About
My name is Caitlin and I’m a reformed slacker turned athletics evangelist. I played sports when I was a kid and I consistently sucked at them, so when I hit my 20s, I gave up playing sports and exercising. For several years, the most physical effort I ever exerted came during my walks to the corner store to buy cigarettes or around the block to hit the neighborhood bar. Sometimes, if I was ambitious, I walked an extra two blocks to pick up my pizza or fast-food value meal.
Now I’m embracing a more health-oriented way of life that involves getting sweaty several times a week, changing the way I eat and learning everything I can about fitness and wellness. It’s no exaggeration to say doing so has changed my life, not least of all because I have more confidence in myself than I ever have before.
But, seeing as though I am about as hardcore a feminist as I am a runner, I can’t help but make observations about health, weight, bodies, fitness and sports, particularly as they relate to gender. Rarely a day passes that I don’t think about the lack of women in the weight room or consider the harmful effects of the diet industry on the self image of women and girls. So I figured, why not blog about it?
Hi Caitlin,
I’m feminist editor of BlogHer. I’d love to syndicate your post on how running helped you heal after an abusive relationship.
Can you email me?
Best,
Mona Gable
Thank you so much Caitlin! I loved your article on huffington post.
As a sister of iron, I am proud of my muscles and it makes me feel sexy and I kick my opponents ass in tennis. I hate that the one ideal of beauty is dipicted and believed as desirable. My magazines are Oxygen and Muscles and Fitness for hers. Strong women that are also beautiful.
Thank you! “Sisters of iron” – I love that and will be using it often.
Caitlin – I’m neither a mother nor an athlete, so I didn’t want to comment on your most recent post under false pretenses – but WOW, I found it powerful, and I thank you very much for writing it. Motherhood’s been a fig on my tree for years. For various reasons, I’m struggling hard right now with whether I should reach for it before it falls away from my hands completely. Your thoughts on the subject have given me much to think about – and at least one book to buy. Thank you.
Love this site! Mine is related as it’s about rejecting dieting and embracing healthy living and a positive body image since I think dieting is a major contributor to obesity. Check it out at http://www.iwillnotdiet.com/ and let me know if you ever want to cross-post, which I would love to do.
I just added you to Facebook and to my RSS reader. Thanks for letting me know about your blog! I look forward to reading it, and yes, maybe some day we can do a cross-post. I’m always up for that.