There is this awesome chain letter type thing happening in the blog space right now. Let me start by saying that I am not a chain letter person. I never liked them in elementary school when you’d pass them around to your friends (I never really got the point), and I hated them even more when they started filling my email inbox. I’m not a superstitious person so I never really fell for the whole “bad things are going to happen to you or you will never love or get married if you don’t pass this along to 10 people” thing.

But, I think the form that it’s taken in the blog world is fantastic – it’s to celebrate bloggers and the impact they have on their readers. No threats of blog-failure if you don’t pass it along either.  Plus, it’s a way to share with your readers other blogs that you follow, because perhaps they would enjoy it! Since I first saw this on a friend’s blog last week, I have now been introduced to several new (and awesome) blogs to read. Good thing it’s finals and I have so much free time to read more blogs…

The exiting news is, I was recently nominated by Elise, a fellow Boston Blogger (over at Eat.Sweat.Balance)! I am honored to be part of this group of “inspiring bloggers” and thrilled to know that I am actually inspiring someone out there to live a healthier lifestyle through eating well and exercising. I think one of the challenging parts about writing about nutrition and health is that it’s hard to measure the impact you’re having. One of the reasons I’ve really enjoyed working with individual clients over the last several months through fieldwork I’ve done for school is knowing that I’m helping them live a healthier life. Observing the direct impact I can make on an individual is incredibly rewarding. But, one of the reasons I came to Tufts to study nutrition communication was so that I could educate a lot of people at once, not just one or five clients that I can see in one day working in counseling. So, thank you Elise for reminding me that sitting behind my computer and sharing my knowledge with all of you is actually impacting someone out there!

For this inspirational blogger award, I’m supposed to share with you 7 things you don’t know about me and then share 7 blogs that inspire me. So here it goes…

1. I hated my first spin class. I was bored, the class felt easy and I didn’t feel like I got a workout. Yes, I’m talking about spin. I planned to never go back – I was mad that I wasted that precious hour of my day. It turns out, I just didn’t know what I was doing. The instructor didn’t help me set up my bike (or tell me how to use it),  the music was terrible, and the instructor uninspired. My roommate at the time dragged me back to try another class with a different instructor (she was a huge fan of spin) and I’m so glad she did. I may never have found my love for spin and become an instructor if she hadn’t! So next time you try something new and don’t like it, don’t write it off until you’ve tried at least 3 times.

2. English was my worst subject in high school. Math and science were totally my thing. I even liked organic chemistry. Yes, I am that girl. I dreaded writing assignments. And now, people actually pay me to write. I think my parents are still in shock that I am about to finish a masters degree in nutrition communication. Oh, and I was the teaching assistant for a writing class this fall. Really? I have no idea how it happened, but I have come to love writing.

3. I can still do a split. I guess some things just stay with you after doing 10+ years of competitive gymnastics. I have lost a lot of my flexibility since my teenage years (especially after picking up running) but somehow I can still do a right-leg split.

4. I love football and college basketball. Not just during the superbowl or march madness — I watch all season long. And yes, I turn on games by myself at home if no one is up for meeting me to watch at the bar.

5. In my former life I encouraged people to drink more scotch, eat more junk food, and watch more TV. When I told my boss I was leaving the world of advertising to study nutrition, he was, let’s say, a little surprised.

6. Between 2008-2010 I lived in 5 different cities including both coasts and South America. After spending 3-years post college in NYC, I’d had enough of Manhattan so I quit my job and moved to San Fransisco (via Lima, Peru where I spent a summer volunteering). While SF was everything I wanted in a city (and more), I realized that it didn’t matter what city I was in if I was unhappy with my job situation. I decided to go back to school to study nutrition, which meant I had to take about 10 pre-requisite science courses before I could apply. So, after an amazing year on the west coast, I begrudgingly packed up my fantastic Nob Hill apartment and headed back to NY…this time upstate…to live with my parent…and take undergraduate science classes with a bunch of 18-year-olds (I was in my mid twenties at the time). I was starting to live up to the “crazy girl” title that I’d been given when I quit my job to move across the country (twice). Luckily it paid off and in just over 2 years since I left NYC I moved to the 5th city – Boston. To say that I’m thrilled to be staying put in Boston for a 3rd year is an understatement.

7. I spend more time wearing gym clothes than anything else. I have a closet full of ‘grown up’ clothes (and still never have the right thing to wear, like most girls), but I love wearing workout clothes…they make me feel good about myself. They are also very comfortable. Some days I go to the gym, shower, and then put on gym clothes again (clean ones!).  I’m dreading having to get dressed up for my dietetic internship this fall. And to think my mom used to (still?) refer to me as the fashion police.

And 7 blogs that inspire me (warning I read a lot of food and running blogs)…

1. 101 cookbooks: I know Heidi doesn’t really need a shout-out because her blog (and cookbooks) are so well read, but damn this woman can cook, and with so few ingredients…not to mention she always uses real food. Sometimes she puts together the strangest, yet most interesting combination ingredients. Oh and her photography skills take my breath away.

2. Ali on the Run: This girl has an infectious energy and enthusiasm for life, in spite (or maybe because of?) of her life-long battle with crohns disease. She pushes through runs that I would have stopped miles before, and does so with a huge smile.  Also, she puts more of her life on the internet than I ever would…and gives me a good laugh while she’s at it.

3. Smitten Kitchen: As a former resident of a NYC apartment that had about 1 square foot of counter space, I am consistently amazed at what comes out of this tiny kitchen.

4. The Runner’s Kitchen. Running is a priority in this girls life, but she doesn’t let it take over. She get’s in in whenever and however she can. Whether it’s a run-commute to work from Brooklyn to Manhattan or a 10p run after a full day of work and social outings, she makes sure to get her run in– without it getting in the way of her social life. I also like that she promotes eating healthy most of the time but isn’t afraid to eat a huge ice-cream cone followed by a big beer. It’s all about balance.

5. The Sprouted Kitchen: Organic, local, seasonal, simple food. Pair it with some serious photography skills and I’m hooked.

6. Real Life Nutrition: This Web-MD hosted blog provides content from 5 accomplished dietitians. They take current topics in nutrition, food, and research, and break them down to be accessible and easy to understand for the consumer.

7. Meals for Miles: Running, nutrition, good food. What’s not to like? Oh and she kind of reminds me of, well me! Former NYC pr exec turned MS RD-to be.

While we’re talking about being inspired, you should read this article about this 12-year old boy who went from being bullied about his weight to transforming his family’s eating habits and writing the book Portion Size Me: A Kid Driven to Plan a Healthier Family with his mother. Truly inspiring.

What blogs inspire you?

- your food and fitness friend