Happy Friday, friends! It’s time for more SHN Favorites slash link-love!
This edition’s links seemed to follow a specific theme..Nutrition and Fitness. I am baffled that I haven’t added any recipe posts to the past couple of SHN Favorites. Maybe that will be for next week. Or you can just check out my bazillion Pinterest boards overflowing with delectable eats.
1. 7 Ways to Ease Muscle Soreness via Run Wiki
I was quite intrigued by some of these including the epsom salts. Those are on my to-buy list for the day after tough workouts. Like the hot yoga sculpt class I did with Lee and Alex yesterday. I’ve never sweat so much in my flipping life!
2. Why I Refused to Put a Shirt on For Shape
First of all, this was a very brave post. As I told her in the comments (when there were like 20 comments as opposed to the current 400+), I am not sure I would have been strong enough to stand up to Shape magazine. I mean it’s Shape! While I’m so glad she stood up for herself and that she is getting a lot of support for her decision, I did check out the current issue of the magazine and the gal in the weight loss story DID have a shirt on. It is possible this is common for those featured weight loss stories. Nevertheless, good for her for wanting to bare all and be authentic!
3. 5 Thoughs That are Busting Your Best Nutrition Efforts via Mussel Fit
There is such a mixture of information out there when it comes to nutrition and fitness, so I love reading posts that call out false or misleading information. Such as how shakes or smoothies will help you lose weight…gah!
4. 6 Reasons You Should Volunteer at Races via Running Rachel
I really have been wanting to volunteer at a race or even just be on of the people in the crowd cheering runners on. That reminds me…I need to respond to a Girls on the Run e-mail since their 5K is a little over a week away!
5. 7 Signs of Sugar Overgrowth in Your Gut via Mommy Run Fast
It’s pretty freaky to think about having a “sugar overgrowth” in your gut. Thank goodness for the probiotics in yogurt!
6. 7 Reasons Runners Struggle to Lose Weight via Mommy Run Fast
This was another fascinating article from Mommy Run Fast. I myself remember when I first started running 3 years ago, I dropped weight and felt pretty darned skinny (not that that was the goal). Now I feel sometimes that when I get back into running I actually gain weight and belly fat. Crazy, right?
[Tweet “Learn something new with these 9 Nutrition and Fitness posts!”]
7. Is MAF Training the Solution to a Running Plateau via Jill Conyers
This goes right along with the last post I listed in that it is one solution to that weight gain. Apparently this MAF training has to do with training within a certain heart rate range in order to get your body to burn fat properly AND to improve your running speed.
8. 4 Simple Tips to Improve Running Form
Amanda has been running for 11 years, so I’d call her an expert. She lists some simple things you can do in your next run to make sure your posture and form are benefiting you and not hurting you.
9. Oil Pulling 101 via Running with Spoons
This has to do with dental health, but I’d still call it nutrition and fitness related. Amanda (do you like how I showcase two other Amanda’s on the blog today? does that say something psychologically that I enjoy reading these other Amandas’ blogs? too much thinking for a Friday?) wrote a super detailed and unbiased review on the practice called oil pulling. Oil pulling has become super popular and I have tried it a couple of times, but this post has inspired me to give it another go!
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I know it’s Friday and just reading this is work…but would you guys answer some quick questions for me (to hopefully make your reading experience better)?
1. If you’re a blogger, do you specifically go to blogs (and comment on them) that use commentluv (shows your most recent post in the comment) because you know you might get site traffic?
2. Does my page load time bother you? Sometimes I’m not sure if it’s my internet connection or if my blog is slow.
3. Why do you read blogs? a. You like the blogger or know them personally, b. The information, c. The recipes, d. Entertainment, e. All of the above. Or you can just tell me in your own words. 😉
4. What is your favorite social media platform?
I will love you forever if you answer even one of these!! 🙂
PS Don’t forget to enter my giveaway!
Linking up to:
Did You Know a monthly nutrition/fitness/health-related link-up
Friday Favorites with Katie at Running 4 Cupcakes
Five Things Friday with Clare at Fitting it all in
Friday Favorites with Housewife Glamour
I’m all about Pinterest this year, so I would LOVE IT if you could pin one (or two!) of these images. Just hover over the image to reveal the “pin it” button or use the handy dandy buttons at the bottom and top of each post to display the whole list of pins.
Also follow me so I can check out YOUR Pinterest account! 🙂
Follow SemiHealthNut
Stay in the loop with bloglovin’!
Some really great posts- You and I have similar interests, I’ve read almost all of these! Thank you so very much for the shout out– so glad you enjoyed my article.
To answer your questions, I really appreciate comment luv, but I comment if I find a post interesting or I have something to say, regardless of the plug in ( but there are some that make it so difficult.. ie captcha that is like trying to read a salvador dali painting, that I have given up trying to comment) So I think the plug in a site uses is very important if they want comments.
Your blog took no time at all to load, so it may be on your end.
I read blogs for all the reasons you mentioned.
Favorite Social Media is Twitter!
Yeah capatcha is difficult for sure!
Thank you so much for answering all of these! 🙂
Your blog took almost zero time to load, so all is good over here! I personally don’t even care if the blogger has commentluv or not— I comment on blogs because I want to comment on them. I feel like if you are only commenting to get traffic, then you aren’t there for the right reasons. Twitter is my favorite platform for connecting + sharing, but I tend to see the most traffic from Pinterest or Foodgawker!
I am totally with you on the reasoning to comment, Marissa! I just feel like maybe secretly some people do that. It is an added incentive to get people to comment too…although then you get the “great post.” comment lol.
Thanks for answering my questions!! <3 <3
Thanks for the feature! Great posts that I will have to follow up on later 🙂
1. I do comment on blog posts (but not as often as I read them)… commenting from my phone (where I do a lot of my reading) is frustrating and challenging. 🙂 I also comment on blogs (whose writers have already commented on my site… returning the love). 🙂
2. I love facebook and instagram. I am a visual person and LOVE seeing photographs from people’s day. 🙂
Yes phone commenting is frustrating…someone needs to get on that haha
I like Instagram a lot too! I think I follow you…what’s your IG name?
Since you will love me forever and you shared link love 🙂
1. Having Comment Luv (or not) doesn’t matter when I choose blogs to read.
2. I’ve never had a problem with your blog load time being slow.
3. All of the above reasons I read the blogs i read.
4. Blogs and it’s a toss up between Twitter and Instagram.
Since we’re chatting blogs and comments. You know what I’ve noticed lately? The code you have to enter to comment seems more impossible than ever to read. I have to refresh way too often to finally get something I can read. I always consider not coming back. it’s that annoying and it’s happened a lot late. Can you tell ha!
Ahh I do love you forever!! <3
Ohh not on this blog though? I think you're talking capatcha or whatever it's called haha it really is annoying and discourages comments!
1. I comment on the blog if I it makes me think of something to say whether or not it has Comment Luv.
2. Your blog loaded very quickly for me.
3. I read them to see what other fitness people are up to and of course, for yummy recipes!
4. I love Instagram and really like Twitter.
I do have a captcha on my blog because I was getting bombarded by comments in what I think was Chinese (literally over 50 a day). What do you do about spamming?
Thanks so much for including me in your link love :-).
I have two ways to catch spammers:
one-using Disqus comments
two-a plug-in called Aksimet
I still try to comment on blogs with the capatcha but I don’t usually try a second time if I don’t get the first set of letters/numbers correct.
Thank YOU for answering these questions!!
I don’t comment for comment luv. I go to friends, posts that interest me.. it really has nothing to do with comment luv.
Load time for pages can bug me at times especially if I am short of time. but I did not find that here
Question 3 – all of the above
I like Instagram but homest, I am burning out on csocila media in general so we shall see…. 🙂
I’m a fan of IG as well! Taking a couple of days off of social media usually helps me! 🙂
I don’t comment just for commentluv on blogs, and your website doesn’t load too slowly for me either. Definitely “all of the above” on the 3rd question! 🙂 And my favorite social media platform is facebook. Pinterest is a close second.
Thank you so much for answering!! I love getting lost on Pinterest!
This is a great roundup of posts! I’m still curious about oil pulling.
Anyway, here are my answers to your questions:
– I don’t just comment for comment luv. I only comment on posts that I actually read and have something positive to say.
– Your site doesn’t take long to load.
– I normally read blogs that are in a similar niche as me and I love reading other people’s perspectives and seeing how they express their ideas. Every blog is unique to me!
– My favorite social media platform is twitter because it is easy to share and retweet things.
you’re so clever with you link love! great stuff!
haha thanks, Lindsay! I think it helps to have themes so I can make those catchy titles. 😉
Great links here! Yes! Many of these are really good posts to learn a lot!
1. Yes, I would say that is part of the reason.
2. I have not noticed it being any different than others, but sometimes there can be a lot of ads which get in the way!
3. All of the above, mostly enjoy the content initially, and then get to know them and want to support them/you in your journey 🙂 That is why I still with the positive outlook blogs!
4. Instagram!
Tina, thank you so much for being honest. Truly.
I’m definitely working on a the balance of ads. I JUST got accepted to Glam and yes they do a lot of “blog takeover” ads. I can’t tell if they are worth the hassle yet, but I’m really glad you said something about it!
I’m a big IG lover too!
great links!! there are so many blogs we follow for health info 😉
Way to reel in the comments, friend! 😉 I want to volunteer for a race too but either don’t take the time to find some to volunteer for or end up signing up to run it instead…doh! 😉
Woot! Comments!!
That post said sometimes the benefit to volunteering is a free race entry the next year! Something to think about for both of us!!
Thanks for sharing my posts! I read blogs partly because I’ve made friends in the blogging world and love to stay connected to them, and partly for new info, recipes or workouts.
I agree to all of the above!
So I’m way behind on my blog reading (as evidenced by the fact that this post is a week old!), but here are my answers:
1. If you’re a blogger, do you specifically go to blogs (and comment on them) that use commentluv (shows your most recent post in the comment) because you know you might get site traffic?
Nope! I think commentluv is an awesome plugin and I keep it on my own blog to help share the love, but I honestly couldn’t even tell you which of the blogs I read have it and which don’t (without looking, anyway).
3. Why do you read blogs? a. You like the blogger or know them personally, b. The information, c. The recipes, d. Entertainment, e. All of the above.
BAC. In that order. I have a list in bloglovin of bloggers I particularly like/know personally to make sure I read all their posts. For everyone else, I have to skim post titles and only read those that look informative or interesting (like having a unique perspective on things). I follow over 150 blogs, and it simply became too overwhelming to read them all. 🙁
4. What is your favorite social media platform? For personal use, facebook – hands down. But for my blog, it’s gotta be Pinterest.
Hope my answers help somehow!
Thank you so much for answering these Ashleigh! I’m so with you on following tons of blogs. I’ve learned I have to click “read all” on bloglovin’ once a week so the number of posts (usually 1000+) doesn’t overwhelm me. I don’t expect anyone to read all of my posts so I hope no one expects that out of me!
1. Not at all. I didn’t even realize what it was until Amanda (Spoons) talked about it on a post on Plugins. I added it to my site that weekend because I thought it was cool, but it’s never been something which caused me to comment or not.
2. I haven’t noticed anything, although I’m using BlogLovin so not sure if that changes the load time.
3. I read blogs for a) great food recipes, b) beautiful pictures, and/or c) witty prose. I like reading funny blogs and also ones that are genuine, whether I agree or disagree with the content.
4. Instagram by far. Then Facebook. I do not like Twitter. Perhaps because I still don’t understand it. 🙂
Man I wish I wrote witty prose. You are so good at it! I actually feel like my writing has gotten worse since I started blogging…is that weird?
Testing testing trying to get comments to work!