FitReaders
Welcome to the FitReaders home base. If you have been pointed here by another blogger, welcomed to a check-in, or you just stumbled in by way of a Friday hashtag, I am so glad you are here. Let me tell you about what we do, why we do it, and how to get involved.
What Is FitReaders?
FitReaders is a virtual, very low-pressure community of readers (mostly book bloggers and bookish folks who hang out on social media) who keep each other accountable for moving our bodies. We are not a fitness program. There is no app, no signup form, no fee, no diet talk, and no judgment about your starting line, your finish line, or anything in between. Whatever movement looks like for you, that is what we are here to cheer on.
The “readers” in FitReaders is the connective tissue. A lot of us listen to audiobooks while we move, which means weekly check-ins double as a recommendation engine. Many of us also have shared TBR lists, swap reviews, and have become genuine friends through this group.
How It Works
The Weekly Check-In
Every Friday (give or take), one of the FitReaders hosts publishes a check-in post on their blog. The post invites you to share whatever felt true about your fitness week. That might be:
- Mileage for walking, running, or biking.
- Minutes of yoga, Pilates, dance class, or strength training.
- Whatever movement counted for you (gardening, walking the dog, chasing a toddler, doing chair yoga on a hard pain day).
- What you are reading, listening to, or watching while you move.
- Wins, struggles, and “I tried” moments.
You drop a comment. You read a few other comments. You leave a few words of encouragement on a couple of fellow walkers’ check-ins. That is the whole game.
Monthly and Yearly Goals
Some FitReaders set monthly or yearly fitness goals. Others do not. There is no requirement either way. If goal-setting motivates you, we cheer that. If it stresses you out, skip it. The community is bigger than any one approach.
In January each year, a lot of us do a “Commit to Exercise” sign-up post where we declare our intentions for the new year. Folks share monthly mileage goals, weekly movement targets, or qualitative goals like “show up for myself even when life gets busy.” If you want accountability, sign up. If you do not, no problem.
What Counts
This is the question I get the most, so let me be very, very clear: everything counts.
- Walking around the neighborhood counts.
- Treadmill miles count.
- Hiking counts.
- Running counts.
- Yoga counts.
- Pilates counts.
- Strength training counts.
- Swimming counts.
- Water aerobics counts.
- Zumba and dance class count.
- Chair yoga counts.
- Stretching counts.
- Gardening counts.
- Mowing the lawn counts.
- Cleaning the garage counts.
- Pushing a stroller counts.
- Walking the dog counts.
- Wii Fit, Ring Fit, and other game-based movement count.
- Dancing in the kitchen while making dinner counts.
If you intentionally moved your body in a way that felt good (or at least useful) to you, it counts. End of list. There is no minimum threshold. There is no maximum. The point is consistency over intensity, kindness over competition.
Who Is Welcome
Everyone. Truly.
- New movers and longtime athletes.
- Folks recovering from injury, surgery, or treatment.
- Folks managing chronic illness, fibromyalgia, autoimmune conditions, mental health concerns, or disability.
- Folks of every body size, shape, age, gender, and ability level.
- Folks in every time zone.
The group is shaped by who shows up. Newcomers are welcomed warmly, and longtime members make a deliberate effort to make sure first-time check-ins do not get lost in the comment thread.
What FitReaders Is Not
It is just as important to be clear about what we are not, because too many fitness communities online slide into things we want no part of.
- We are not a weight-loss group. Some members happen to lose weight. Some happen to gain. Most stay roughly the same. None of that is the point.
- We do not do diet talk. No “good food” / “bad food” framing. No fasting cheerleading. No detoxes. No “I earned this” or “I have to work this off” language.
- We do not body-shame. Not ourselves, not each other, not anyone else.
- We do not measure our worth in performance metrics.
- We do not gatekeep. There is no fitness level “minimum” to be a real FitReader.
How to Join
You join by showing up. There is no signup form. There is no waiting list. There is no orientation. Find the most recent weekly check-in post (it will be tagged FitReaders on the host blog), drop a comment about your week, and cheer on a few of your fellow readers. That is it. You are in.
A Quick FAQ
Do I need to be a book blogger? No. Most members are bloggers or active on bookish social media, but you do not need a blog to participate.
Do I need to track my movement? No. Track if it helps you. Skip it if it does not.
What if I miss weeks? Come back when you can. The group is forgiving and we are always glad to see you.
What if I am brand new to exercise? Welcome! You are in the right place. Start where you are. We will cheer you on.
Where can I find the weekly check-ins? Follow the FitReaders tag on participating blogs, or watch for the #FitReaders hashtag on Twitter and Instagram.
A Personal Note
I cannot overstate what FitReaders has meant to me personally. I joined as someone who barely walked around the block. I am not a marathoner now, but I am a person who moves my body most days, who has actual friends across the country who have cheered me through hard seasons, and who has paired audiobooks with walking in a way that has made both better. The community will meet you where you are. I hope you join us.
See you at the next check-in.