We interrupt your Saturday for the MizFit Commenter O’The Month (DRUMROLL PLEASE):

by

This month I picked a woman whose comments I love, whose blog never fails to get my brain MOVING, and a woman about whom, quite honestly, I simply wanted to learn more.

Please to welcome Marelisa.

I adore your writing style & the topics about upon which you post. Just in case any of the Bumbling Band has yet to visit your blog tell us a little about it.

I blog over at Abundance Blog at Marelisa Online.

Darren Rowse from Problogger recently asked people to describe their blogs in 140 characters and this is what I wrote about my blog: “Simplify your life by identifying authentic desires, and be more productive by doing less while achieving more and by embracing creativity.”

I write about being more productive, increasing your creativity, and simplifying your life.

I published about three blog posts in April but I consider the “birth” of my blog to be the 2nd of May, which coincidentally is also my birthday. I enjoy reading and writing and I decided to start a blog in order to share with others the things I’ve learned which have helped me live a happier and more productive life, as well as the things I’m learning about and working to implement.

I‘m always curious how people end up at MizFit—-especially when their own blog isn’t about fitness. How did you find us?

I visit Lance’s blog, “The Jungle of Life”, on a regular basis and I kept seeing your comments there. Then one day I just thought, “this person sounds really nice, I’m going to go visit her blog”. I liked what I found at MizFit so I became a regular here as well.

Here is a question Im thankful no one has asked me yet…so Im asking you: what’s your favorite post of yours and why?

I’d say my favorite post is an unconventional post I wrote about “How to Be Happy“. It’s written in a poster format, and I plan to turn it into an actual poster. It’s fun and whimsical and lots of people have told me that they feel happier after reading it, which is the best compliment I could hope for about one of my posts.

What’s your fitness back story? Your fitness philosphy?

When I worked for the Panama Canal Authority from 2000 to 2004 I had a very stressful job as a labor attorney- I defended the administration of the canal in labor matters against the unions-and later I was put in charge of the Labor Relations Division for eight months. I worked insane hours and I stopped exercising completely. I would also eat a lot of sugary foods to get quick energy. I gained a lot of weight. Then I left the canal and started a solo practice and I got back in shape. Unfortunately I gained some of the weight back, and now I’m working on losing it again.

In terms of my fitness philosophy, I want a body that can take me to where I want to go, do the things I want to do, and have lots of energy so that I can enjoy life more fully. I plan to achieve this by making healthy but delicious food choices, although allowing myself decadent foods once in awhile without feeling guilty, and getting lots of exercise.

Ok, now you *know* I have to ask. You say lots of exercise. Care to share specifics about your routine?

I love exercising! Right now I go to the gym every day Monday to Friday, at 11:00 a.m., and I do fifty minutes of cardio and about twenty minutes of weights. I’ve been telling myself that I’m going to run a marathon for awhile now but I think 2009 is really going to be the year in which I do it.

Uh oh, Marelisa. I think youve been reading long enough to know that now we are ALL going to nag encourage you to reach that goal in 2009.

Was that sound I just heard you asking for a MizFit Motivational Match?!

Thanks again!

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Comments

  1. Hey MizFit, a really awesome choice you’ve made for commenter of the month – I love what Marelisa writes (including her “How to Be Happy” post)!

    Mare – this is so cool to get to know you a little better! I didn’t realize you’ve only been blogging since May – you are so well-written, I was sure it had been much longer! What I’m always impressed with is the amount of information with which you write about – I always come away with something.

    I need to learn some things from you about fitness as well – you commitment to your health really is so impressive. (I feel like an exercise slacker next to you!). So a marathon, eh? I’ll be one of those encouraging you on into the coming year!

    Now who gets to wear the tiara! You’ve earned it Marelisa (ha, so now you can have it)! And I feel all sorts of special this morning – thanks to you!

  4. thanks Miz!

    i love that you aren’t all fitness here like with the vision board stuff and now showing us another blog to get us thinking!

    brain fitness!!!

    when are you doing more matches?
    I missed out last time.

  6. Fantastic choice Miz…..Marelisa is one of my favorites. She always gets the wheels turning. A fantastic writer indeed! Very nice!

  7. Nice to learn a little more about you, Marelisa. Looking foward to visiting your blog – next week, after things slow down around here!

    Thanks, Miz, for introducing us to another blogger!

  9. A non-fitness blog? I didn’t know there was such a thing!

    “Find someone who is happy and stand next to them.” Yeah, that’s one of my favorites. Funny, though–sometimes you can achieve the same “be happy” effect by standing next to someone not happy and letting the good vibes flow outward.

  11. lol to dragonmamma’s first comment. when i went to marelisa’s blog i thought “huh, oh yea, there are other types of blogs out there” and then i proceeded to take a little visit around another “blogland.” pretty cool!!

    oh and you know someone had to ask now…do you have a favorite post??

  14. Oh my goodness, I’ve been browsing Marelisa’s site thanks to you and she has provided a *wealth* of wonderful tips and information over there. Thanks, Marelisa and Mizfit! It’s so enjoyable stumbling over these new treasure troves :).

  16. Aw that’s such a nice little interview- that sounds like a really great blog.

    That How to be Happy post brightened my day- after losing my wallet, keys, and Internet (as I speedily type on the sisters computer) yesterday, I DEFINITELY could use that post for some uplifting thoughts:)

  17. another great blog?

    who has the time?! LOL

    thanks Miz. I love your commenters of the month idea.

    another reason I joined the Bumbling Band (I did right? becuase I comment?)!

  23. Hi MizFit: This is my first blog interview and I’m enjoying it, thank you. You have a lot of great people in the Bumbling Band. OK, sign me up for a MizFit Motivational Match.

    Hi Lance: Thank you! I never entered any pageant shows but now I know why those who do fight so hard for the tiara 🙂

    Hi Natalia: You’re always welcome to visit 🙂

    Hi Linda: It certainly was interesting working for the Panama Canal, specially in the period when it had just been turned over to the Republic of Panama.

    Hi Mark: You’re always so supportive, thank you.

    Hi Bag Lady: OK, I’ll wait for you next week 🙂

    Hi Dragonmamma: It’s the same principle, except you’re the one who is being contagious for the other person.

    Hi Madison: Actually, MizFit and Mark are pretty much the only fitness bloggers I visit, so to me fitness blogs are another blogland 🙂

  24. Hi Liz: “Treasure trove”, I love it, thank you Liz.

    Hi Sagan: Sorry about your keys and wallet (how did you lose your internet?). I’m glad my happiness post helped.

    Ttfn300: Thank you! I’m going to turn that post into a poster and put in on cafepress 🙂

    Hi Sherre: Come on over whenever you’d like.

    Hi Fit Bottomed Girl: Thank you, you never know how you’re going to come across in these interviews. 🙂

  25. SERIOUSLY, Marelisa.
    I love my peeps & am honored every.single.day. they make time to stop by and comment.

    Madison? if the question *was* for me Id have to say my very first post. I wont even (ever?) go back and watch the Facetime but it’s my favorite.

    Im so shockedproud that I planned to launch MizFit and I followed through. I put myself out there. I did something which scared me.

    (cue DAMN MIZ YOU TRITE UP IN HERRE TODAY music)

    Evan? Id say that I laughed at your comment but youre not alone in asking that.

    yep. wanna be part of the Bumbling Band? COMMENT.
    jump in & give your .02
    on the topic at hand…..or on another.
    be part of the commentversation.
    that’s all it takes!

    Miz, who is off to get SCHOOLED on core work. yes. that’s foreshadowing on mondays Ren Man was horrified at my midsection Facetime.

  29. yay for another blog to check out 🙂

    hope you are having a good saturday! thanks again for your cute comment about working out haha… glad to know i motivated you – believe me it was tough getting out of bed but i knew i had to do it since i blogged about it and saw your comment haha

  30. Hey, Miz! I’ve just become a victim of your self-proclaimed “crappy email,” so I’m going to just post a comment here… sorry to your readers if it doesn’t make sense!!

    Hey! Thanks for the comment! No, I do not watch that show, but have been known to indulge in a few episodes of Project Runway. Don’t tell anyone.

    Well, I’m back to taming the troops. We’re having an inside day. It is sooo cold and windy outside today, we decided to all stay home and trash the house. God bless ’em.

  31. Hi MizFit,

    Thanks for the interview. I think of Mare’s blog as THE blog for brain fitness 🙂 Mare does have a great blog and a unique style which is working very well.

    It has been great to learn a little more about her!

  32. I *love* the How to Be Happy post. I smiled at “Happiness is contagious: find someone who is happy and stand close to them.” I can just see myself in an elevator standing REALLY close to the best lookin’ man in there. Wait. I’m married. Scratch that. I’d also like to order six Guatemalan worry dolls, no make that 12. Most of all, I want the poster Marelisa plans to make of this post. It’s wonderful! I love the way she describes her own blog. Thanks Miz, for introducing us to her blog.

  34. Thanks for introducing us to Marelisa! Love the post about How to Be Happy, and also the 100 Essential Life Lessons- bookmarking both!

    Hopefully Ren Man wasn’t horrified at your midsection the way the Hubs is horrified at my jiggly bum (I kind of doubt it, though, cuz we’ve seen your midsection).

  35. “Authentic desires“…translates for me into; my personal aspirations, dreams, what I truly see my self becoming.

    “Embracing creativity”….I never realized that my creativity could help me “be more productive while doing less“. Up until I read that quote. Part of my creativity is a brain that goes over 90mph. I always thought of it as a hindrance, until now. Why not embrace it. Do things the way I would naturally do them. Stop trying to be like someone else, because I’m most productive and successful when I’m just me and embrace it.

    Whoa! Huge epiphany.

    “It’s fun and whimsical and lots of people tell me they feel happier after reading it”…only one question. Is there any one who didn’t check that post out after reading that? I loved it. It’s always nice when some one else can explain your thoughts for you, or sum up what you’ve been trying to put into words for the past few weeks.

    Thanks for the spotlight.

  37. Hopefully Ren Man wasn’t horrified at your midsection the way the Hubs is horrified at my jiggly bum (I kind of doubt it, though, cuz we’ve seen your midsection).

    I LOVE the word jiggly (and adore how nonamericans (TA? DietGirl?) use the words WOBBLY BITS as well.

    horrified? alas, he entirely was.
    much to my chagrin I didnt get that on tape (and begged him yesterday, to no avail, to be filmed as well. Ren Men!)

    my lack of strength and stamina shocked him (as it wont YOU ALL since we’ve previously established it. perhaps he should read this thing…)

    Miz.

  38. ok miz. are you really up that early on a sunday??!!

    I am but I’m racing (what does it say I looked here first? uh oh :))

  42. and don’t tell me if you watch it Madison!

    (My #2 and #3 faves I’m linking on thanksgiving…)

    And teenage veg head?
    I have a link for you as well.
    I’ll put it here when I’m at the computer!

    Miz.

  44. ok Madison. MAYBE Ill watch it. alone. cringing all the while.

    and veg head? CLICK HERE.

    it’s the info on my IN AND OUT IN 20 MINUTES LIFTING ROUTINE…why it works.

    lemmie know if you need more.

    Miz.

  45. I will be visiting Marelisa often. Love the blog. I need all the positive I can get.

    Um Miz., are your feet freezing today? 36 this AM! How do people up North do it? “it” means tolerate the cold weather.

  47. meribeth? I was BUNDLED BUNDLED this morning when the tornado and I venture out.

    (and in our matching sock monkey knit caps no less…)

    and karen? Im not saying. all in hopes that s/he might let me take a picture of us together?

    a (*gasp*) video?!

    here’s hoping….

    Miz.

  48. I just read her post on the Japanese inventor and his elaborate creative process. Fascinating! Thanks for bringing this blog to my attention!

  49. Thank you for introducing me to such a great site! I love learning about ways to impove myself and my life and Marelisa’s site is just the ticket. Also reading Leah j. utas’ site The Goat’s Lunch Pail and wow!

  55. How you think when the economic crisis will end? I wish to make statistics of independent opinions!

Trackbacks

  1. […] 17. Have other bloggers interview you. An offshoot of networking with other bloggers is that sooner or later someone will ask to interview you on their blog, which will expose you to their readers. (And if they don’t, take the first step and ask someone in your blogging network to interview you, as long as you’ve noticed that they interview people on their blog.) For instance, I was interviewed on the blog MizFitonline.com here. […]

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