Your Questions, My Answers

photo by karen eliot

So today is answer time. I appreciate everyone who asked me a question. I started to fear I’d have to come here today and admit that no one asked me anything. And even though you wouldn’t see it, I’d be blushing.

Before we get to it, I want to say Happy Birthday to my dad.

And now, you asked. I attempted an answer…

Ameena asks, “I would like to ask a question … how on earth do you manage to sleep until 9:30 and how can I do the same?”

Step One: Get rid of your child. I realize she’s really cute and will probably tug at your heartstrings with those big brown eyes, but if you plan on sleeping late, she’ll have to go.

Seriously, though, I’m a really good sleeper. If I could do that for a living, I could make a killing. With drapes and quiet I could sleep till noon. (And I might do that from time to time, but I try not to advertise it since most people put the “lazy” label on you.) Now, if you get up before 9 a.m., I have a question for you: How on earth do you do it??

Ameena also asks, “Also, who designed your awesome site and can I contact them to help me with mine?”

Lucky for you, my site is a free template from the genius Chris Pearson. I made a few modifications because tinkering around in Photoshop is fun, but other than that I can’t take credit for understanding anything about Web design. That would be dishonest, and today’s all about the truth with a capital T.

Jill asks, “How do you get up each morning, knowing the pain you’ll be in, and still have a positive attitude? You’ve been in pain for years. How on earth do you do it?”

Well, most days my alarm goes off, mainly because I can’t wake up on my own. (See above.)

Oh, you mean what’s my motivation? Right. I’ll start by saying that I only mostly have a positive attitude and many times my positive attitude is really me pretending to be positive. I see you’ve been fooled. Other times, when I’m really being positive, it’s because how else can you be? Every time I think about the future as a big What If—as in, what if my knees never get better—I get too depressed to even focus on the Now. So really the only way to deal with it is to either hope or pretend this is going to get better. And the idea of it getting better gets me up in the morning. Or at least it’s what makes me set my alarm in the first place.

Charlotte says, “Here’s a q I struggle with: Do you ever feel like fit blogging encourages an unhealthy obsession? As in, does it make you focus unduly on superficial matters?”

I think fit blogging encourages an unhealthy obsession with my laptop. And The Man kind of hates that since it’s getting between him and the laptop.

Seriously, though, I don’t think it’s had a bad effect on me yet. But I’m not a seasoned vet like you. (Gosh, that makes you sound ancient. But I didn’t mean it that way. I meant that your blog is like the cool senior in school and I’m a lowly freshman.) I can see how it could effect me in the future though: Either I become a shut-in who fears the very air we breathe because of all the research I’ve read. Or I become cynical and often grumpy because of all the research I’ve read.

Two things that could foster an unhealthy obession for me: posting my daily meals and giving detailed descriptions about my workouts. Aside from the fact that I’m not a good enough cook to show everyone my daily eats, one of the reasons I don’t do that is because I’d feel pressure to change my food mindset—everything in moderation—to fit the idea of a health blog.

And while exercise is a big part of my life because of my knee injuries, I think if I posted too much about it on a regular basis, I might go a bit overboard. I can’t speak for other bloggers who do these things, but I know for me that some distance helps keep me sane.

But ask me when I hit the one-year mark.

Andrea asks, “How do you come up with new and fun topics to write about each day? And how do you ensure that each post is funny, intelligent, and interesting to your reader? Basically, how can I become you?

Well, you can’t be me because there’s only one. But that’s a good thing for you since being me comes with two bum knees that are more annoying than they’re worth. Oh, and I’m not nearly as good of a chef as you which means your blog would start to suck.

As for how I prep and write my posts, it goes mainly like this:

1. Stare at a blank Word document.
2. Check my e-mail.
3. Stare at the blank Word document.
4. Flip through my blogs.
5. Wonder why I didn’t create a blog focused on my daily meals.
6. Take a bite of peanut butter and jelly.
7. Realize why my blog doesn’t focus on my daily meals.
8. Stare at the blank Word document.
9. Read up on the latest health news.
10. Randomly get the spark of a great idea.
11. Research.
12. Write, write, write.
13. Delete—that was all crap.
14. Re-write.
15. Post. Whew.

More specifically, I only hope my posts are funny. Sometimes I’m sure I’m the only one who’s laughing. (That’s especially true if the idea came from something in my real life.) As for interest, I let the numbers guide me: Comments = good job. I’m not sure if that’s the right way, but I tell myself I’m still new.

The Empty Nut Jar asks, “I will ask about your exercise. I do … nothing. A walk a day is good. I must believe that. But you don’t say much. Are you maddening about it or chillax? Are you at a happy body weight, etc? Are these too personal or nosy?”

No question is off limits here, so you’re not being nosy. (OK, that’s a lie. Certain questions are off limits, but not this one.)

So, exercise. That’s kind of a toughie for me seeing as my knees and I aren’t on the best of terms. If I had it my way, I’d be running a few miles a day. (At least I say I’d be doing that. I can’t guarantee the whole forbidden fruit thing isn’t happening.) Here’s what I can’t do: Run, walk, or stand for anything more than a few minutes. Stupid cartilage.

Here’s what I can do: I can bike and use the elliptical. I can stregth train. Don’t ask me why I can bike or go on the elliptical for 35 minutes without pain but can’t stand for three minutes. And don’t ask me to explain why I can use a leg press till my muscles burn but walking a few blocks inflames my knees. I don’t get it either.

Maddening or chillax? I don’t think I fall into either category naturally. Before my knee injuries, I’d say I was very, very chill. As in I rarely went.

All I know is that certain exercises are good for my knees so I try to do them as often as possible. Every time I go to the gym I try to get in 30 mintues of cardio before doing strength training. Most important for me are leg-strengthening exercises, so I do those at least four times a week. The other days I’ll do arms and abs. So I guess I’d say my injuries have forced me to be a bit exercise mad, though that kind of sounds bad, like I’m obsessed. I’m not. Just obsessed with healing.

Ah, yes, body weight. If there’s one thing about my body I’m most thankful for, it’s my weight. Here’s what would be worse for my knee pain: more weight. Added pounds means more weight on my already feeble knees. One of the first things a doctor will say to someone complaining of knee pain is, “Lose weight.” I’m especially lucky to have never struggled with my weight. And I’m more than thankful that I don’t have extra pounds doubling my pain. I don’t say this from a body confidence standpoint. I say it practically.

Not only that, but all of my inactivity hasn’t made me gain weight. And I don’t mean that in a “Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah” way. I’m thankful I haven’t had to fight off weight gain while not being able to exercise. So, I guess I owe my dad a big thanks. It’s genes all the way. And I defintiely got his metabolism.

Eat Move Love asks, “How did you get into writing? And do you enjoy what you do for a living?”

I’ve always been a writer. In fact, my mother just discovered my first-ever story somewhere deep in the recesses of her attic. It was some silly story about a princess and a mean genie that I had also illustrated. I don’t remember the plot but I’m sure it involved three magical wishes because Aladdin was my favorire movie at the time.

Anyhow, I majored in journalism in college and began working for a magazine directly after. (That’s a joke. Like most journalism grads I spent months and months unemployed. And if you ever thought job searching was a blast, try it while using dial-up. It makes the already pleasurable experience of being out of work that much more fun.)

I do love what I do. I love words and I love creating things with them. I enjoy the reporting, the writing, and the copy editing. Yeah, I’m a nerd.

That’s all folks. I’m thinking of making this a monthly thing. What’s your vote: Gimme more Q&As or Stick with The Regular.