Good morning! 
Happy Thursday? 
The last few days have been such a whirlwind, I had no clue what day of the week it was when I woke up! I really wanted it to be Saturday morning, but then I remembered it was only Thursday. Meh. Anyway, it was such a weird feeling not knowing right away! I was definitely confused!
Breakfast
Despite the hot and humid weather, I woke up craving a warm bowl of oats.
This morning’s bowl was topped with fresh blueberries and Barney Butter.
Blog It Off
As many of you know, I started Carrots ‘N’ Cake as a way to motivate myself to eat well and exercise in preparation for my wedding, which was last summer. At that point, I had found my Feel Great Weight, but I still wanted to look great on the big day. Kath’s blog also inspired me to start my own– she made it look so fun!
Shaun Chavis, Health’s weight loss editor, recently wrote a piece about how blogging can help you lose/maintain your weight. She wanted to learn more about how bloggers benefit, so she wrote to Stephen Vinson, along with Jennette Fulda of Pasta Queen, and yours truly. 
Check out Shaun’s piece to read about our various weight-loss blogging experiences: Blog It Off: Lose Weight with 1,000 of Your Closest Friends
31 Days of Summer
A summer tidbit from Kacy:
- Add fruit to your water bottle so that you can have a taste of summer all day long. Make it even more special by adding fresh brewed green tea for a little energy boost!
Question of the Day
Why do you blog? If you don’t blog, why do you read healthy living blogs?
{ 64 comments… read them below or add one }
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Cool idea with the water bottle!
I blog because I love to write, research, and deliver to the people! I’m still a journalist at heart, even though I’m a planner now, and I love to work on and write about the stuff I love – fitness and food!
Love the peaches in the water bottle!
My blog is not a food journal blog but rather a space for me to share recipes, reviews and insights about my path of intuitive eating. I really love blogging because I love food and I love writing. I also think that it is important to spread the message that dieting isn’t right for everyone and that there is a better way to be healthy, fit and still have a good relationship with food and your body.
I stared reading healthy living blogs because I wanted to lose weight and I really enjoyed reading them. Eventually I decided to start my own because I was already keeping a food journal (without the pictures). My blog and reading other blogs has motivated me to lose/maintain my weight more than any other diet/exercise plan ever has. I’ve tried so many new things since I started blogging. It helps that my gym is a 5 minute walk from my apartment and is only $20/month too!
I freeze blueberries in ice cubes and put those into water!
I love blogging for so many reasons!
1.) It’s fun! You meet so many people with similar interests to you!
2.) I love plating my food and making it look all nice and pretty! The presentation of your food makes all the difference, and it is a fun challange to try to make all your food look absolutely mouthwatering!
3.) Taking pictures of your food encourages you to eat healthfully, because when you post those pictures, you want your meals to look good! One of the easiest ways to make your meals look great is to use a variety of different colored fruits and veggies, because they add a pop of color to your dish. And the best thing is that at the same time, you are getting your fruits and veggies in for the day!
4.) I like trying new recipes and sharing my reviews with others!
5.) I like to read food blogs because I discover new food products through them, and they are a source of inspiration and encouragement to live healthfully.
I blog for accountability. It keeps me honest and keeps me on top of things with my health and fitness goals. I also like to read others blogs because it gives me inspirations and ideas to incorporate in my own diet!
Great question!
As a dietitian, I am intrigued by food overall and especially by healthy eating. I love getting ideas from others and I love sharing tips that work in my busy life.
I found KERF and Self Eat Like Me and I found that I LOVED reading them everyday, so after awhile, I was inspired to start my own.
i love blogging because i get to meet so many awesome people…. LIKE YOU!
I blog b/c I get to know other bloggers and it gives me a chance to get my thoughts out on a virtual page. I can reread old posts and remind myself of my strengths and past challenges. And I get so much support too!
I started my blog for many reasons, but definitely accountability is one of them! I still post when I have “slip-ups” – such as eating about 15 coconute date balls yesterday over the course of the day – but I think it’s important to be honest about what I eat and not to cover up slipups. For the most part it keeps those types of cravings in check.
LOVE the water and fruit idea!! It looks so pretty and would give just the right hit of flavor. Need to try that!
i most use my blog as a running/exercise log-i feel if you put it all out there, you will hold yourself to keeping up with it all….accountability for sure. i read blogs to get ideas, recipes, etc.
I blog mainly to promote my photography.
I’m still getting the hang of it, in terms of what to write, but the main part is definitely the photography.
As for reading the healthy living blogs.. I do it for inspiration. I’ve lost 50 pounds and am almost at my feel great weight! But I want to continue being healthy and eating right of course, so these blogs are awesome for inspiration.
I blog to share! I try so many new things and random recipes all the time–after reading others’ blogs for over a year, I knew that there might be some people interested in eating the same things I was. These blogs are a great way to gain knowledge of different foods and meals to try, but sometimes it’s better if someone else tries them out for you first! The blogging community also seemed like a great way to reach out, not only to share my foodie finds, but to build supportive friendships as well. My blog has been a little slower to take off, but I really value each and every one of the loyal readers I have. It brightens my day so much to see a comment or email from one of them!
I blog (but it’s not a food blog) because I love to write about what interests me. I started reading healthy food blogs just because eating healthy and exercising interest me, but now I’m hooked on knowing what’s going on in my favorite blogger’s lives. It’s a little community of friends I get to visit every day, they just happen to also show me what they had for lunch
I like reading blogs to get creative and inspiring ideas for meals so I won’t get stuck in a rut. I also love the different personalities and having a support network that shares a common passion for food and eating.
I blog to keep myself accountable, plus I have really developed a love of blog photography and learning how to make myself better at that. I actually feel like blogging has opened up a whole new avenue of friendships that I never would have had.
I blog to keep myself accountable, but also to keep from being too critical of myself. My blog is a nice reminder that I really do eat healthy 90% of the time; so the other 10% of the time, it’s ok to indulge a bit!
Have a good day!
I started blogging when I was training for my first races as a runner and also because I had lost 70 lbs and was inspired by other bloggers like you and Eat Like Me to share my “secrets”. It really has held me accountable all this time and I don’t know where I would be without it and all my fabulous blog friends
I just started blogging…. my friend Elizabeth started a blog and introduced me to the wonderful world of food & fitness blogs. I was hooked! It keeps me motivated, holds me to my word and makes me want to try new things. Plus I love when I can help someone out with running, motivation, etc.
I started reading yours first actually when I found it through Health magazine. It seemed like a fun way to get healthy recipes and stay accountable! Also a great community of internet friends! Thank you for motivating me to start my own blog!
I blog because, though I do a lot of writing for a living, its about work things, and I love writing about food, wine, and travel. It’s a lot of fun to be able to share all of the places I have visited and to give people ideas and tips that have worked for me.
ha, I hate when I wake up confused as to what day it is
seems like you had a fun couple of days!
I started blogging to pass on recipes to my family (who was always asking for them), to keep up with them and friends, and to keep myself accountable with maintaining MY feel great weight. I love reading them because I get so many new ideas, tips, and there’s a sense of community with people that have some of the same goals and interests.
I blog to keep myself accountable and because it’s FUN! Plus I have made so many new friends. I love this lil’ community!
I don’t blog, but I do LOVE to read the “healthy living” blogs. I get amazing recipes, food reviews, new food item ideas, motivation, and beautiful pictures of delicious food to enjoy. Plus, reading about other people eating the same way I like to and having such healthy relationships with food is refreshing! (Is it cheating to get all the benefits of the blogs without putting any effort into my own? Hmmm…)
Hmmm why DO I blog? I actually think about that question a lot, and I find it hard to crystallize because there are so many different little reasons! It’s hard to sum it up in one statement. But my answer definitely includes the following:
-to stay motivated and focused on healthy eating and exercise
-to connect with like-minded people
-to swap recipe ideas
-to learn about new products and companies
-to demonstrate an active interest in health (blogging helped me land my current internship! i cited a couple blog posts as writing samples, and they hired me!)
-to meet fun people like you!
Awesome! I can’t wait to read that article.
I blog because I just feel so passionate about living a healthy life and it’s a great medium upon which to share my thoughts on it. I also LOVE pictures of food. I’ve always been a foodie and my sister and I have always sent one another pictures of meals that we thought looked especially tasty…so I figured why not make it broader and share that with everyone and anyone!
I usually eat oatmeal every day, even in the summer. I just love it!
I started a blog because everyone kept asking me for recipes, so I started posting them for family/friends. Somehow it transitioned into a full on food blog. I love cooking and baking for others so it is fun. Plus, me and my hubs do it together. I try to focus on healthy recipes, but I love baking for fun, it is a stress reliever for me. So I make sure I share those with others:) I enjoy healthy living blogs, because I am a health educator. I have a degree in health promotion and that is what I do for my “real” job. I love your blog because it is motivating, with great tips, and I can relate to you and others. Sometimes I get bogged down with blogging, but I have made so many friends, etc. it is worth it! Again, I love your blog! Keep the great posts coming!
I had a similar breakfast this morning- banana oats with blueberries and MaraNatha Butter
As for why I blog, I love to write, cook, and eat, it made sense to me to start keeping a food blog about cooking, eating, and exercising, and I love every minute I spend working on it.
I blog because I love to write and this is one of the best ways to do that. It’s a fantastic way to stay connected with people across the miles, make new friends and feel part of a larger community.
After reading healthy living blogs for about a year and a half I was hesistant to start my own because there are so many good ones out there!
Mine is still new but it has been been a blast so far and a great outlet. It definitely helps me stay on track too!
Blogging has helped me lose 25 lbs so far! I love blogging and the people I’ve met have been amazing!
I blog because I love the community of runners (specifically, but I love all healthy living blogs!) and women (and men!) who are devoted to healthy living. I got into blog reading when I became a vegetarian and needed some recipe ideas!
I started reading healthy living blogs for inspiration. Then I started my own for accountability and also to (hopefully) pass on some of the same type of inspiration that I got from reading a lot of the blogs that are out there!
Those blueberries look enormous!
I read food blogs for over a year before I gave my own a whirl! Food blogs definitley made me more aware of what I was eating. I was eating a pretty healthy diet, but often got carried away with treats! I have found blogging to be so much fun and a great way to share my interests in a healthy lifestyle with others.
I blog as a way to journal, to keep myself accountable and to share what is going on in my life. I read blogs because I love to see what other people are doing, especially those who are interested in health and fitness.
It’s fabulous to be a part of a community of people who all love food, have a healthy relationship with food, and want to inspire others.
I blog for the healthy balance. And also to document my life and random adventures
I just read the article over at Health and it was awesome. I added a few more blogs to my reader. I blog on weight loss/fitness to help myself stay accountable to others plus it’s my mission to help inspire others who are facing the same challenges as myself. I read healthy eating blogs for inspiration and ideas of new foods I can try. Seeing whole healthy foods that others come up with shows me how simple it can be to eat better.
Loved Kacy’s tip on fruit in water and green tea. Gotta try it!
I love oats even on a sticky day. Something about the comfort of them.
I blog to keep me thinking about the reasons I eat healthy and exercise. It gives me a forum to think things out including all the little things besides the food and exercise themselves. And I read other blogs to get ideas for new things to keep things interesting so I don’t get board.
I have been reading healthy living blogs for about a year now, mainly as a “lurker.” I went through quite a few upheavals in my life this year and also decided to do a sprint triathlon. I decided to start a blog to document my training and it is so much fun! I have always been a writer, but realized I haven’t had an outlet for many years such as this. I enjoy reading other blogs and getting great ideas and inspiration and hope I can do the same!
Well I will be starting my own blog here very soon. It is just about ready to hit the blogging world.
I had found Kath’s site first and LOVED reading it so much! Reading blogs gave me great ideas and the sharing of information is great. That is what inspired me to start my own blog. I like to journal and I thought why not share it with other people. It will be good for accoutablitly as well
My blog isn’t really a health blog so my reasons are a little different. I started blogging because I was doing so much cooking and people were asking for recipes and family wanted to know what I was up to. Blogging seemed the perfect way to blend a love of writing that I had let fall by the wayside with my love of food.
i blog sort of as a diary, and took keep track of what meals and stuff i do that works, and what doesnt
i also do it to help others who struggle with maintaining a healthy life style (try to provide tips and easy healthy recipes)
plus i think it will be cool to look back on all of my thoughts years from now
I just started my blog, I think maybe as an outlet so my poor fiance doesn’t have to hear me talk about food all the time
and I love reading blogs for the great food ideas, and a reminder of just how many types of “healthy eating” there can be. Low fat, whole grain, raw, vegan, everything has a place, and it helps me remember that there isn’t one right way to be healthy.
Hey Tina! i love your blog and have been an active reader for quiteeee some time now. Even though im only 17 and only a reader, i feel like i have found kinda a sense of belonging. honest, i have struggled with a ED in the past but i have found through all your blogs inspiration and what it means to treat your body right with nutrious food and as well as getting some healthy exercise. My old friends kinda left me behind when i was down and i have found that maybe im better off, my family is my everything and if they were really my friends they would of put some faith in me and they wouldnt of left me in the dark. this past year i have met a great group of girls and have been treating my body with great respect. so thankyou sooooo much, and im sorry this is a novel comment! tomorrow is friday! =D
I blog for several reasons. I find it therapeutic to write my frustrations and setbacks down, and I also get motivation because it’s almost like I’m not in this alone. Even if only one person reads my blog, I feel responsible to that person to get up and work out, and eat healthy.
I started my blog as a way to hold myself accountable and to get myself to try new recipes. I am also trying to be greener! I really enjoy blogging – it is a great way to express myself.
I love the idea of putting fruit in a water bottle – I need to try that!
EatLikeMe, KathEats and CarrotsnCake were my inspiration to start my own blog. I feel like I have known them forever now.. its amazing how the ‘blogland’ can actually be such a ‘bondland’
Well, I originally started to blog to help me with my depression. As a side note, I have been overweight all of my life and decided to do a little talking about that too. I didn’t care if anyone read it. It just helps to get my thoughts out there . Though, I get excited when I see a new follower.
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