I've been looking for new blogs to follow and as I search I'm learning a few things. Such as:
1. Everybody has a cute name. I have yet to see a weight loss or fitness blogger named Ethel or Herman. I think there may be an unexplored niche here...
2. I really do not like blogs that are recipe after recipe filled with food porn pictures that aren't also food blogs. On a weight loss journey and you want to share a recipe you like? Post a picture, okay maybe two, and then the recipe. We're just fine without more. Photos of salt pouring midstream are boring. And really, other than a commercial food blogger, who has time to do those kinds of posts? Plus all the food porn makes us hungry. I'm looking for inspiration, not an appetite stimulant!
3. As I've mentioned, I do not like the uberly commercial blogs where everything or every other thing is a giveaway. To me, they lose their authenticity, their voice. It's hard to have a connection with the blogger when it seems they're telling you a story, only to have it segue into product placement. "And speaking of nasty toenail fungus that my brother's cousin's uncle once had, Fungaway is a fabulous product!" Giveaways are great, but don't become one big advertisement.
4. I do like bloggers who understand that this is all one day at a time for most of us. Maybe even one second at a time, if we're being honest. People losing weight who just one day that switch flips for them and they never slip up, ever? There is one well-known blogger who took charge of himself one day, but apparently never had a setback. In a year. Really? I have loads of admiration for him, but he never quite rang true for me. This shit is HARD. Everybody is going to slip up, at least once. The trick to being successful -- I suspect -- is to pick yourself back up and start all over again.
5. Sorry to those who have their blogs laid out this way, but I hate hate hate the ones where there is the post headline with a little blurb then beneath it two columns of headlines with little blurbs. Why are you making me click? Why must you hide behind the blurbs? Why can I not type "blurb" correctly the first time around?
6. I do like bloggers who are big, as in size. I can relate. While I truly admire those who have successfully completed their weight loss journeys, too many of those also morph into the commercial route and, again, lose their authentic voice. But I found myself searching the 'net, saying "Where are the hefty girls?" (and boys, I'm not discriminating) These are the people who inspire me. If you start a weight loss blog because you have to lose those stubborn 15 pounds, fuck you. I will kill and eat you.
7. There are way too many puns about weight loss and healthy living, and they are all somebody's blog title somewhere. Some are extremely clever and some are.... repetitive.
After all this, I did find a few great new blogs to read. I really need some inspiration. The depression is better though, for which I am very thankful. Slept about twelve hours or so Friday night but was up later Saturday night and up earlier Sunday morning, got about a "normal" eight hours or so, and I even had the energy to cook and reorganize my garage. It's been a LONG time since I've felt like that much activity.
We had our first week weigh-in for my office's Biggest Loser challenge. There are four of us: one is out of town, the other two gals lost weight, and I . . . gained 1.8 lbs. I knew it was coming. Not that I've been eating horrible or anything, in fact I ate rather lightly all weekend although more carbs than I usually have. But I feel compelled to point out that (a) we're doing our weigh-ins fully clothed, including shoes; (b) I was wearing way heavier clothes today than from a week ago, given that it's about 20 degrees cooler here today; and (c) I start my period this week. Normally my "official" weight that I do at home is stark nekkid and as empty as I can be. Oh well. Next week I'll be back down!
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl
Oh, I just found a good blog (new to me) that I like a bunch- "it's a dog lick baby world"
ReplyDeleteShe's funny, she runs, she's real, and did I mention she's funny? She is skinny, but whatever, I don't hold that against her.
I hear you on a lot if those points about blogs!
ReplyDeleteHowever, I like to read a wide range of people in various stages of weight loss- beginners to maintenance.. Reminds me of where I've come from and my goals, keeps me motivated to see success at all stages! (But I also hate the commercialized blogs!)
Great post, I feel the same about some blogs. As for #6, I have 1 out of two. I'm a hefty girl but just starting my journey to lose over 250 lbs. I'm nobody's inspiration....YET.
ReplyDeleteHee hee yes those are very valid gripey points. Here here! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendation, V -- I will go check it out! I wouldn't hold being skinny against someone, more like weight loss blogs written *by* skinny people rarely inspire me. People who are right now down in the trenches do. I did like the trainer who had been fit and beautiful all of his life who decided to gain a whole bunch of weight and then lose it so that he could relate better to his clients. His blog was very commercial and so tough to find the meat in it, but I liked and admired the idea.
ReplyDelete