I was so nervous before leaving for FitBloggin’. I remember not being able to sleep the night before I left for the airport. I was wondering who I would meet, if people would be nice to me, and if I would be able to handle the Savannah heat. FitBloggin’ was my first blog conference. Now that it is all said and done I am so happy I went and feel confident that I could not have picked a better first conference.
FitBloggin’ is a conference for healthy living and weight loss bloggers in all stages of their journey. It’s a place to get together and learn, grow, and connect. It really feels like one big party weekend.
I have a full recap coming tomorrow with lots of pictures from my trip. I met wonderful people, ate delicious food, and did lots of fun things while in Savannah. While uploading my billion pictures for that post I realized recapping the experience doesn’t really do the conference justice. I want to share what I took away from all this. My mind has been racing since I left Savannah and I want to make sure I get all my thoughts down while the memories are fresh.
What I learned at FitBloggin’ 14.
Bloggers are some of the nicest people I’ve met.
I had no idea what it would be like meeting everyone. This was the 5th annual FitBloggin’ and I could tell that a lot of people had some really strong friendships coming into this weekend. I knew very few people and was worried that everyone would break off into groups and I’d be left on the sidelines. This was not the case at all. People were welcoming, accepting, and incredibly warm. I literally did not meet one person that I had a bad experience with.
I can approach a group of strangers.
I love to meet new people but oftentimes hesitate to approach a group of people I don’t know, and feel shy. At FitBloggin’ I was walking up to everyone to say hello and it paid off. I met some amazing people, organized a MidWest meet-up, and found out about a ton of new blogs I can’t wait to follow. It’s incredible what can happen when you get out of your comfort zone.
Everyone has a story.
I’m a big believer in learning and growing from each other’s stories. We all have experienced something in life and can help others by sharing our journey. The Ignite session at FitBloggin’ was made up of speakers who had 5 minutes each to give a presentation on a particular topic. Their slides were synched to a timer which was super fun. Topics ranged from silly (how to make a proper cup of tea) to serious (what it’s like having lipedema). I really connected and learned from the Ignite speakers and appreciated them sharing their stories.
My roomies are the bomb dot com.
I stayed with Susan, Denise, and Lauren. We all found each other through the FitBloggin’ Facebook group and I’m so glad we did. I had so much fun with these girls over the weekend. I’ve never shared a hotel room with people I hadn’t met before. Maybe it’s because we’re bloggers and read each other’s blogs and have been emailing up to this point, but I really felt like I knew them. We all got along great. If you’re going to a conference and have the option of roomies I highly recommend that over staying in a room by yourself. You’ll have so much more fun!
I can do anything I put my mind to.
As you guys know, I have been struggling with my weight for the last year. I want to lose ~30 pounds, and when I think about that number for too long I start to get overwhelmed and feel like it’s hopeless. The people I met at the conference have done so many amazing things. One girl ran for Team USA. Others have lost 100+ pounds. With hard work and determination I can achieve anything I put my mind to.
Three days is not enough time to meet all the people, see all the things, and eat all the food.
There were sessions I didn’t get to make, restaurants I didn’t get to try, and people I didn’t get to meet. I learned that there simply are not enough hours in the day to do everything at FitBloggin’ so you do what you can, enjoy the crap out of it, and vow to do the other things next time. I’m already really looking forward to Denver 15. 😀
Everyone is struggling with balancing blogging and real life commitments.
I went to a session on balancing your blog with your personal life and found it to be incredibly helpful. We talked about balance, and how that rarely ever exists in life. A lot of people outside of the blogging world don’t realize how much work a blog is. I make sacrifices in my personal life for this blog. My blog is totally worth it because I’ve met some of my best friends, have a documented history of my life, and have been given some incredible opportunities. That being said, it can still be overwhelming to try and accomplish everything I want to on my to-do list on any particular day.
We also talked about the difference between blogging about our lives and living our lives to blog. As much as I agree with the, ‘picture or it didn’t happen’, mentality (because memory is such a fickle thing) I never want to find myself doing things for the sole purpose of documenting them on this blog. That is not what life is about.
Savannah is absolutely gorgeous.
If there wasn’t the crazy humidity in the summer Savannah would be the perfect city. The riverfront and squares are absolutely beautiful. I loved walking along the gorgeous tree-lined streets and by the historic buildings. Savannah has so much charm. People constantly described it as a classier, family-friendly New Orleans. (I haven’t been but want to. Like New Orleans, Savannah also has an open container law so you can drink on the streets.) I want to go back there on a vacation with Josh in the Spring or Fall. 😀
The bike tours of Savannah are basically binge-drinking trips on wheels.
The bike tours around Savannah are such a great way to see the city and learn more about the stories and history behind it. That being said, five bar stops in two hours is a recipe for a really fun tour and then a very early bedtime. (And missing the opportunity to run with Jeff Galloway and Disney the next morning, but I digress.) I would definitely do a bike tour again but would probably not feel the need to get a drink at every bar. I want to say a big thank you to Susan for bringing me breakfast the next morning since I slept through the entire morning schedule.
I need to rebrand.
I attended some amazing blog-building seminars and realized that Girl Gone Veggie is not who I am anymore. Sure I still focus on eating veggie-centric, healthy meals. I’m still the same person that started the blog three years ago, but I am no longer blogging about the same things. Every person I met at the conference who heard about my blog for the first time asked me if I was having luck finding vegetarian meals at the conference. (I’ve been eating chicken, turkey, and fish for the past year.) My name no longer accurately describes what you will find when you come to read Girl Gone Veggie. I love healthy eating and food recipes, but it’s not all I love. As such, my days of being Girl Gone Veggie are coming to a close. I still have to come up with a new name and figure out the logistics of transferring the look and feel and posts on this blog to a new one. Girl Gone Veggie will still be here, it will just be redirecting people to a new site. This is probably months in the making but I just wanted to put this out there so it wouldn’t come as a shock to anyone.
I need to be providing more value to you guys.
There was a lot of discussion about why readers visit blog sites and what makes them keep coming back. My favorite blogs are all blogs that provide me with useful information, tips, and advice. Sure I love reading about bloggers fun adventures, but my favorite posts are when they tie it back to me. (Although I was blown away in the survey results how far and away my random adventures are your favorite thing to read on Girl Gone Veggie. Those are definitely not going anywhere.)
I feel that I have been doing a bad job at creating posts that are of value to you and want to work on providing you with more blog posts that are informative and useful to you. Again, this is another work-in-progress thing, but I wanted to put this out there to everyone so that no one would be surprised when some new blog post formats start popping up.
Questions of the Day: Have you been to a blog conference? What have you learned?
LOVE this Erin! I am glad you got so much out of the weekend and truly loved meeting you. Come back and visit any time.
I’m so glad we got to meet! I’ve been telling Josh we need to take a vacation to Savannah in the fall. I love it there.
I am so sad I missed it! I need to go to an “informative” conference soon!
Come next year! It was a lot of fun! Although for more advanced blogging topics I think there might be better conferences. This one was much more focused on the newer blogger. My main focus in coming was to have fun and hang out with awesome people. That is what this conference is best at.
Even though I went to Fitbloggin last year I was still just as nervous about all the things you were this year!
I had so much fun! I only wish I could have hung out with you more!
Love this and loved being your roomie! Let’s definitely keep in touch, besides reading/commenting on each other’s blogs! I think you realized some great things about rebranding your blog, having valuable content, and not letting blogging get stressful! Just be you, because you are fabulous! I’m totally going to start doing random fashion-y posts after your suggestion. I’ve decided to stop feeling like I need to only talk about running/healthy since my blog title and theme allows me to talk about all the things making me happy 🙂
I’m so excited for your fashion posts!! You always look so put together!
And yes, I’m thinking we should keep our email chain going. I loved rooming with you guys!
Such a great experience, had so much fun on the Slow Ride with ya!
That was a great time! I loved getting to hang out!
I enjoyed hanging out with “timid” Erin this weekend. You are so full of energy! I learned that you can’t let yourself stand in the way of what you want. Going to the conference was a big deal for me because I was afraid I wasn’t going to meet anyone and I would spend a lot of time by myself. The total opposite happened. I was forced to open up and meet people. I’m glad I didn’t because I wouldn’t have met some really great people, you included. Plus, I learned the same things you did about providing more value and re-branding. That late night 10 pm session was pretty informative even though it was late. Anywho, I enjoyed meeting you and I know we’ll be good friends in the future! Keep being “timid” because it suits you!
I hope we can both go back to Denver next year! I really want to hang out with you more! Yeah, I think that 10pm session was probably my favorite in terms of challenging me and making me think. I just wish it wasn’t so late at night. ;p
Sounds like a great conference. Hannah and I were talking about wanting to go to a conference sometime! Glad you made it home though 🙂
It’s in Denver next year!! Roadtrip, anyone? 😀
Absolutely loved meeting you!! I feel the need to rebrand sometimes, too, but the thought is overwhelming to me. You got this!
Aw thanks Presley! Trying to think of a new name is overwhelming but I know it will be worth it in the end. I loved meeting you too!
Hi Erin,
I enjoyed hanging out with you on the Walgreens bus and eating at Vic’s — I hope you had a safe trip home. I will definitely be interested in your rebranding process as I’m thinking that I might need to do some tweaking myself.
I’ll keep you updated on the process! So far trying to think of a new name has been really hard!
I need to rebrand my blog too! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on FitBloggin!
Good luck with your rebranding girl! I’m getting a little overwhelmed thinking about leaving GGV behind but know I need to. FitBloggin was so much fun!
Girl, I am with you – GiGi Eats Celebrities – not REALLY my brand anymore, however, I do try to make it so… I always incorporate a celebrity into a post, even if I simply ask a celebrity related ? at the end of the post – LOL!!!
Thank you for this re-cap! I hear FitBloggin’ is going to be in Denver next year – my old stomping grounds – so I have more of an excuse to go!!
I really want to go next year! I’ve never been to Colorado and need to change that.
I think you do a great job of integrating your name into your content!
I LOVED Fitbloggin when I went 3 years ago! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I had so much fun! I really want to come back next year!
It was so nice to see you for a few moments at FitBloggin. I look forward to seeing how you rebrand in the upcoming months too.
Thanks Kimberly! Coming up with a new brand has been challenging so far but I’m hoping I can make it work.
yes, yes and yes!! This is why I was so sad to miss it this year, but I’m so happy everyone had a blast and I know I’ll catch up with you at another event soon!
I hope to go next year! I actually want to go to a few conferences next year. I had such an amazing experience at this one.
Sounds amazing! I hope I can go next year!
That would be awesome! I’m hoping to go too!
I really would love to go to Fitbloggin sometime but couldn’t go this year. So interesting to read about the things you took away from it! It’s insightful to realize you need to rebrand – I love the catchy name of your blog and think it’s a great title. But if it’s not representative of you anymore I can totally see where that might feel out of sync. Good luck!
Yeah, I love how Girl Gone Veggie flows and is easy to say/write/remember. I’m hoping I can find a new name that represents me better and is still all of those things. I’m having a tough time with it so far though!
I love this! I was so jealous of everyone who was able to go. Maybe one year for me 🙂 Blogging buddies really are the most accepting and welcoming people!
Come to Denver! I really want to!
This is the best recap I have read so far. Makes me want to go back and write mine again. I rebranded about 1.5 years ago. It made a big difference and fits me so much better. Sorry we did not really connect this year. So glad you had a great time.
I hope we get to meet soon! It was so hard to chat with everyone with the amount of people that were there but I had a blast trying! 😀
Great recap and so glad i got to meet you
I loved meeting you! Thank you for teaching me how to make a proper cup of tea!
Being my first blog conference ever, I learned so much! I just wish I could have gone to all the sessions to soak everything up. I basically learned that I have a long ways to go and much more to learn : ) But Fitbloggin definitely restored my passion for blogging, so I’m excited to go from here.
Yes! I felt really motivated to write and connect and make my blog the best it can be. I’ve been blogging for three years now so in some ways I feel like I know a lot and in other ways I feel like I know nothing. I’m excited for the changes I’m going to be making to my site. I too wish I could have gone to more sessions! Thank goodness for live blogs!
I’m sad we didn’t get to meet and chat at FitBloggin, but I love all your lessons and agree with so many of them, especially how amazing this community is and how we all have a special story. Glad you enjoyed the weekend! xoxo
FitBloggin was amazing! I’m so bummed we didn’t get to meet too! I love your blog. Hopefully next year!
Sorry I missed Fitbloggin’ this year. Maybe I will see you in Denver next year! My blog still fits me, but if I ever stop running I will be SOL. 😉
I hope to see you next year too! I’m looking forward to Denver!
Hi! It was great to meet you at Fitbloggin this year! Putting yourself out there when you don’t know anyone makes you learn a lot about yourself. I’m glad you had a great time (as I did). Denver!!! 🙂
It was so great meeting you! I am so excited for Denver. I have always wanted to visit Colorado!
I’m so glad you organized the Midwest meet up! It was awesome meeting you 🙂
It was great getting to meet you! I loved that people wanted to get together and be social and hang out. It made the conference so much fun!
The rebranding thing. I went through that a few years ago and now I’m wondering if I should again. Hope we can chat in Denver!
This sounds like it was an amazing weekend! My goal is to save up and attend FitBloggin’ next year. Savannah was a little far away for me this year, but I’m working on going next year! I love hearing about all you have learned. I think rebranding is in my future as well – but my far far away future! I look forward to seeing all you do with your blog!
Funny about rebranding. I just made the vegetarian decision on Thursday so I’ve been looking for some vegetarian blogs. I saw your site name on the Five Things linkup and thought you must be a vegetarian too. And then from reading this post, I see you’re not anymore. Yes, I think the blog name should describe you but maybe if it did, I wouldn’t have found you.