A couple years ago I read an article in Marie Claire magazine about these alleged "healthy living" blogs that existed to spread anorexia far and wide (or something.) So of course the first thing I did was look up these blogs and realized, to my disappointment, that they did no such thing (I am, of course, kidding about the disappointment.) I know the bloggers weren't thrilled about that article but one upside is that a few of them did gain a reader in me, and today's interviewee is one of them. Initially I read her blog for inspiration when it came to running and healthy cooking, but then I really started paying attention when she got pregnant right around the time when I started getting interested in the prospect. Is it weird that she is actually the first person I told I was pregnant even though I've never met her in real life? Anyway, in addition to running Healthy Tipping Point (which she's done quite well by), she's also the editor of the Operation Beautiful site, a motivational speaker and author of three books, including Operation Beautiful: Transforming the Way You See Yourself One Post-It Note at a Time and Healthy Tipping Point: A Powerful Program for a Stronger, Happier You.

You're pretty open about your life and your body on your blog; are there any topics that you used to write about but don't anymore, or vice versa?  
Nope! Generally speaking, I never regret writing a personal post about my life or my body. After five + years of blogging (and a few mistakes), I've learned how important it is to take a step back before hitting publish.  You've got to take a deep breath and say, "Am I okay with this being out there?"  I've written about everything from abnormal pap smears to breastfeeding, and I don't regret a single word because I carefully considered the topic first.  I always think, "My dad reads this! Would I be okay with him knowing?"  Sometimes I give him advanced warning when a controversial post comes out!

My husband gets annoyed when I get too social networky when we're together. Do you and your husband have any agreements on when you put your camera or phone or laptop aside?
No! My husband is just as bad as I am with social media - but he likes following college football forums. I do hate it when one of us reads our phone while the other is driving! And I'm careful about social media around my son; I don't want to be that mom who always has her nose in her phone.

This is just a practical question but I've always wondered: what are your tips for taking (good) photos of your food before it gets too cold or you're too hungry or your dining companion gets too antsy?
The key to good food photography is natural light. It's really, really difficult to get a good photo with flash or with artificial lighting.  My trick is, therefore, to take my food outside and quickly snap a few pictures. You'll get a beautiful shot faster than you would if you spent minutes tinkering around with your settings.  Also - think about the lens' perspective. Food rarely looks pretty head-on. Angle the camera or turn the plate a bit so you can take the photo on an angle.

What have been your favorite workout tunes lately that you play on repeat? 
Sam Sparro "Black and Gold":

How is Caitlin Boyle in real life different from HTP's Caitlin Boyle?
Caitlin Boyle is different from CaitlinHTP in that she curses a lot more. I also have a wild streak, which doesn't always make it's way onto the blog. I think I'm funnier in real life, too. Sometimes I worry about offending people with my sense of humor on the blog, so I tone it down. I hope that CaitlinHTP comes off as someone who is caring, open, and interested in learning about herself and others - that's a huge part of me, both on and off the Internet. 

What was your worst race ever (not necessarily due to time--it could be for any reason)?
Well, there was that 5K that I peed myself 1/4 of a mile from the finish line...

Of all the races you've done, which were you most scared of beforehand?
Probably my second triathlon. I didn't finish my first because I had a panic attack in the lake, and for the second one, I thought it would  be a great idea to swim in 55 degrees and swim twice the distance. Um, no. It was terrible! But I finished.

Between "You Are Beautiful" and working with Girls on the Run, a lot of your work is about enabling and raising women's self-esteem. What do you hope to teach your son about how to treat and view women?
I hope to teach him that there are many reasons why people try to make others feel like they aren't good enough, and if you can learn how to see past their motivations, you can be happier and healthier.

I'm curious to know what being a motivational speaker entails, since I can't quite get the image of Matt Foley from SNL out of my mind. How do the gigs come your way and how do you overcome the feeling of "These people are going to think I'm full of crap" (which is what I would fear). Do you frequently end up talking to attendees about their personal problems afterwards and how does that go?
I love public speaking. I have done about 65 events at colleges, business, and churches across the country. I speak about Operation Beautiful, negative self-talk, and embracing joy. The way I get over the fear that some people are going to think I'm full of crap is that I openly address it during events! I KNOW there's someone in the audience thinking, "This Operation Beautiful thing is CORNY!" and I address it right there.  I say, "I know this isn't for everyone, but it really does transform lives, and let's talk about that." I do it in a very funny way, and people always laugh, which helps my nerves.  I always end up talking to people after events; it's horrifying what people go through - incest, rape, depression, divorce, adultery - but I'm always so proud of the individuals who face their struggles with strength.

When I first read "that" Marie Claire article, I was introduced to a world of healthy living bloggers, amongst whom I discovered a lot of crossover. Which blogs do you read that are written by authors who are very much unlike you? 
A lot of bloggers are real-life friends, simply because we're kind of like coworkers who have been doing this for a long time. But I love to read other blogs, too.  One of my favorite bloggers is ThatWife.com.  I don't agree with everything she says, but I really love how open and introspective she is - her blog is wonderful.

How does it feel to be the 356th person interviewed for Zulkey.com?  
Amazing!  Thanks so much for interviewing me.

Hey! Are you not yet tired of reading? Here are a few things I wrote this week: A piece on female authors with male protagonists for the Barnes and Noble blog and a delightful chat with Brian Stack at the AV Club about how the sketches for Conan get made.