About

Welcome!  My name is Caitlin Constantine, and I do most of the writing on this blog. I started this blog in 2011 because I was really getting into fitness and health, and yet I kept encountering all of these things that made the feminist in me go “Whaaaa?”  What’s more – I didn’t feel like I saw too many people writing about fitness from a feminist perspective.  And with that, this blog was born.

By profession and education I am a journalist, and I work as a digital media producer for a TV news station in the Tampa Bay area, which means that I am one of those people who gets paid to write about Florida Man.  My work has appeared in Ironman.com, Greatist, Bitch, Jezebel and Huffington Post – you can read more about that here.  I’ve also been writing and publishing zines for over a decade.

I played sports as a kid and was even a varsity athlete in high school, but that was almost entirely due to the fact that I am taller than the average bear. The truth is that I sucked at playing team sports, so when I left school and entered “the real world” I gave up sports and most physical activity.  By the time I was in my mid-20s, the most exercise I got was when I walked to the corner store to buy cigarettes or around the block to get a beer at the local bar.

When I was 27 that I met my current husband, a former smoker and drinker who ran marathons and ate salads and who basically re-invented himself as this insanely fit, healthy person. After watching him finish a marathon, I decided to take up running myself.  It took a while for the habit to take hold but once it did, it took hard. Since then I’ve run two ultramarathons, five marathons, two half-ironmans, a couple dozen half-marathons and so many shorter road races and triathlons, I can’t even keep track of them.  Most recently, I qualified for the Boston Marathon for the first time, which was a dream come true.

Three years ago, I broadened my athletic horizons and got into triathlon, which I love nearly as much as I love just plain old running. I also lift weights a lot, both because it helps with running and triathlon and also because I love the way it feels.  I also dig stand-up paddleboarding, swimming and yoga.

Other things about me: I read almost constantly – books, blogs, magazines, whatever. I’m always reading.  I love to experiment with cooking and makeup.  I am obsessed with tattoos and love music of almost all kinds.  One of these days I want to get into gardening.  I love being outside, especially down here in Florida, which I am convinced is one of the most beautiful places in the world.  I love to meet people and to learn new things and to have long meandering conversations and to do things that scare the shit out of me. I volunteer as a guardian ad litem in the state of Florida and strongly encourage others with an interest to look into doing the same. I have a greyhound and three cats, and everything I own has fur on it.

That’s about it for now.  I hope you enjoy reading this blog as much as I love writing it!

104 responses to “About”

  1. 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

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  5. Caitlin: We love your website, your message, and your spirit! We are launching the Sports Channel for Women TV Network and want you involved in some way. Go to Facebook.com/sportschannelforwomen for more info and to like us. You might also follow us at Twitter.com/sportsforwomen Good luck to you!

  7. Rock on Caitlin! I too am a runner and endurance type athlete. Love your blog. I will keep you on my read list as I am always looking for other real life sources to share with my clients, friends, and family as it relates to strong healthy women in the sports arena. Do you mind if I link your blog to my website? Please check it out. http://www.mindfulsummitscounseling.com

    Have an outstanding day!

    • Thank you! I’m checking out your blog right now. My husband is a therapist, plus I am fascinated by sports psychology, so your work is right in line with some of my interests. Feel free to link to mine as well!

  9. Your blog reminds me of a quote from a book I love and recommend: “Women: An Intimate Geography,” by Natalie Angier. Of the importance of women learning to lift weights and develop physical strength, she writes:

    “Women need all the reasons we can gather to build the strength that comes with comparative ease to men. Here’s another: physical strength is explicit. It is crude and clear and possible. A woman does not need to get as strong as she thinks before she can be a hobbyist Fury. It doesn’t take much to become imposing, a figure to be reckoned with. If a woman can do a set of, say, fifteen to twenty-five straight-bodied pushups or a few pullups, if she can lift a dumbbell that’s heavy enough to be on the dumbbell rack rather than tossed on the floor like a toy, then people will say, Oh, you’re so strong, and they will admire her and think her brave. And being strong in a blunt way, a muscleheaded way, is easier than being skilled at a sport. It is a democratic option, open to the klutzes and the latecomers, and women should seize the chance to become cheaply, frowzily strong, because the chance exists, and let’s be honest, we don’t have many. Being strong won’t make you happy or fulfilled, but it’s better to be sullen and strong than sullen and weak.”

    Just wanted to throw that on here 🙂

    • Oh my goodness, thank you so much for sharing this quote with me. It’s amazing. I read the book several years ago but it was before I started making the connection between culturally enforced physical weakness and wider social disempowerment. I’m going to have to go back and visit it now. Thank you!

  12. Caitlin,

    I hear ya, miss. The diet industry is so cruel that I find myself constantly sitting in on television watching with my young daughters. If it’s not a tv show it’s an ad trying to alter a young woman’s thoughts on self-image. Disgusting industry!

  14. Just found your blog and love, love, love it! As an athlete myself who has over the years gone from running to karate to roller derby–now that I’m in my thirties and a mom of two, I love how your blog is about women’s strength and celebrates it! Sadly that’s hard to find in the female fitness media world that seems focused only on body image and unhealthy perceptions of beauty. THANKS!

  15. Hi Caitlin,

    First of all, I love your blog, thank you so much for maintaining it! My name is Caitlin, too, and I’m a twenty-something living in Boston. I find myself reading Fit and Feminist for fitness inspiration, and Already Pretty for style inspiration, but I was wondering if you’re aware of any blogs of this ilk devoted to nutrition (my nemesis)? Any suggestions you have would be enormously appreciated, thanks so much!

    ~Caitlin

    • Thank you! You know, I’m always on the lookout for a good nutrition blog as well. I feel like most of the stuff I come across is Paleo-influenced stuff, which intrigues me but not enough to actually get me on board. Are you looking for general nutrition or something more specific?

    • Hello,

      I just found this blog because I am interested in learning more about feminism and fitness. I am a feminist myself and a fitness enthusiast! I’ve done 3 bikini competitions and then I realized that they are sexist and portray women a certain way….Anyway, I wanted to share my blog http://healthybeafit.blogspot.com/ where I talk about fitness and nutrition 🙂

      Love,

      Bea

  16. I am a huge fan of your blog! As a feminist myself, I often struggle(d) with trying to fit my feminism into my fitness and health outlook.

  17. Thank you so much Caitlin. Stumbled across your your blog and now just can’t seem to get enough..Your earlier posts are just as relevant and meaningful today. You spirit and cheerfulness combined with the truthful optimism is a delight. Keep em coming!

  18. Hi…I really enjoy your blog. I love how you are incorporating feminism and fitness…there is definitely a lot to read about it, I am sure, especially in the academic sense. However, I do enjoy how you are writing in terms of everyday life and how it affects women. We need more critical readings like yours.

    I have a couple questions for you regarding your blog…is there an email address that you use for your blog?

    Thanks again!

    • Thank you so much! Sorry for the delay in responding – I’m getting my blog mojo back after a month of not having it, so I’m a little late but I wanted you to know that I really appreciate this. 🙂

  22. Hi Caitlin, I just found your Facebook and blog. Love it. I have been looking for something like this for a long time–really inspiring and awesome. You have such a strong contribution to make and glad you are putting this out in the world. I’m a fit feminist, too and run The Assertive Girl. Check it out sometime. I always like to connect with like-minded feminists!

    • Thank you so much! I have got your blog open now and will check it out. I am also always looking to connect with other feminists, so thanks for reaching out to me!

  23. So happy to have found you! I have a lot of reading to do and a facebook page to like 🙂 I run a site geared to smart women who happen to be serious runners. We’re not as overtly feminist as you are, but we are all about breaking down boundaries and inspiring women to go beyond weight loss and tutu races with girlfriends (there is nothing wrong with that, but there is more out there for women if they choose to look for it) and really find who they are with running. Can’t wait to dive in here!

    • Hey, what a crazy coincidence! I had actually just found my way to your site last week via letsrun.com! The internets are sooo small sometimes, aren’t they?

  24. Hi Caitlin, just came across your blog this morning and am thrilled to find such an electric mind also involved in the fitness scene. I am a female ice hockey player– I played in college and am 25 now, but I often end up the lone wolf on a bench full of guys, some more evolved than others, as hockey is such a male-dominated sport. I still get a lot of the “you’re good for a girl” or “I can’t believe a pretty little thing like you plays hockey” (which honestly makes me want to stick them where they least expect it) but I always do my best to quickly set the tone (and burn them on my way to the net, when the play allows). I play because I love it– not because what anyone else thinks of me. It is refreshing to read the viewpoints of someone who is equally as dedicated to deriving enjoyment through a healthy lifestyle and is willing to stand up to marginalization. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

  25. Hi Caitlin,
    Came across your blog yesterday and I love it. My hubby and I are interested in starting to do triathlons together, but have no idea where to start. If you have any tips for how to get started I’d love to hear them!

    Thanks

    • Hey Jessica, I do have some tips but the comment might get sort of lengthy. Let me whip up a quick post and I’ll send it to you in your email in case you don’t follow the blog. BTW I love triathlon a whole bunch and I am excited that you and your husband want to do them together!

  27. Hello,
    I’m sorry to ask this here, but I don’t use Facebook. I’m a teenager who just only dared to start weight training for fitness, so as everytime when I get a new interest I learn about this and things related.
    I just read this article: http://www.dangerouslyhardcore.com/5343/why-women-should-not-run/ ?
    I find the title extremely misleading even though it is so to target women, as apparently it’s bad for everyone to do excessive cardio. I know loads of people who will read the title and think it means women actually shouldn’t run at all, and not read further.
    It might be because I often read titles like that about sports and women (just recently read someone say that women shouldn’t lift weights or their uteruses break and nature created us to make babies* :/ they just wrote that. just that.) but never any article like that for men. For men, it’s usually more precise in what is dangerous for health in the title, and the titles address the target reader as “you”. I think that they write “why women shouldn’t do (ANYTHING REALLY)” to shock and push the reader to read more, but the title is what sticks to the mind even after reading the article, and it really reinforce bad stuffs. I also see articles like that about maths, computing, mostly things seen as masculine generally. (at least where I live! I heard of countries where it’s not the case!)
    Even though it’s supposed to target women, these titles don’t address women readers in the first place, even though they’re talking about women it’s almost as if the person is talking to someone else about you right in front of you (like people sometimes do to children, mentally unhealthy or disabled folks, not talking to the person directly*; I remember this happening as a child and more recently when I have panic attacks, how annoying.)
    If you have time and are willing to add something on the subject, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Thanks in advance and good day.
    *I’m not talking about when someone try to communicate to the person directly at first but failed and ask the parent, friend or caregiver to communicate in their place instead, but really when they talk about the person like it’s an object that they want to adjust or something and the parent, friend or caregiver is the owner of the object.

  28. Hi,

    I can’t seem to find your email and have a quick question about your blog. Could you email me?

    Mike

  29. Hi Caitlin, I just stumbled across your blog/website sitting at my desk, wishing I was out running. I googled women, running, books and up came this very observent blog. I have to say, our backgrounds sound very similar (mix in a few more harmful substances other than just cigarettes for mine), including my overall lack of ANY kind of athletic ability. This was one of the reasons I chose running, in an attempt to change my life both physically and mentally. And running certainly did change my life! Twenty years later (ahem – I started running when I was very young!) I’m still addicted and reaping the benefits. I too am a feminist, so I will be following your blog!

    -Gaelen

  31. Hey!

    Thanks for following! You’ve got a great blog with really fantastic posts. You bring up a lot of empowering points that definitely get lost in the shuffle with all the modern perspectives on women, fitness, and health in general. Plus, I’ve always been a bit of a fitness junkie so it was great reading the things you’ve had to say.

    Cheers and looking forward to reading more!
    Jenny

  32. Another Caitlin here, a lifelong jock and delighted you are so passionate about two of my favorite topics. I’m in my mid-50s but still hike, bike, dance, play softball, ski, skate…and would like to take up (or try!) ice hockey.

    I took up fencing in my mid-30s and was nationally ranked in saber for four years. A fantastic sport, if you haven’t tried it, and an excellent place for women to be aggressive, powerful and graceful.

    As for a gap between my thighs, as if! Even when I was thinner, that was never an option. Too much muscle! 🙂

  33. Hi Caitlin,
    Bonafide food addict here… I just want to say thank you for giving this topic a voice. I look forward to reading your posts!
    Eliza

  34. Hello Caitlin: I just discovered your blog and love the direction you have taken with it. Here on your “about” page you mentioned rarely seeing women in the weight room, so to speak. You know, I was an athlete all the way through college and even competed in various sports a bit post-college. BUT…I was a weight lifting slacker. Even though all my coaches required it, I did the bare minimum. I always worked out hard in every other way, but didn’t care for lifting. But eventually in my 30s I met my husband, a personal trainer. No way can you get out of lifting dating a personal trainer! 🙂 Anyhow, lifting is important to me now; not that I get to do it nearly enough with two little ones running around but my toddler daughter already understands that working out is important and she is itching for the day when we’ll let her pick up some hand weights. I hope we can keep that momentum going for her as she gets older.

    • Hey Rachel, that was so me in high school. I really could have benefited from some weight training – in fact, I just found photos from that time and I am shocked by what a beanpole I was – but I hadn’t the first clue as to what to do. Ironically I even took a weight training class with one of my coaches as the teacher and I still had no clue and received no guidance at all. I ended up spending the period doing, like, 500 crunches and leg lifts or something equally pointless. Good for your husband for getting you into it, and for both of you for setting a good example for your daughter!

  36. Hi Caitlin,
    I recently found your blog through WordPress’ “Freshly Pressed” and I am SO GLAD I did. I grew up as somewhat of an anti-jock and in recent years started playing sports, leading me to start taking better care of myself all around. Now in addition to training for my sport (roller derby), I lift regularly and bike to work.

    The posts that have really spoken to me are the ones about body image and competing with other women. I have a lot of friends who work out pretty hard as well, but instead of being able to bond over that common tie and encourage each other, it seems to turn into a subversive, unstated “pissing contest” on Facebook of who can post the most “hardcore” Crossfit workout or sweaty motivational photos of “fit-spo” models. I too am a woman that will never have a thigh gap, or visible six-pack. And honestly, if I did, I’d have such low body fat that I’d likely be very, very sick. I know some people are built that way, but I’m not, and I’d appreciate not having my own fitness accomplishments diminished simply because I don’t look “ripped.” It’s especially hurtful when that sentiment comes from other women.

    So thank you, so much, for talking about it so candidly. I’ll definitely be reading on a regular basis (it’ll be a great thing to fill the time I used to spend checking Facebook). Now I can’t wait for my lunch hour so I can head to the weight room!

  37. Hello,

    I am very impressed by your blog and will be directing my wife to it. She’s a strong supporter of feminism (and I of her), and I know that your blog will give her some great advice on how to help bring her inner strength out. It’s great to see a place where she can be appreciated for being beautiful for her strength.

    Thanks again,
    Dave

  38. Hi,
    I have just read some of your blog (and plan on reading more in the near future!). Love what I have seen so far. I have a keen interest in sport and exercise psychology particularly that to do with teens/ young adults. I’ve almost completed a Sport and exercise science degree and have just over the last 2 months started valuing myself enough to eat better and more often and exercise regularly. I absolutely love it now (but still mange to procrastinate doing it- both exercise and eating!). Thanks, I look forward to reading more 🙂
    Lisa

  39. I came across your blog in a forum looking for awesome health and fitness bloggers. As someone who cycles regularly between wanting to be healthy and taking care of myself and getting my shit together and then getting too caught up in the aesthetic issues and rebelling by eating entire pizzas, I’m intrigued. Consider yourself blog-rolled 🙂

    • Thank you! You’ll find that I am pretty much not at all focused on aesthetics here. I mean, people are free to set their own priorities in life, but I am all about feeling good and doing awesome things. If I look cool in the process, then that’s a bonus but it’s not the most important thing to me!

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  41. Hi Catalin, Your blog and story is such an example! I too was the most “wall flower” girl in gym class and now in my 30s getting in shape and seeing a how a strong bogy makes for a strong mind!
    I would like to send you an email about a documentary and difusion project we are doing about women´s soccer (football) in Argentina, where it is still considered a man´s sport. http://www.goalsforgirlsthemovie.org
    we would like to put your blog in our resources page that we are developing and also see if we can work together to get girls to see the film, especially in Argentina, where there are few films like this.
    Please email me at info goalsforgirlsthemovie org and I will send you the info.

  42. Hi there! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and following. I’m definitely liking yours so far, and I look forward to more posts!

  43. I love your blog. You’re actually inspiring me to think about blogging again, myself (albeit in the more general sense, as I can’t stick to one topic to save my life). Also, rock on with clinging to the Vigilance theme. They retired it, but I still have it even though my blog is currently on hiatus and locked, and they’ll pry it out of my cold, dead computer.

  44. I love you. I too am a strong woman who smashes patriarchy. Can you make T-shirts so that I can buy them for myself and all of my friends? We should run/bike together some time (Do you do that? Hang with your fans? Because I am completely serious). You’re a BAMF. I live in Philadelphia, but you can totally come stay with me.

    • I love this comment. I’ve never hung out with…fans (that feels funny to say) before but I would totally do it, especially if it meant the possibility of leading to being pals. 🙂

  46. Hi NAME,

    Hi Caitlin,

    My name is Alex and I am a Communications Manager at Barnard College. I am reaching out to you today with an idea for your blog. Being perfect and powerful, being a feminist: these are among the most popular topics of conversation among today’s young women. Barnard College’s new podcast series, Dare to Use the F-Word, tells the story of today’s feminists through the ideas, art, and activism that define them. Barnard President Debora Spar, in her new book Wonder Women: Sex, Power & the Quest for Perfection, explains that while most women today struggle with the idea of perfection, they also struggle with the concept of feminism itself. Are the two connected? Read President Spar’s thoughts in this exclusive post : https://barnard.edu/news/web-exclusive-president-spar

    As a communications manager at Barnard, I want to continue these important conversations among feminist thought-leaders like you. I ask you to republish and share this post on your blog. Pose these questions to your audience; they may dare others to join us and use the f-word.

    Kindly,
    Alex

    • Hi Alex, thanks for letting me know about this! I actually have Spar’s book on my to-read list (which seems to be growing exponentially by the day). I’ll give it a read and consider sharing it.

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  48. Hi Caitlin,

    We have collaborated with Purify Your Body to create an infographic about cleansing and detoxifying your body. There are 5 major causes of toxins and many may not know we are exposed to it daily. Routine detox will help improve lifestyle, physical health, and mental health.

    We hope you can share it with your readers and if you’re interested to post the infographic on your blog, the location for the infographic is also provided below.

    Infographic: http://www.purifyyourbody.com/as_detoxification-infographic

    Thanks,

    Cathy Wu

  49. Hi Caitlin,

    Sorry to put this hear, but didn’t see another way to contact you.

    I love your blog and would like to possibly interview you about it if you’re interested. I work for a multimedia internet radio website called BreakThru Radio producing a feature to our content that allows for relationship-building with bloggers.

    It involves a weekly interview podcast, called “Biology of the Blog,” where I try to personalize a featured blog. A sample of yesterday’s interview with Niall Byrne, of Nialler 9, can be found here: http://www.breakthruradio.com/#/post/?dj=djmargaret&post=1332&blog=107&autoplay=1

    We also run an example re-post of the blog being mentioned, with links back to the original blog, on Thursday when the podcast airs. An example of that can be found here: http://breakthruradio.com/#/post/?blog=72&post=33567

    I really love the slant of your blog and your grounded perspective. I was hoping you might be interested in my project as well. I can’t tell you how much I’d appreciate the opportunity to work together.

    Thanks so much,
    Margaret

  50. Hi Caitlin 🙂
    My name is Caitlin too! I love your writing and find a lot of inspiration and similarities in your writing. Thank you for being strong, a powerful voice for females! Keep up the great work.
    Best,
    Caitlin

  51. Hi Caitlin,

    I love your blog, especially the Fascist Beauty Standards section. It is really inspiring.. Keep the great job!

    Maria CD

  52. Hi, Caitlin…I don’t know if you do blog awards, but….

    I know you’re busy, but wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the “Wonderful Team Member Readership” award.

    I get that your blog is keeping you hopping, and there other things that you can be doing, but should you choose to accept this award, just pop over to this URL:

    http://musingsfromaworkaholic.com/2014/04/09/more-awards-dang-and-thanks/

    and do what I did.

    Thanks for keeping up with my blog, and I absolutely appreciate your reading me. 

  53. Hi Caitlin, I’m Mario! I have a question and would love to speak with you more. Please email me when you have an opportunity, thank you!

  54. On another note, Caitlin – if you ever fancy doing a guest-post about the process of learning to run the Keys Ultra race, I’d love to share it with my readers at The Activist Classroom. No pressure, obviously, but it’s one of those achievements people think of as super-human, while in fact it’s just about careful learning and lots of hard work. I think it’d be a treat for the students and teachers who read the blog to hear about.
    Warmly!
    Kim

    • Kim, I can’t believe I am just now seeing this. Yes, I would definitely be interested in doing this. I’ll email you later today or tomorrow.

  57. Caitlin, I just wanted to take a moment and thank you for writing this blog and sharing your insights and thougts. My journey of becoming healthy and fit started a little while ago, but what you share on this platform really does play a huge part in how I approach it. In a world that´s telling women to stick to cardio and avoid bulk at all costs it´s like a breath of fresh air and really helped me to change my perspective – that it´s first and foremost about how I feel in my body and enjoy what it can do, not about how others think it should look like.
    I´ve come to love running and strength training, and the joy I feel when I realize that my muscles have become stronger, that my legs are carrying me farther, that I can lift heavier – cardio doesn´t do that for me. That´s a realization which probably wouldn´t have come so quickly were it not for your blog. 🙂
    So thank you for being a role model, and thank you for being real and honest!

    • Aw, thank you so much! I’m so happy to hear that you’ve found a way of being active that is good for both your body and your mind, and I’m glad to know I could play a part in that. Your comment means a lot to me. Thanks again. 🙂

  58. Hi Caitlin,

    Great blog, you do a very good job of blending compelling subjects, interesting writing and humor!

    My name is Austin and I co-founded a brand of boxing gear for women named Machina. Check us out and keep us in mind for the next time you happen to write anything boxing related!

    We also have a new blog, Fuel for the Machine, which we may link to one or more of your articles in the future.

    Best wishes.

  59. I like your point of view, I may not count in any way as a feminist and I am certainly not fit at the moment but I like the way you write. I nominated you for the Sunshine and the Versatile blogger awards. if you are interested here is the post I wrote about them and where I mentioned you:http://afternoonofsundries.wordpress.com/2014/08/02/oh-wow-thank-you-so-much/

    if you are not interested, totally understand. I am looking forward to more posts 🙂

  61. Hi,
    My name is Eshna Chandak.The company I am working at is revamping the website and we would like to use your website as a link on a Healthy Life page that we wish to include.
    Please let me know if this would be acceptable to you or any other details you want.

  62. Hey Caitlin,

    I absolutely love your blog, and all the changes you have made. Truly inspiring. I work for a company called http://www.Glassesusa.com, we are one of the leading e-retailers for prescription/non prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, and sports glasses.

    Would you please contact me at Nicole@glassesusa.com to discuss some opportunities we might have?

    Looking forward to it-

    Nicole Ovrutsky
    Director of Business Development

  63. Hi Caitlin, my name is Jonathan Edwards and I am the President of NuZest a company that does a product called Clean Lean Protein – which is New Zealand’s best selling vegetable protein. It’s amazing! If you would at all be interested in doing a product review then please email me your delivery address at jonny@nusest-usa.com.

  64. I love your blog, Caitlin! Ever since moving to college last year (I’m a potential journalist), I’ve noticed how extremely sexist the fitness world can be. Thank you for promoting a message of strength and power for women!

  65. Hey Caitlin! I just wanted to let you know that I got nominated for some of those chain blog award/meme thingies and named your blog as one of my favorites: http://wentlooking.com/2014/09/10/well-tell-all-about-sunrise-and-about-sunset/ No pressure to participate at all but I thought it’d be nice for you to know. 🙂

    By the way, I was happy to read your recent post on biking. I’m planning on moving soon and getting a bike and starting to cycle is one of my priorities once I’m settled. It’s good to hear about your progress!

  66. This might sound so creepy, but I feel like we are the same person! I am not QUITE into fitness as much as you but I definitely love fitness but do have a bunch of feminist problems with the fitness world. I love reading, like, A LOT, and am hugely into gardening (although you said you hadn’t dabbled in that yet but whatever). Anyyywaayy, just wanted to drop by and say I am looking forward to this blog. 🙂

  67. Greetings from Estonia!

    I found a video about lingerie football and shortly after found your article about LFL and I was surprised that such a thing exists. Women are constantly abused in all manners, so much that getting into those “uniforms” to play a sport isn’t a problem anymore. Part of the problem that I have not seen addressed yet is that what happens after the “glory days”. Who will hire a person who has been running around on a football field in her underpants for the past 8-10 years? Hooters? To think that both of those places exist is tough but to see so many women accept that role is disheartening. If all the female players would understand together that they have a choice to create their own rules and set their own conditions there would be a Womens Football League not this degrading extortion program we see today.

    We need to fight against this on all continents and on every level. Otherwise it might turn into a standard – bikiny bowling, WBA will turn into nudeball association etc. Also, the viewers, american people control the ratings. If the whole nation will agree not to watch this “sport”, it will turn executive heads and they will start making changes. Women give birth to our future generations, they are the pillars of our time. And we treat them so badly.

    Mick

  68. Hi there, I am a personal trainer specialising in pelvic floor. I came across your post about weightlifting and pelvic floor while I was doing my research. The comments were closed there, but I wanted to let you know that you are right, the research on uterine prolapse related to exercise is minimal. I am struggling to find scientific studies to back up the information I even get from clients and my own experience.
    A very well written article, I really enjoyed it. The problem indeed is not to be a woman and lift weights as long as it is done properly. But if you ask me, men also have rectal prolapse that can be aggravated in the same way (but there are even less studies about that).
    Another curious thing is that 99% people I meet and talk about weighted exercises for pelvic floor, believe that the pelvic floor weights are a sex toy and, to be honest, Kegel exercises with no weights is like bicep curls with no dumb bell.
    Thanks for your thorough research 🙂

    Sara

    • Read Caitlin’s 2013 blog about research needed for prolapse & weightlifting, and your response. Anything new on the horizon to confirm or deny? Have been weight-training for two years. Started deadlifting few months ago. I’m 65 with occasional bladder leakage (belly laughing, sometimes running, jumping jacks). Have lifted 85 lbs & form is everything. Working toward lifting body weight (110). Curious if deadlifting will help or hurt bladder issue.

      • I wish I had an answer but I haven’t heard a lot. What I *have* heard is that strengthening your core will go along way towards strengthening the pelvic floor, but I’ve only heard this in the context of running, not weight lifting. I hope you’re able to find something that helps.

  70. Hey, I just wanted to say that I have worked for years with female teens and young women as a youth worker. Every time I read one of your articles I wish I could sit them all down and show them your inspirational, powerful messages that go way beyond fitness! Keep putting your self-esteem building, resilience boosting messages out there! Ta!

  71. Hi Caitlin!
    I saw your blog post about athletic women struggling to find clothes to fit their muscular bodies and love that you called out the issue! I wanted to reach out to inquire about possible collaboration on a blog post for the business casual clothing line I’m launching for muscular women. Let me know what you think – I’d love to hear from you.
    Thank you!

  72. Hi Caitlin,

    Brilliant blog. I think fitness and feminism are intimately interlinked and you get that message across powerfully. It really resonates with me. I am or was a female mma cagefighter. So I know all about breaking misconceptions of what a woman “should or shouldn’t be”.The number of times I’ve heard, “Really? No. You don’t want to ruin your pretty face”. I’m sure you’ll feel just as angry as me at seeing that comment. I had a site on here but moved it to fighter-philosophy.com. It would be great to hear from you and maybe collaborate 🙂

    thanks,
    Ness

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