like to read about on SmarterFitter? Food? Fitness? Personal stories? Recipes? Cool links? Product reviews? Videos of elephant seals mating on the beach?
FYI: That’s my sis in the video and I’m the one filming. I love my new Panasonic Lumix!
Welcome home, Monica! 🙂 I hope you had an absolutely WONDERFUL vacation!
Yes, a healthy lifestyle affords us freedom from daily gym schedules. For those of us who really do heartily dislike rigid exercise (ME), just because it feels like boring work (sorry, it just does 🙂 ), moving around in all the ways we can, as you described, goes a great deal toward keeping us limber, fit, and healthy. Food, of course, is the other part. If we move more while eating less of better, then we’ve got it made!
So!…given that intro, I’ll state here I read your thoroughly enjoyable blog for the food and daily adventure stories you so kindly share with us. Your food stories, in particular, (with your gorgeous photos) inspire and motivate me and I also learn about new foods: TVP, for instance.
I’m glad you’re home. 😉
I didn’t do a lick of exercise. But I did kayak, snorkel, hike, play volleyball, run errands on foot, cycled to coffee shops, and did a lot of walking around campsites and state parks.
If you ask me, that IS real exercise. Moving our bodies with purpose (whether for work or play) is how we were meant to stay healthy. We have developed gyms and exercise programs to stand in for those activities which we don’t always have occasion to do in our modern lives. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a trainer and totally believe in organized exercise, but it is to make up for the fact that we are no longer doing the physical activity in our daily lives to make it unnecessary.
Continue to blog about your own process. That’s what gives the most value to those who follow you.
Cheers,
Adam
Hello Monica – great to hear back from you and glad you had such a great time away!
I think aside from what people want to hear or read, my advice would be to write about whatever you are most passionate about, whatever brings you most joy, whatever you want to express.
I think this is a better way to go, as you will never feel your posts are forced in any way. You write when you want and what you want, and there are always people interested in so many different topics that readership will always be there.
All of the above! I like variety 😀
I don’t go to the gym. I lift weights at home, walk everywhere and just get in my exercise in daily life and by doing challenges like the 200 sit ups challenge. And I’m in pretty decent shape just from the lifestyle activity.
Thanks guys for all your feedback. So I guess I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing. =)
@Julie – I’m SO glad to hear you like my food posts, because those are my favorite to write. =) I should post some more TVP recipes…
@Adam – Great point, and your right – I think most people would agree that in an ideal world, a gym wouldn’t be necessary. But this isn’t an ideal world and so organized exercise isn’t a shabby stand-in.
@Evita – As I said to Julie, I think I’m most passionate about food so I’ll keep those going. And whatever I want to express, as you say. Ah the beauty of blogs.
@Sagan – Ooh, your use of the word “challenges” has my mind spinning. I think you’ve just touched on something pretty important…. I think it actually is possible in the real world to still be active enough to avoid the gym. But setting challenges is pretty key. Gyms can sometimes make us lazy because the means are right there for us to use. It’s too easy – unless you have a badass trainer – to just go through the motions without actually making significant progress. Hmm, there might be a post here somewhere… =)