Just over a year ago, I wasn’t yet a blogger. I was going through a Turbulence Training Transformation Contest, and tweeting about my meals and workouts. I was posting a lot in the forums on dailyburn.com, trying to help answer the questions of people starting out, just like Susan had helped me when I was beginning my journey.
And then someone said it… “you should start a blog! You’ve really inspired me.” Really? Me? But then, I had answered a LOT of questions, typing the same answers over and over againon the DailyBurn forums. Wouldn’t it be great to store than information in a post, and then just be able to refer people to it? Wouldn’t it be great to be able to share my story?
So on March 4, 2009, I ventured out to Google’s Blogger platform, and staked my claim. But what to call it? I’ve had a lot of people debate me on this name, but I choose Looking Good (for a mom)to reflect the way I felt about my body at the beginning of my journey, not only when I was in denial, but even when I’d lost 10 pounds and gone down one size. When I reached my goals (actually blew past them), I’d ventured into territory I never thought possible, as a mom. The people I wanted to inspire were people who thought achieving their best body wasn’t possible, now that they were a mom, over 40, or someone who works full-time and has little time outside of work for themselves. I started this journey to inspire people to take better care of themselves…I hope I’ve done that for a few of you, at least! Since then, I’ve moved to WordPress with self-hosting, guest posted for others, joined a group of local mom bloggers, and more.
YES! It’s my one-year anniversary of blogging, or my “blogiversary.” Since having a cake to celebrate wouldn’t really be my thing (not a big fan of cake), I decided a fruit tart would be a more appropriate visual depiction. Looking at the picture sure is making me hungry for some fresh fruit!
And of course, an anniversary is always more fun with presents! So I have a few to give away. Here’s how to enter:
- Post a comment below, and tell me your favorite article on LGM, or if you’re new to my site, tell me what your health goal is for the coming year.
- For an additional entry, tweet a link to this post and use the hashtag #lookinggoodmom. Please add a second comment with a link to your tweet. You may tweet once per day through the end of the contest.
And here’s what you can win!
- Trudie Styler’s Warrior Yoga DVD
valued at $8.49
- One Turbulence Training individual workout valued at $9.95 (4 prizes), such as:
- One Turbulence Training individual workout valued at $19.95 (2 prizes), such as:
- TT for Meatheads
- TT for Buff Dudes and Hot Chicks (one of the most popular TT workouts EVER!)
- A basic Turbulence Training Membership including one-month forum access valued at $39.95 (one prize)
- The Eat Stop Eat e-book, valued at $39.95 (one prize)
The contest will run through 10:00pm EST on Friday, March 12, 2010. I’ll select (via Random.org) and notify the winners that evening. You MUST leave a valid email when registering your comment and respond to my email within 24 hours or an alternate winner will be selected.
If you have something you’d like to donate for my readers to win during my Blogiversary celebration, please contact me! THANK YOU for reading Looking Good (for a mom), and I hope to bring you more great content in the coming year.
photo credit: garryknight
All links to Turbulence Training and Eat Stop Eat are affiliate links. I will receive 75% of a TT or ESE purchase credited to my affiliate account. Link for the Warrior Yoga DVD is an Amazon affiliate link. I will receive up to 6% commission on purchases made on Amazon.com after clicking through my links. See my “Referrals” page for more details and my referral policies. Winner of the Basic Turbulence Training membership will be responsible for additional charges if they wish to continue their forum access beyond the initial month.
Popularity: 48% [?]
Happy Anniversary Liz!!! I’m not entering your give-away but I did want to post to cheer you on as you celebrate your first full year as a Blogger
Your living proof of how planning leads to transformation and it’s amazing that it’s already been a year since you entered the TT Transformation contest. It’s great to see you continuing to inspire so many folks via your blog, DailyBurn and the rest of the web-o-sphere!!!
Keep up the great work!!
I have to say, that picture of the tart may make this post my favorite
But I think I really liked seeing some of your before/after posts and pictures. I think the before pics look pretty good – but the after pics are fantastic, and knowing that you were able to accomplish your goals even while having kids and other commitments is very motivating.
Congrats, Liz! I’m not entering the contest either since I already have a lot of the prizes, but wanted to say Congrats!!! You really do inspire a lot of people and I’m glad to count you as one of my friends!
I am new to your site, but because of your pushup video, I’ve added some pushups to jogging and am slowly increasing my number!
Congratulations! I’m so excited for you. Year one, but I’m sure this is only the beginning!
I think my fave post is the one you wrote about your girl gang. That was a really fun read. I also really love when you talk about healthy eating in regards to kids.
Hi, Liz! Congratulations on your first year!
Happy Blogaversary!! That tart makes me yearn for summer and fresh fruit. Yum. I think this is actually my first time visiting and as I am on my own weight loss journey you have some helpful posts. Thanks for sharing!
Congratulations on your blogiversary! I am new here but a fellow Philly Media Mom and my goal this year is to eat more organics, and shed 15 post-surgery pounds gained this winter!
Keep sharing and inspiring!!
hey! You started blogging on my b-day! I’ll never forget the date.
Happy blogiversary!
Hi Liz!!
I had no idea that you were blogging!
Instead of whining about not loving my mom-bod, I’ve become determined to make the positive changes in my life (less bacon, more exercise) and I was SO excited to find your blog! Plus, I’ve been focused on feeding N healthily, and need to extend that to myself (and Eric). Anyway, CONGRATS on your blog-birthday and keep it up!!!!!
And Happy Birthday to you!
Teresa, those sound like great goals! I had been eating more organics but am now thinking I should move more towards local food. I’m hoping to get eggs and chicken from a local farm, and maybe even be part of a C.S.A. Stay tuned, this could get interesting! Best wishes on your weight loss efforts. I hope you find some posts here that will help you!
Thanks! I actually have an awesome fruit tart in my freezer from this shop in New Jersey. Just looking at this picture makes me want to thaw it…but I’m saving it for Easter. Glad you are finding some posts to help you with your weight loss goals!
Wow, a celebrity has graced my blog with his presence! Now THAT’S a blogiversary present to write home about! Thanks for swinging by, Flexo.
Yes, I’m hoping it’s just the beginning as well! That’s so funny that you like my girl gang post the best. I feel like I did so much research on that post, and it started out as an angry comment and then I decided…why waste it? And so I submitted it as a guest post instead. It’s probably my best-read post, since there’s so much traffic over at WSL.
(And you’re a celebrity too, but you’re also my friend, so it’s not so shocking when you stop by my blog. Thanks for celebrating with me!)
Yay! I love hearing that I’ve inspired women to do push-ups. Please stop back and let me know how it’s going!
Thanks, Crystal. You’re pretty inspirational yourself, Ms. Twitter Contest Champion!!! Glad to have you as a friend as well. Just a few weeks until we get to hang together!
Ooh, me too, Ami. Makes my mouth water. And thanks for the comments on my before/after pics. I think it’s really important to my message to show people the truth about what I looked like in some of the befores, because that’s the point at which many people would be satisfied and stop. But my message is that it is POSSIBLE to look better than that, if you are willing to make the commitment. And it doesn’t require 3 hour gym workouts 5x a week, because we know I don’t have time for that!!!
Susan, thanks for being an inspiration and pushing and educating me. I’m not sure I would have ended up where I am now without your help along the way.
Less bacon, more exercise sounds like a great start! You know I am here for you if you need help (or a kick in the rear), since I’ve delivered both in the past, right? It’s a great time to start making your own health a priority – it can only help N grow up with healthy attitudes and practices. I’ve seen my kids start adopting my bad habits…and as I purged them and adopted healthy ones, they’ve done the same. It’s amazing how adaptable they are, and how much WHAT YOU DO really matters to them and drives their behavior more than WHAT YOU SAY. Best wishes!!!
Congratulations on your first anniversary (on blogging)! I am very impressed with what you have been able to accomplish. More power to you!
Hi Liz, Happy blogiversary! You are an inspiration for mom’s everywhere. Thank you for your honest and personal blog and for taking us on your journey with you.
Liz!!! Congrats!!! You’ve certainly not the same Liz that I met way back. Keep on inspiring!!!
I first focused on the breakdown of fat for about 6 months and up. My current setting (standing) is both the health and productivity (boxes). Key findings antishay.
Congratulations on your blogiversary! Keep it up! (P.S. that pie look fantastic!)
Hi Liz, Happy blogiversary! You are an inspiration for mom’s everywhere. Thank you for your honest and personal blog and for taking us on your journey with you.