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I created this resources page to share some insight on resources, including products and services, related to setting up your own blog and building your home gym, along with information and further reading on depression. This page is an ongoing compilation of resources that I will add to and adjust based on my experiences. Feel free to bookmark this page for future reference at your convenience.

Disclaimer: Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, and at no cost to you, I will earn a commission on purchases made through these links. The companies and products I have listed below are ones that I currently use (or have used) and recommend because they are useful and helpful. Please do not spend any money unless you feel that doing so aligns with your goals.

Blogging

When I started blogging I started with Blogger which is a free service but I definitely don’t recommend them if you want to earn any money from your blog at some point. In my opinion (and most other bloggers too), it’s better to just start out on your own domain using the WordPress platform. When you have your own domain you have more control over your content and you’re open to more monetization opportunities as well.

Getting Your Domain

GoDaddy – I have always used GoDaddy as my domain registar and I highly recommend them! Whenever I purchase a domain the only add-on I opt for is domain privacy. Domain privacy prevents people from seeing your personal information (name and address) that you provided during your purchase. Instead of showing your information, it will show GoDaddy’s.

Hosting Your Blog

For new blogs, I definitely recommend Siteground. I wish I had started with these guys because it’s a PAIN to move your blog to a new host! They will move WordPress blogs at no additional charge. Perfect for non-techy people like me.

I started with their Start-up package which was $3.95/month and now I have the GoGeek plan to keep up with my traffic and added resources better. I have zero complaints and no downtime at all.

Blog Themes

When you use WordPress you need to install a theme. Your theme is the overall design of your blog and there are a bazillion of these to choose from too.

The Genesis Framework – Lifting Makes Me Happy runs on the Genesis Framework which has been incredibly easy for me to navigate since I am not a huge “techie”. Genesis is a blogging platform used by some of the world’s most popular bloggers. If you choose Genesis you’re going to want to choose a Child Theme as well. Child Themes are designed to run and perform well on the Genesis Framework.

Free Themes for WordPress – If you aren’t ready to pay for a theme there are plenty of free WordPress themes available to get you started. One tip I have is to read reviews of themes before you download and install them because sometimes they can really mess up your blog or slow it down. You can usually feel good about any theme with a 4 or 5 star rating.

Setting Up Your Blog

If you are completely clueless (like I was back in 2008) as to how to set up your blog, I highly recommend each of the two books below to help you get your first post published! I have purchased both of these books myself and refer to them often. They are GOLD.

How to Blog for Profit Without Selling Your Soul – by Ruth Soukup. This book has everything you need to get started and it also has advanced techniques if you plan on making your blog your business. You’ll learn how to setup your blog, how to increase traffic (and therefore pageviews) and how to get involved with brands who may sponsor content on your blog – which means you get paid for posting! She walks you through other monetization methods as well to help you diversify your blog income. Her newly revised version also touches on social media and how to use it to get more traffic to your blog. I purchased the ebook version of this which is silly. I wish I had purchased the paperback version!

Building a Framework: The Ultimate Blogging Handbook – by Abby Lawson. There are 3 packages available (all include the Building a Frame Workout Handbook) and I went with “The Starter Pack”. This is the most basic one and includes the 209-page blogging handbook, 32 pages of blog binder printables (very helpful pages in here for bloggers) and an easy-to-follow 9-page course outline. If you opt for one of the larger packages you get step-by-step instructional videos featuring other bloggers talking about specific topics and access to the private Facebook group! Since they allow you to upgrade to a larger package at a later date, I’m starting with the basic pack. The videos and Facebook group are very enticing though!

Planning Your Posts

EPIC BLOG: One-Year Editorial Calendar by Regina Anaejionu. This is the best bound blog planner I’ve come across. I purchased this myself last year and it’s been so helpful at keeping me organized and focused as a blogger. (Any other bloggers suffer from serious internet ADD?) EPIC BLOG contains a monthly section with a calendar so there’s room to plan your posts, list your posts, jot down stats, analyze the previous month and a whole lot more.

CoSchedule: This is actually a WordPress plug-in that you can use to plan your posts and also your social media posts – it even knows the best time to schedule. Crazy right? I use this mostly for Twitter and Google+. You can color code your content by subject, you can use their built-in headline analyzer to be sure your headline is good to go and you can edit your posts from right inside the app.

Photos/Editing

PicMonkey – PicMonkey is a favorite photo editor of mine because it’s easy to use and you don’t need to download the program to your computer. You simply upload your photo (or create one) by visiting Picmonkey.com. They have both free and paid versions. I use the paid version because of all of the different fonts and different edits you can use to create the perfect photo. You can even upload fonts from your own computer. I have a lot of fun playing around with it!

Canva – Canva is my new favorite photo editor and although it has a bit of a learning curve for me compared to PicMonkey, I love that you can purchase images from their library for $1 each. You can create Pinterest-worthy images quickly and easily and if you don’t have your own photo to use, choose one of theirs! They have both a free and a work version. I upgraded to the work version to be able to purchase those images. You can also keep templates of your photos and logos to save time.

Home Fitness Tools

Team Beachbody – Team Beachbody is a healthy living community that is completely free to join. This company is also the creator of my most favorite home workout DVD programs including Les Mills Pump, ChaLean Extreme and 21 Day Fix. Once joining, you’ll get access to your member profile, the members-only forum and will have the opportunity to log your daily workouts – even if you aren’t doing a Beachbody program. This is a major accountability booster and Beachbody also gives away a random $500 prize daily just for logging your workouts.

Dumbbells. Dumbbells are a must-have if you plan on working out at home. If you’re a beginner you can probably get by with purchasing some 5, 8 and 10# dumbbells to start with. When those weights begin to feel too light you’ll need to pick up a heavier pair to keep progressing. I would suggest a local store like Target so you don’t have to worry about shipping. Another option is Amazon if you have a Prime Account so you can take advantage of free 2-day shipping. I like this Tone Fitness set – it’s affordable and it has a stand to store all 3 pairs of dumbbells.

Adjustable Dumbbells. This is more of a splurge, but a helpful one. I highly recommend the Bowflex SelectTech Adjustable Dumbbells but they are pretty expensive. The main advantages to these are the fact that they adjust from 5 to 52.5 pounds EACH so they take up a LOT less space than if you were to have a dozen pairs of dumbbells. We purchased ours from Amazon.com in 2013 and they still look and work like new. (We use them regularly!)

Weight Bench & Plates Set. If your budget allows, I also recommend getting a weight bench, a barbell and plates. You don’t need this right away but a set is helpful if you prefer free weights over DVDs. I typically use a combination of both. I love the structure of fitness programs on DVD but I also love being able to mix it up with heavy deadlifts, squats and bench press sometimes. We started with a Gold’s Gym brand Olympic weight set (purchased from Sports Authority) that worked very well. We ended up giving that set to my dad after my husband built a squat rack (he’s a welder :). We now use the squat rack with a Bowflex adjustable bench we purchased from Amazon.com

Depression Resources

This page is an ongoing compilation of resources related to help with depression that I will add to and adjust based on my experiences. Feel free to bookmark this page for future reference at your convenience.

Professional resources:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline ==> 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
National Institute of Mental Health
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Healthy Place (includes blogs on various mental illnesses written by people with personal experience)
RAINN.org (resource for survivors of sexual assault and their families)
Depression and Addiction

Workbooks I recommend:

How to Be Happy (Or at Least Less Sad): A Creative Workbook by Lee Crutchley
The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Depression: A Step-by-Step Program by William J. Knaus (EdD) and Albert Ellis (PhD)

My book:

Crawling out of Darkness: 12 Strategies You Can Implement Today to Battle Depression Naturally

Personal blogs:

The Mighty – We face disability, disease and mental illness together. You can even share your own story here if/when you’re ready.

Resources – Blogging, Fitness & Depression