The Ultimate Blog Podcast - 12. How Elizabeth Amell Used Her Personal Experiences to Help Others Through Blogging

Episode Date: March 8, 2022

Today we are chatting with a former student of the Ultimate Blog Bootcamp, Elizabeth Amell. Elizabeth is here sharing her success story on how she used the personal experiences in her life to help others through blogging. Her story is such a powerful one that we know that you will benefit from. Tune in to hear us talk with Elizabeth about her journey to blogging, how her blogs have transformed since she first started, her experience in the Ultimate Blog Bootcamp, and the inspiration that she has to share with you.Thanks for listening! Connect with us on Instagram: @sparkmediaconceptsThinking about starting a blog? Check out the Ultimate Blog Bootcamp!SHOW NOTES: www.sparkmediaconcepts.com/episode12

Welcome to the Ultimate Blog Podcast with Amy Reinecke and Jennifer Draper. We're on a mission to empower women who want to start or grow their own blog. This podcast is for women who want to learn blogging basics and who crave inspiration and encouragement. Whether you're just getting started or have been a blogger for years, we're excited to welcome you into this space where we are passionate about creating community over competition. We are bloggers who want to encourage you to believe in your potential, step outside the norm and step into a life where you create your own schedule, your own success, and your own story. Join us for weekly episodes as we navigate blogging

and work from home life, all while raising a family and having some serious fun along the way. all while raising a family and having some serious fun along the way. Hey, everybody. We're back again this week, and we are going to be talking to one of our former students from the Ultimate Blog Bootcamp. Her name is Elizabeth, and she blogs at Elizabeth Healthy Life. And so we want to welcome her today to the podcast to talk a little bit about her and her blog. Welcome, Elizabeth. Hi, Jennifer. Hi, Amy. Thank you so much for having me on your podcast. I'm excited. Yeah, we're so excited to talk to you today. Let's just dive right in and have you just tell us a little bit about yourself and about how you originally decided to start blogging. Yeah, so I originally started my blog back in 2015. It had a different name than the name it has now. And I didn't really have a goal when I started my blog.

I just, it was more like a journal or a diary for myself. So I started it back in 2015. It was originally called Running for Robert. And basically, I made it to share my journey and my running journey, which I started in memory of my brother who passed away in 2012 unexpectedly. in memory of my brother who passed away in 2012 unexpectedly. And I was navigating my way through grief. I wasn't really sure what to do, how to handle it. And so really the blog that I started on my own was like a diary. I wrote about how I started to love running and how I felt like I was able to deal with the grief when I was out running in his memory and things like that. I was a very different person back in 2015. I, you know, wasn't quite as healthy as I am now. I was, you know, struggling with a pretty severe eating disorder. And again, I was just three years into losing my brother. So I wanted to

create a healthier lifestyle for myself and just a healthier life overall. And starting a blog was just one way that I wanted to document this healthier life that I was creating for myself. Like I said, I didn't really have any goals. I didn't really know about ads or generating an income from my blog. I didn't really even know how to write a blog post. So I just wrote pretty sporadically. It was really inconsistent. And I wrote about how I was developing a passion for running. And I was also brand new to that sport. So everything was pretty much new to me. I was a beginner in many different ways for many different things. So it was just basically a way for me to document my journey that maybe after a few years, I could look back on and see how far I have come.

Yeah, that's so awesome. I think it's cool that you do have that documentation of what you started with and where you are today. I'm sure it's fun to look back at some of those older posts and just see how far you've come back in those days. Who was reading your blog? Was it just friends and family? Were you sharing it with other people? I think it was, you know, I didn't really ask people. I shared most posts. I think I shared the link on my Facebook page and I didn't share it on Instagram because I don't think back in 2015 we could share links on Instagram. So I think mainly it was through Facebook. So I assume that some of my close friends and maybe some family members were reading it. I did tell my parents about it and they would read it, but I didn't really,

I didn't really advertise it. I'm a pretty shy person and I tend to just not really like talk about myself a lot. So having a blog that was focused on myself felt very different for me. And I didn't want to kind of, I just didn't want to throw it in people's faces and be like, here, read about me and what I'm going through. But over time, people would, you know, message me on Instagram about how they really resonated with a post specifically about either grief or binge eating disorder and tell me how thankful they were to have come across that post because they were, you know, going through something similar or every now and then I would have a friend that would mention, oh, hey, I read your blog and I really like it. And I, I, I would always get kind of shy, like, oh, you read it. Oh, okay. So that's pretty much it.

read it? Oh, okay. So that's pretty much it. So did you, when you started, it really was a way like a therapy actually, like to be really therapeutic, to kind of get you through this difficult phase in your life. Would you say that opening up this way has helped you heal over the years? Absolutely. Yeah. So when I started my blog in 2015, I also started an Instagram account and they both kind of had very similar content. It was a lot about things I was feeling, things I was going through and how I was dealing with the really difficult days. And I think I'm a lot better at kind of getting my feelings out in when I type them as opposed to when I actually speak aloud, as you can probably tell from this podcast. So writing felt very therapeutic to me, whether it was on my blog or on Instagram. I felt like I could paint a better picture of what I was feeling and thinking through typing. So it was certainly a type of therapy for me. I was very inconsistent with it.

You know, I've learned, especially after going through the blog bootcamp, that being consistent is so important for the success of a blog. But I would post very sporadically really only when I had something weighing on me or, you know, I felt like I've learned something through running. Yeah. So you mentioned like being more consistent and creating more, a more successful blog. What was the, the deciding point or the turning point when you decided rather than just write, you know, sporadically and therapeutically, I want to, I want to change this up and I want to make it into something more. I want to grow more readers to my blog. What, what made you make that decision? Yeah. So that was a goal I've had for quite a while. Maybe I want to say 2016, even when I was posting pretty inconsistently, I always in the back of my mind was thinking about blogging and thinking to myself, you know, you've gone through some really challenging things.

I think if I was able to share these things and do them well, then I could really help a lot of people deal with them too. So that, I mean, that's been a goal for such a long time, but I didn't really know how to do it. And something I did when I started my blog was I just, I set it up completely like the wrong way. I didn't know what I was doing. I set it up through wordpress.com, which I know you're, now I know you're not supposed to use. I didn't know what plugins were. I didn't know what I was doing. I set it up through WordPress.com, which I know you're now I know you're not supposed to use. I didn't know what plugins were. I didn't know about keyword research. I wasn't writing posts that were really educational or informational. They were more personal. And something else that helped me kind of decide that I did want to take the next step with blogging was realizing that running and becoming a better runner was quickly becoming a really big passion for me and a way for me to

navigate through the grief of losing my brother. And I could sense that deep down pretty early on that I didn't know what was going to come from running, but I knew something big was in my future with it. I just wasn't exactly sure what it would be. And blogging kind of went hand in hand with that. I thought, you know, these are two things that I just can't stop thinking about. I know there's something big for me out there with them. can't stop thinking about. I know there's something big for me out there with them. If I just kind of mush them together and go all in, I think something can come from this. And over the years, when I started my blog, I was a very new runner. I didn't really know

much about the sport. I wasn't fast. I had to take tons of walking breaks. I was just a beginner. You know, I couldn't, I had to take tons of walking breaks. I was just a beginner, but help others with their running, whatever that might've looked like. So in 2018, I took a course and I became a certified running coach and launched my own run coaching business, which is called Strongest Self. Okay. So you started Strongest Self. Yeah. How has that made you feel like having this business as a way to help others with a sport that likely a lot of them beginners who are coming into Strongest Self or are they kind of seasoned runners? Who are you helping with Strongest Self? I'm helping a lot of beginner runners, certainly, which I love because I was a beginner runner not too long ago. And I'm also helping people who are more intermediate, you know, looking to set PRs, qualify for the Boston

Marathon, you know, run ultra marathons. So there's kind of a wide range of people who I help and I, and I love it all, you know, whether you've been running for 10 years or you're just buying your first pair of running shoes, I love helping everyone. And I think that's the teacher in me. I enjoy helping others kind of reach their potential and showing them that if you have a goal, no matter how audacious it may seem, you can absolutely reach that goal and beyond. Back in 2015, I never would have thought that I would be stepping away from teaching and creating my own run coaching business, becoming the runner I am today, blogging about best running tips and best running practices, things like

that. But like I said earlier, I had this feeling deep down inside of me that this was something that would not only really help myself in the long run and create a healthier life, but also help others create healthier lifestyles for them or help them navigate through loss if that was something they were dealing with too, or an eating disorder, so many things. I love that you've used your story for that, Elizabeth, because that's not something that's super easy to do, to put yourself out there and be so vulnerable in such a way to share the pain that you've gone through and then turn around and use it for good. You know,

a lot, a lot of us have been through a lot of different things and we can kind of make that choice to stay in the quote unquote victim mindset or move forward and say, okay, how can I turn my pain into purpose? And I think that's exactly what you did, whether you knew that's what you were doing or not in 2015 when this all started. But you've said multiple times that you just had this feeling deep down and it was that nudge. And I think a lot of people, when they decide to start a blog, kind of have that same little nudge that they're feeling that a lot of times feels hard to answer because you're like, no, I don't want to, but I don't want to,

this is uncomfortable. And you listen to that. And I want you to just take a minute and think of all the lives that you have touched with your story and just like be really, really proud of yourself. And I think that your brother is looking down on you and he's so proud of the way that you have chosen to honor his life and help others in this process with your running and now with blogging, because having the blog, you can reach so many people, whether they become a student of yours and strongest self or not, they can learn those little tips and tricks on the blog, which is obviously so important. So you joined our, our bootcamp course, the ultimate blog bootcamp in 2020, correct? 2021? Yes. 2021. Yes. So when you decided to kind of like dive in and invest in your, in the blogging portion more, what was kind

of going through your head then? Like what were you hoping to get out of the bootcamp? I was really excited. I was so happy. I think I heard of you, your business through Giordo and I was a little scared, but also just really excited because I knew that since 2015, so probably six years, I guess, I had been doing everything on my own and I knew I wasn't doing it right. And so I was looking forward to having proper training about how to run a blog and how to create content that would reach as many people as possible and hopefully in time, you know, create some revenue as well. And I was looking forward to learning more about plugins and SEO because I had heard those terms thrown around so many times, but I didn't know what they meant.

And it just seemed like the Ultimate Blog Bootcamp seemed like such a supportive community to be a part of and a perfect place to be a beginner and to learn, which is clearly what I was and still am. And I'm really thankful that you two have started the membership program. I think I signed up not even a minute after I received that email just because it's like continuing education and training and just a community where I can ask all questions and receive feedback and support. I think that's such a good point because blogging on your own can be so challenging and just no matter how you do it, I think being able to find a community of people doing the same thing is just going to motivate you, help you set you up for success. And I think the blogging world in general is just such a supportive community. Even though you might think somebody else blogging about a similar topic might be a competitor. It seems like in our experience, everybody just really wants to cheer each other on.

The internet's such a big place that there's enough space for everybody. So why not, you know, link arms and make each other better along the way. I love that. I'm glad that you're finding it so supportive. We love having you in the membership. We've loved having you in bootcamp. I love all your questions. I love that you aren't afraid to ask them either. You're such like, I can just see how much you love to learn and you never give up. I love that about you. And so I love you having that attitude to go not just with blogging, but also with your running business and helping other people. So let's kind of chat about that. So you, you know, you hope to make money from the blog. So your income mostly is

generated from your coaching program, correct? Yes. Yeah. So I think that's an important thing to talk about is a lot of people are afraid to go into blogging because, well, how am I going to make money? But there's so many different ways that you can make money blogging. And so yours is by doing a coaching program for running. So do you just want to kind of talk about that? How having both those pieces helps you feel like you can reach more people? Do you want to talk about your running business a little bit? Yeah. So like I mentioned earlier, so back in 2015, I realized that running was quickly becoming a really big passion of mine. And I decided to just kind of throw myself all in with it. And that started with needing, you know, I wanted to lose a little weight just to be a healthier person. So I documented that a little bit on my blog and how that was going. And over time, I would write more about things I did while training that I felt helped share my knowledge with others and become a running coach.

As I developed my run coaching business, Strongest Self, I, of course, started working with athletes, mainly who I got through Instagram and would teach them. But the sport of running and long distance running is quickly becoming much more popular. And I feel like so many people are getting into it. And I wanted to educate and help as many people as possible, whether they were working with me directly or not. So I kind of, especially after going through the bootcamp, I shifted the type of content I was posting on my blog from more personal to more informational and educational content about running. Things like how to train

through winter, how to train through the summer, how you know you're ready to run your first marathon, what strides are, what cutback weeks are, things like that. Just so if you are a runner or interested in running, you could visit my blog and learn and hopefully find some valuable content to take with you. Whether we ever work together or not, either is fine. but I basically just want to help as many people become stronger runners and stronger people. So, you know, I, like I said, I hope people come to my site and find valuable content to help them become better runners, but also better people overall, because I feel like if you were to really spend some time and read through all the posts on my blog, not just the running related ones, you would see how I've pretty much transformed over

these past six, seven years and how I've, you know, created a healthier lifestyle and also have pursued pretty audacious goals, things that I never thought I would be doing full-time as a job, especially back in 2015 when I was teaching, I never envisioned this would be my reality in six, seven years. And that all started from a nudge. Just think about it. If, if you wouldn't have leaned into the nudge, what you would have missed out on. Yeah. That's pretty incredible to think about. Not saying that, you know, pre-K teachers don't make a difference. Of course they do. Like my daughter's at pre-K right now, you know, so she's, I know she's getting goodness there. that you just said earlier, like this opportunity, like you felt that like in the pit of your stomach and you, you had two choices, you know, to either answer it or just go along,

follow like a more traditional path because blogging is not traditional. We don't go to college for blogging. There's no, you know, there's no degree in blogging, anything that we've learned, like we just learn on our own and it can feel a bit uneasy at times because we don't know where it's going to go. But interesting to look back, you know, at yourself at 2015 and see where you are today and be like, wow, like I've really come a long way, not just with yourself, but in the way that you've used it to help others and the amount of people that you've touched. Like that's pretty incredible. Thank you. Yeah. It was, it was definitely a little bit scary at first. I mean, mainly because what I was writing about originally was basically

my feelings, my thoughts and difficult things I was going through. So it wasn't anything glamorous. Like I wasn't writing about glamorous things in my life. And, you know, I was shedding light onto the more challenging things, which I think a lot of people tend to not share, especially with public, you know, maybe with their best friends and some family members, but certainly not with everybody on Facebook and a ton of people on Instagram. So it was a little scary just wondering who was going to read it and what people were going to think. But I feel like ever since Robert has passed, I've just adopted this mentality that, you know what, if I have any ounce of interest in something or, you know, drive to do anything, I'm just going to do it. And I don't care how many times I fall down, stumble, who thinks what I'm going to do it.

And I'm pretty driven and goal oriented. And I think finally, my blog is developing in the way that I have always envisioned it in my head. It's actually coming to life now. But if you want to start a blog based on your personal story, whatever that might be, just know that it is scary, but there are so many people out there who are going through something similar to what you are and who will most likely read your posts and feel and think, most likely read your posts and feel and think, oh, finally, I'm, you know, I'm finding someone who is actually going through the same thing as me and I can turn to this person for help

or I can read their blog posts for help, you know. Have you ever wanted to start a blog but had no idea where to begin? Or maybe you have a blog that you'd like to update and want some help to make it the best it can be. We know that there are many people out there who have big dreams for their own blog that never happen because they simply feel stuck. The Ultimate Blog Bootcamp is an eight-week course designed to help you create a solid blogging foundation by teaching you how to treat your blog as a business, find your audience, design a website that is optimized for SEO, all while providing support via online coaching calls each week of the course. There is a private Slack channel for students as well, so questions will never go unanswered. The Ultimate Blog Bootcamp will give you the

tools and support to create a blog that has the potential to turn into a profitable business. We are committed to helping each and every student feel empowered and confident with the foundational principles of blogging and the behind the scenes work that goes into it. If you don't want to blog alone, we can help. We keep each round small in order to provide each student the attention and support we believe you deserve

during this process. Since space is limited, get on the waitlist today so we can help you with your blog. The link to join the waitlist is in our show notes or go to sparkmediaconcepts.com and click on the ultimate blog bootcamp. Yeah, I totally get that. Elizabeth, you pulled the curtain back to this, you know, especially in regards to binge eating. I share about that on my blog as well. So it was very interesting when you joined the bootcamp and then I ended up like looking up and seeing like about you and seeing that you had been upfront about your passive binge eating disorder. And that's something that I had struggled with as well. And so just having that instant

connection with you, there's not a lot of people that talk very openly about that. It can be a very, very shameful thing. And I remember thinking that like I was the only one in the world who struggled with that until I went just like you lifted the veil of it and realized, oh my goodness, this is something actually so many people struggle with, but nobody's talking about it. That takes a lot of bravery and strength to do that. Thank you. Yeah. I, it took me a long time to kind of realize what I was dealing with, you know, for the longest time, I just thought I was kind of weird when it came to food and I didn't know why I was the way I was. And one day I remember I was sitting in my living room in Boston and it just kind of clicked like, oh, maybe this is like an

eating disorder. Maybe it's something more serious than what I think it is. And I Googled it and I was probably on some medical website and I saw an image of like the cycle of binging and what people go through when they binge and what they're feeling and thinking and how it kind of repeats itself and how vicious that cycle is. And I thought, oh, wow, this is me in a chart. This is me in a graph. And I just I didn't know what it was called. I had never, you know, read about anyone online going through it. So that was definitely, you know, hard to start writing about, especially because like with, you know, my friends, I never told them what I was going through. So wondering, okay, what are they thinking now that they're

reading this and that I've struggled with this in private for so long, but just a number of messages I've received from people over the years, you know, basically thanking me for just being open about the fact that I've struggled with this and how that helps them so much knowing that they're not alone. You know, people have asked, you know, and I'm no expert at all, but what steps I took to, you know, help with recovery. What was the first thing I did? Did I ever work with a professional and just having someone to talk to, you know, I always leave the door open with them and say, you know, if you've ever have any questions or ever want anyone to talk to, please, you know, message me, feel free to contact me because you're right. Nobody talks,

no one talks about it. And yeah, I think a lot of people do, do deal with it. It speaks to the power of the internet and how, you know, it may seem like such an impersonal place, but it's such a way for people to make those connections with other people who are actually going through what they're going through when they don't have someone in their real life to talk to about those things. So I think it just goes to show that if you think your story can't help someone, that's not true because you can take what you've learned and turn that around to share and help other people. Was it hard to make that shift when you said you used to write, you know, all

these personal posts and you had this, I guess, this revelation that you should be sharing more educational type posts to help people in that way. Was it hard to make that shift to go from just writing about, you know, a journal or a documentary of what you were going through versus figuring out how to help someone else with that experience that you had? I guess the way I wrote the post was a little bit different, but trying to help people actually came pretty natural to me because I think that was, I guess, subconsciously or maybe just not at first a goal I had when I did start my blog, because it originally it was just like a place for me to just document

my running and things like that. But as I became more aware of, you know, what BED was and how I was dealing with the recovery for that, I did also want to document that and share that because I would have loved to have that, you know, two years, more than two years, actually like five years prior. And I just, I didn't have that resource. So everything, I guess, on my blog has been a very slow shift. Like the blog posts I write now versus my very first one are very different. But if you kind of read through all of them, you can kind of see myself transform in a number of different ways, not just with like the style of writing, but how I have grown and how I've learned along the way. I love that because I think that growth is essential. I think a lot of times we're told it can be something that somebody considers bad,

like, well, you've changed. And instead of thinking that's not a compliment, it should be. Isn't it a wonderful thing that you've changed? You've changed and grown. I think you probably believe in yourself and your dreams more now than you did six, seven years ago, because you have all these experiences under your belt that have allowed you to take that leap of faith. You know, if you wouldn't have sat down and wrote your first blog post in 2015, then you wouldn't have had the courage to say in 2021, you know what? I think it's time for me to really like invest in myself and invest in this thing that I can't stop thinking about. And maybe I need to turn my blog into something more, you know? And cause I think a lot of people back in

like 2015 and even before I know Jennifer had personal blog, I had a blog on blog spot in like 2008 and yeah. And I think I wrote on it like kind of just like, just exactly like you did very, it was more like a diary kind of thing that people would randomly find, you know, like some friends and family, but it's just interesting if we just talk about that shift and change, it's not just in the people behind the computer screen. It's also how blogging has changed throughout that time. It was back then more of a diary sort, but now I think that more and more people are realizing like there are people out there who have these experiences or who have learned different things and they're offering that on their blog and it's helping people. And I think that people are also realizing that those real true testimonies of growth,

I mean, people relate to that. They want that. They want to talk to a human being, not just read an article on WebMD. Like how do you get through binge eating disorder? Or how do you start running? Like, isn't it so nice to see a face behind the article and say, Hey, if I have like questions, I can actually talk to this human being who's gone through what I am going through or want to do. And they can help me with that. Yeah. And I think an important part of, at least for me, I think an important part of my development of my blog is just being okay with knowing that I'm a beginner in so many ways with so many things and that I'm absolutely going to fail at some time. So of course, I was a beginner with blogging.

I'm still a beginner with blogging, but also being a beginner with running. Those were things that I was documenting and I'm still not the fastest runner in the world. I don't run the fastest marathon. There are plenty of people out there who are faster than me, but being okay with putting yourself out there and not making that version of you be this glamorous, perfect self. I think a lot of people really love and just like you were saying, Amy, being able to relate to someone whose documentation is a bit more candid and raw and real. People can easily relate to that much more than this perfect person who seems to have it all together. Yes. And I think that you spoke that so beautifully because we talk about this

all the time in the bootcamp, that you don't have to be an expert. You don't have to have a college degree. You don't have to go get a certification of any sort. You just have to know just a little bit more than somebody else. Like you just said, you're not the fastest runner, like, but you probably know a lot more about running than I do. So you can teach me a lot about it. You know what I mean? And I think a lot of times we let that hold us back from doing something in our lives that we can really help and touch a lot of people. If we just took that like pressure off that, well, I'm not good enough yet, or I don't know enough yet, but do you know, do you know, just a little bit more than the average person or the person who's out there searching for that

content? And if the answer is yes, then you can totally share about it. And that could be part of your blog. Yeah. That's something I had to, and I still have to remind myself often about, like knowing that while I don't know everything in the world about running, I still do know quite a lot and I can share and write about the things I do know and write about them well. So I do have to remind myself a lot that you don't have to be a perfect or the fastest runner or the best chef or whatever you are interested in to have a blog. Because there are plenty of people out there who are looking for basic information that you have knowledge about. Yeah. And honestly, if we're being real and honest here, I think all of us struggle with that at

some point in time. I know I do. We all kind of have that like imposter syndrome sneaks in sometimes, you know, but it's just that reminder, like, but I am good enough. And just as a reminder, you know, every day we need that reminder. Like I, I am worthy of showing up in this space. I am worthy of helping these people. And we always say, like, we believe that everyone's voice is important. Everyone's story is important. And I think that blogging is such a beautiful way to be able to do that so authentically. And I love that when you started this, running might not have been a passion right away, but you knew that it was something that could evolve to that.

And now it's become your business and your livelihood. And that's really awesome that you've taken that piece and turned it into something that you can do to earn a living. Because that's one of the things I know that I love about blogging. Jennifer can agree to her as well. Like we love it. We get to wake up every day and this is what we get to do. Like pinch me. I love talking about what I get to talk about and doing what I get to do. And, but it did start just like with you, like with the leap of faith to say, okay, I'm ready to invest in myself and do this. And this is going to be scary sometimes, but I think I'm ready. So. Yeah. And, and just taking that leap of faith six, seven years ago,

you know, I've, it's taken all this time to get where I am today, but I'm so, I just want to like shake people and be like, don't give up on your dreams. Like if you have this little glimmer of hope or this little flame of fire somewhere in you that says, Hey, I want to start my own business or start a blog or do this, do it and throw yourself into it and know that it will take time to develop and you can absolutely do it and be successful. Sometimes I still wonder what people who don't know me think when I say, oh, I have a run coaching business and a blog. And they're like, oh, that's cute. Like I probably get some, I'm sure people have really a wide range of thoughts when they hear that. But, you know.

I think people just don't understand blogging. I worked for Jennifer as her VA and I didn't even know how she was paying me. I did not understand blogging. Just the average person doesn't, you know? So that's so funny. I think that Jennifer, didn't you have a funny story with that? Like with an accountant or something? Am I just making this up? Oh gosh, probably. I mean, I can't tell you the number of times when somebody asks you what you do for a living and you're like, I'm a blogger and you just get this like funny stare and you don't know, like, do you elaborate or if they ask more questions, you know, they have a lot of questions.

So Elizabeth, as we kind of wrap up here, what is something that you would tell like a new, a newbie, somebody who wants to start a blog or has a personal story that they want to share and they are thinking about starting a blog? What is just like a simple piece of advice that you would give them? That's a great question. I first thing I would say is, like I said before, don't be afraid of sharing your story and sharing your experiences and things you've learned. Because again, there are a number of people out there who are going through the same thing. And you don't know how one post or even one little section of a post can have such a positive impact on someone and how that

can help them with whatever your niche is. So just don't be afraid of writing all about your niche. And I guess the second one is kind of goes along with it. Just stay true to yourself. You know, I wrote some posts about binge eating disorder that are pretty like raw and just honest and share the hard points about struggling with that eating disorder. And, you know, I've never tried to sugarcoat anything just because what I was going through was difficult. And I just wanted an honest documentation of that, not only for myself, but hopefully for others too. And, and like we were

talking about a little bit earlier, know that so much can come from blogging. Like if I had never started my wordpress.com blog in 2015, or if I had never bought my first pair of running shoes, I wouldn't be where I am today. And I would honestly, I'd probably be wondering the what ifs like, oh, what if I just had gone for it? Like I have always wanted to. Would I have ever been able to run that marathon? Would I have ever been able to write that successful blog or I don't know, be a run coach and help other runners? run coach and help other runners, you know, basically everything that has manifested from what I've started in 2015 is basically like a dream come true. And like you, you guys said, I love waking up and doing what I do today and having flexibility. I mean, they're just, I just love it so much. And blogging can lead you to not only those opportunities, but also to new experiences and meeting new people like you two. I'm so, so thankful to have participated in the blog bootcamp, ultimate blog bootcamp and the membership program

and to have met people along the way. It's been wonderful. We've loved having you. And we're so glad you're in the membership and we get to see you all the time. Me too. I love it too. Okay.

Do you want to tell everybody where they can find you and how to connect with you? Sure. So my blog is elizabethhealthylife.com and my Instagram is also elizabethhealthylife.com, but it's elizabeth underscore healthy underscore life. And then my blog has some information about my run coaching services, which is strongest self LLC.

So you can find information about run coaching on Instagram and my blog. Awesome. Thank you so much, Elizabeth. So you can find information about Ren Coaching on Instagram and my blog. Awesome. Thank you so much, Elizabeth. Thank you for having me. Thank you. Thanks for sharing your story. It's been great. Thanks so much for tuning in today. If you'd like to continue the conversation about blogging with us, please find us on Instagram at Spark Media Concepts. You can also sign up for our weekly newsletter where we share blogging tips and inspiration. You can sign up by finding the

link in the show notes for those of you who are ready for the next step and want to start your own blog, join the wait list for the ultimate blog bootcamp. The link to join the wait list is also in the show notes, go out and make today a great day.