Blogger Spotlight: Fitful Focus

Meet Nicole Handler, the woman behind the fitness, food, and lifestyle blog, Fitful Focus. Back in 2012, Handler decided to challenge herself to live a healthier life, and since then she has not only lost weight but also ran her first marathon and became a certified NASM personal trainer.

Handler believes in a holistic approach to fitness; her emphasis is on happiness and how both eating well and feeling fit can help her achieve that goal. She likes to try new things to keep it all interesting and writes, "Switch it up, try new moves, take new classes – that's what I'm all about. After all, you can only realize new passions if you step outside the box!"

We chatted with Handler to find out more about Fitful Focus and her life behind the scenes. Check it out below:

The Daily Meal: What is the mission of your blog?

Nicole Handler: To help people get fit, keep their tummies full of whole food goodness, and stay focused on living a happy, healthy life.

How'd you get started?  

My blog started out as a way to hold myself accountable. I wanted to start eating better and working out more consistently, so I started writing about it. I never thought anyone would actually want to read it!

What are some foods you can't live without?

Sushi, dairy-free ice cream, and almond butter.

Are there any foods you can't stand?

Cilantro. Bleh!

What is your proudest post?

That's a hard question. It might be my recap of running the Dopey Challenge (a four-part series culminating with this post) only because it took a lot of hard work to be able to do that race and because recapping it was so much fun!

What is your biggest blog blunder?

I started my blog on Tumblr. It's not the best platform for long-form writing.

Do you have a memorable comment from a reader?

A reader told me that my photos looked really genuine and not contrived. That made me feel pretty good and that my blog voice was shining through.

What's on your cooking playlist?

I usually put on some classic rock or watch something on Netflix while I cook.

What are some other blogs you love?

The Fit Foodie Mama, Two Peas & Their Pod, Jay's Baking Me Crazy, and The Bloggess

What are some food apps you love?

Fresh Direct is bomb.

What is the best thing about blogging?

The community! It's incredibly supportive. I've met so many like-minded people and have made some lifelong friends.

The worst thing?

Feeling like I have to be "on" 24/7. I blog on top of having a full-time job, so sometimes it can feel a little overwhelming to stay on top of posts and comments and keep up a social presence.

Is there a recipe you're currently obsessed with?

I've been having one of these Healthy Mini Strawberry Shortcakes after dinner each night — DE-lish!

What would even your most loyal followers be surprised to learn about you?

My dream job is to be the voice of a cartoon character. I think that would be so much fun!

What are five of your all-time favorite posts?
Soy-Free Soy Sauce
Meal Planning With Macros
Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Healthy Homemade Gummy Bears
Seven Myths of Marathon Training