Carla Birnberg

How did your blog begin?

I’ve actually been blogging since 2001 back when we referred to blogs as online journals and people thought we were really odd for writing them.

I was a paid blogger on a fitness website and, now that I think about it, my blog back then wasn’t all that different from MizFitonline.com. I merely wrote/blogged *only* about my exercise/workout life.

After that I naturally segued into mommy blogging for a few years and, in January of 2007 decided that I missed fitness writing (my initial plan was to juggle both blogs – that lasted about three months).

At that time my day job as a writer was focused on tween fiction, rhyming, & feature stories, so I wasn’t utilizing my fitness knowledge at all.

I owned a personal training studio and had lost 40 pounds 16 years ago and have managed to keep it off. I also have a counseling degree & wanted to simply give back and share with others.

You have an incredible social media presence across multiple platforms, how does your family feel about that?

Everything I ‘share’ is always planned. I check with my husband with regards to his comfort level on everything from 140 character tweets to blog posts.

While I have more of a ‘presence’ with MizFit I definitely shared much, much more on a personal level when I had my mommy blog. As a result, what I talk about now doesn’t feel too intrusive at all.

What’s your advice for women just starting out – how does one rise above and stand out in an already crowded blogosphere?

Be yourself.  I have been tremendously fortunate with MizFit because I didn’t plan enough or much at all before I launched. In fact, there are a myriad of things I’d do differently were I to do it again with regards to readers and commenters.

I really do credit 99% of my success to the fact that I’m simply being who I am. I’m the same on my blog and on twitter as I am in real life. ENTIRELY. I’m a firm believer in the fact you cant worry about anyone else but yourself.

You have to ask yourself if blogging your passion? Have you identified the genre about which you are passionate? That is crucial. Then, just start blogging.

There is always room for another quality blog.

I also believe in helping new bloggers. I learned a long time ago that someone else being a FANTASTIC writer (or ______ fill in your specific blank here) does not diminish ME AS A WRITER. There is room enough for us all.

What’s the story behind the podcast Two Fit Chicks?

One thing I don’t adore is the fact that blogging solo is such a solitary and lonely pursuit.

Partnering with Shauna (even though it’s audio and not the written word) has re-sparked my blogging mojo. The idea was entirely hers. She was saddened when Jillian Michaels ceased podcasting & decided that she wanted to fill the void her self. She reached out to me and I leaped at the chance to work with her.

What bloggers inspire you?

I love this question as for me the answer is twofold.  The first fitness blogger I ever read was the now defunct Cranky Fitness. She was funny, snarky, informative and I was immediately smitten and inspired.

The other half of my answer is pretty much ALL THE HEALTHY LIVING BLOGGERS.  The blogs with 3 readers and the blogs with 1000 readers.

If blog reading in your ‘arena’ bores you – you’re in the wrong genre. I find that I am beyond inspired when I sit and ready about other men and women’s successes. I find that I want to reach out and lend a hand when I read a blog post where someone is struggling.  Even if just to say “I’ve been there. I know what you are feeling. This just sucks some days”.

Do you feel fitness bloggers are part of enough PR/branded campaigns?

I like to say EVERYONE LOVES MIZFIT… for free!

When it comes to branded campaigns where there is money exchanged, it simply doesn’t happen in the fitness blogging world.

I believe it’s because if Blogger A won’t write about a product for free, then Bloggers X,Y,& Z are ready and willing to do so.

Although you primarily blog about fitness/health, you do share thoughts on motherhood & post pictures of your daughter – how does your audience react when you go ‘off topic’ from your niche?

It has really surprised me how much my readers seem to like and sometimes even prefer the posts where I share more personal information about my life & my struggles juggling work, full-time mamahood, blogging and being a wife-sister-friend-daughter.

In response to that I’ve implemented “First Person Fridays”.

In these posts I shed the more ‘authoratative’ voice and talk in a specific nature about *my* struggles with healthy living, fitting everything in, setting new goals, breaking out of fitness ruts and the draining days of motherhood.

Last thoughts…

Fitness is NOT meant to rule our lives.

We should do a little a day.  Every day. Consistenly. Day in. Day out. Year in. Year out. Over decades.

I recently lost a dear friend pretty suddenly and that loss has served to remind me that life is for living. Embracing. Celebrating. Enjoying. Exercise should be a part of that – but not to the detriment of time spent with friends and family.

Name: Carla Birnberg

Blog url: http://www.MizFitOnline.com

Niche category: healthy living / fitness

Blogging since: 2001; MizFit since 2007

Twitter: @mizfitonline