Hi bloggies! Is Tuesday treating you nicely? Mine has been good, but then again I always consider a day good if nothing traumatic happens. Today was just a basic day. I woke up around 6:15 to head downstairs and get some Bible time followed by computer time. I love having this downtime in the morning again. It sets the tone for the day perfectly.

After consumption of a whole wheat bagel + pb & honey, the morning continued with a Power workout at the gym. Strength training holds a special place in my heart. I already have a hankering for the return of intense lifting sessions post-baby. I adore being pregnant, but can’t help to miss my regular work in the gym.

Later in the day, I spent a good chunk of time writing an article and catching up on blogs. I took a quick break to devour leftover tofu broccoli slaw.

I needed lasting energy in the form of veggies and healthy fats to power through an afternoon at home playing with Makenzie. While decorating Dora in colors of blue, green, and yellow something occurred to me. Today is the 20th. It may not be an important date to you, but to me it symbolizes a new step in my life. On January 20th of 2010, exactly six months ago…Faith Fitness Fun was created!

I had blogged sporadically a few months before that on a different site, but it was less of a blog and more of an online fitness competition prep journal. On January 20th, I transferred those posts over for easy access to them and then committed myself to blogging regularly and using Faith Fitness Fun as a platform to share about my passions for healthy living and enjoying life to the fullest. It wasn’t until the beginning of this little blog that things changed. And boy, did they change. A sampling of some of the discoveries I encountered over these glorious 6 months:

• The blogging community is downright uh-maze-ING! You all are seriously fabulous and I do not know where I would be without your love and support. Every comment I receive leaves me glowing. Every chance I find to hear about your beautiful insights and personalities brings out the best in me. The friendships formed here fulfill me in so many ways and I thank you for that. I hope you all keep coming back so we can continue sharing the love and I hope to continue developing even more friendships across the blogosphere.
• The development of new passions. I love to write. Love love love it. I never thought to combine my passion for health and fitness through the written word until the blog. The chance to write my first published article sparked a huge interest. Now, I strive to develop and hone my skills to branch out further and further into the writing world. It starts with small steps, which I love, because there is no telling where they will take me.
• I learned SO much! Blogs are a wealth of knowledge. New recipes, workout ideas, and insights into how to handle personal issues only form the tip of the iceberg. I know I have much more growth inside of me and you fabulous ladies will be part of bringing that about.
• And the biggest lesson of all – to love myself and trust. At the start of Faith, Fitness, Fun I struggled with adjusting to my new body image. Having to gain weight post-competition in order to conceive our second child proved to be a challenge. Even more so when that positive pregnancy test did not come near as soon as we hoped. I went from tip-top shape to average and had to cope with it over a longer time than expected. There is nothing wrong with average (in fact, it’s beautiful) and I know now I still looked pretty stinking good. The changes inevitably messed with my mind, however, and it took much prayer and personal reflection (and love from you all) to push through it. I trust God used that time for me to further understand how to honor and respect my body for the beautiful creation it is and to prove to me that He will take care of me, which He did as I sit her 3.5 months pregnant today.

It has been a whirlwind and I wouldn’t change a moment. Thank you for sharing this time with me. A special thanks to Lisa, Naomi, Janetha, Julie, Krystal, Katie, Paige, and Mellissa who were there from my very first FFF post.

How long have you been blogging? How has it changed you?

If you have been reading my blog for any length of time, it has probably become pretty apparent that I am an open book. I don’t hide my feelings; I don’t hesitate to share my thoughts; and I will talk about most anything – nice, ugly, scary, controversial, whatever.

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I have shared specifics of my experience with binging. I have openly discussed facing depression in the wake of a very difficult relationship with my father. I discuss topics related to my faith openly. I tell the unglorious side of things like competing and don’t sugar coat it in the least. I share news right away, when most people would wait a couple more months. And don’t be surprised if some TMI info reveals itself in the upcoming months from the many pregnancy moments I assure you don’t have an “awww” or “how cool” reaction.  I could already disclose that at only one month in, my gas and bloat at the end of the day could either fuel a power jet or help keep the Titanic passengers afloat. Don’t act shocked. I gave ample warning of the TMI coming your way.

So you may wonder where all of this is leading. Awhile ago, Sophia posted about our responsibility as bloggers to consider the material we put out there. People are reading it and it is impacting others. Either for the better or the worse. She shared many useful tips and I would recommend reading her post. There was one thing, however, that I felt was missing. Honesty.

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I think there are many areas bloggers should be honest about to help aid a supportive environment for readers. Here are just three of the many areas I hope we are mindful of and truthful with in our blogs.

1. Having a "perfect” persona. If you consistently cover up or don’t discuss any imperfections and struggles you have, readers could end up with the distorted vision that you are “perfect” or “never mess up” or “always eat/workout/live right”. This type of persona could ultimately lead to others feeling not good enough about themselves. In an ideal world we would not compare ourselves to others, but as bloggers we should know that it happens. If you are honest about some sugar passing your lips, missing a workout, dealing with a negative body image on occasion, being angry or hurt about something, etc you will become more real. Many of us bloggers hope to set examples and help others. Acting the part of “oh-glorious-one-with-no-problems” could provide an unrealistic example and set others up for a sense of failure.

2. Having a platform about a diet/fitness lifestyle and claiming it is the only way. Being part of the healthy living blog world, we readily come across a variety of lifestyles touting the benefits of this or that way of eating or exercise. If you follow any particular lifestyle and openly share about and sing its praises on your blog, that is great. I am not negating that because it is after all what helps to distinguish one blog personality from another and we all have something we feel works great in our eating and fitness lives. What I am cautioning is advocating that your life choices regarding food and fitness are the only way or the best way. That is not honest. Different things work for different people. By all means share how your choices have impacted your life for the better, but be wary of giving your choices the “this is the be-all-end-all if you want to live well” description. There are many bloggers who stand for something, but do it with class that they do not judge others for their ways of living because they know what works for them doesn’t necessarily work for others. I respect that very much.

3. Not sharing openly on topics close to you. If you are going through something, have been through a trial, or have a topic close to your heart, I believe it is best to be shared. I understand some of us have things we simply cannot or will not talk about. It may be too personal and make you uncomfortable. Your choices on what you share are strictly that. Yours. But, there is one reason I support sharing more on certain things in your life. If you open up about a particular hardship you have/had you may be reaching out to readers in a way you never knew you could. You have the possibility of not only giving others support by allowing them to relate to you, but also receiving the companionship and uplifting you very well may need as well. You don’t have to share everything, but do try to be more open to the idea of sharing more about your life than what you ate today.

• Do you appreciate other bloggers’ honesty? What ways do you hope other bloggers are honest?
• Is there anything you have been honest about on your blog and were hesitant to do so, but now realize the rewards of opening up?
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