Chips and dip...we know we'll have a few during the Super Bowl! Credit: jeffreyw

Sure, we’ve given you some new healthy Super Bowl snack options and even a recipe for lighter chicken wings this week, but we’re wanting to know, do you give yourself permission to indulge in a few dishes during the Super Bowl? Or do you stick to the lighter fare if you can? My game-plan (get it? Pun!) for today is to have a few bites of whatever food I’m really craving (a la intuitive-eating style), have a beer—or two, maybe—and just kick back and relax with good company and what I hope will be a good game and a decent half-time show. (It is Madonna!) Or at least some funny commercials. How about you?

Can’t see the poll? Click here to tell us if you indulge during the Super Bowl. 

If you are going to indulge, what are you splurging on? And if not, why not? And if you’re not watching the Super Bowl at all, what are you doing instead? Watching the Puppy Bowl? Hitting the gym while it’s quiet? We wanna know! —Jenn

Has a workout injury ever sent you to the doctor? Credit: Perfecto Insecto

We sure have been talking about getting injured a lot lately! Tish recently underwent toe surgery, Erin’s pregnancy is causing her a world of discomfort and, well, let’s just say that Kristen has some interesting training issues going on. Not to mention that I’ve suffered my fair share of ironic workout injury. From the comments on all of these recent posts, it’s obvious that the FBGs are not alone in the Pain Department. But we thought it best to put it to a poll. Be it your pride or your physical body, tell us, have you ever suffered a workout injury?

Can’t see the poll? Click here to tell us about your workout injury experience! 

We imagine ya’ll have some good stories to tell on this one, so please elaborate and share your workout-injury experiences (or lucky lack thereof) in the comments! —Jenn

Do you like the image staring back at you? Credit: the Italian voice

How many times do we hear a compliment yet not really hear it? Someone tells you that your shirt is cute, you immediately reply that you got it on sale. Or a girlfriend says that she wishes she had your toned arms, and you immediately respond with how you hate your thighs? Or your significant other tells you look great and you respond with “Really? I feel fat.”

It’s always hard to accept a compliment, but it’s especially hard to accept it when you don’t think you’re worth it. And after reading and reviewing The Beauty Blueprint earlier this week, I’ve been thinking more and more about how the thoughts we think about ourselves reflect out as our projection of the outside. In two weeks, we’ll do our second-annual Love Yo’self Week, which will have tons of fun content to help you love yourself a little more, but in the meantime, tell us: do you feel beautiful? And not from the outside, but from deep within…

Can’t see the poll? Click here to tell us if you feel beautiful! 

Please, tell us more in the comments! And keep reading FBG—we’re all about self acceptance up in here, so the more you read, hopefully the more we’ll bug you into loving yourself. And that’s the real trick to feeling beautiful! —Jenn

Haters, man... Credit: whatleydude

We’re all about the love here, but Tish discussed an interesting topic earlier this week: haters. Whether it’s a coworker who’s always trying to guilt you into hitting the vending machine with her or a spouse who doesn’t see the point of you going to the gym, haters come in a variety of guises.

While we know that, most times, haters are either jealous of your success or are afraid of you being successful (and therefore losing a friend…or a wife), that doesn’t mean that they’re always easy to shake off. And chances are, no matter how fantastic your healthy support system is, you probably have at least one or two haters in your life.

I can’t count the number of times I’ve been called “a freak” or just downright “crazy” for liking kale or loving Trader Joe’s (perhaps a touch too passionately, I’ll admit) or getting up at 4:45 a.m. to workout. And, generally, I’m so used to it that it doesn’t bother me—too much. (I generally just get more frustrated that said hater won’t get healthy themselves, instead of taking it as a criticism of myself. After all, I, like any one else, have plenty of flaws, but living a healthy lifestyle just isn’t one of them.) What about you? Are you affected by negative comments about your workouts or healthy eats?

Can’t see the poll? Click here to tell us about any healthy lifestyle haters in your life! 

A wise friend once told me that hurt people, hurt people. And it couldn’t be more true. It’s a little fact I try to remember every time a hater starts hating. Feel free to tell us about your experiences with haters—and if you’ve ever been one. Gosh knows we’re all human! —Jenn

Have you been hitting the pavement as much as you'd hoped to in 2012? Credit: lululemon athletica

This poll is a part of our second-annual New Year, New Rear Week to help you to be fitter, healthier and a touch (okay, a lot!) more awesome in 2012. Read all New Year, New Rear posts here!

Can you believe that New Year, New Rear Week is almost over? Oh, how quickly the time went with all of the special posts and huge giveaways! While we’ll be getting back to our usual FBG programming tomorrow, we wanted to take a second to check in and see how those New Year’s resolutions are coming before we do. We’re a bit more than a week into the New Year, so tell us, are you still rocking and rolling when it comes to those New Year’s resolutions? Or have they taken a backseat?

Can’t see the poll? Click here to tell us how your New Year’s resolutions are doing! 

The good news is that even though New Year, New Rear Week is almost over, we’ll still have plenty of motivating and fun content to get you moving just about every day for the rest of the year. And ya’ll know how we like to spoil you with goodies. So no matter if you already deserve a high-five for your fitness in 2012 or if you need a bit of a pep talk to get going, we’ve got your back!

And, please, expand on your New Year’s resolutions experience in the comments! —Jenn

Was Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass" the best workout song of 2011? Credit: CHRISTOPHER MACSURAK

Earlier this week, we rounded up what we thought were the best workout songs of 2011 and put them into a killer playlist. But we’d like to take it a bit further this year and choose the best workout song of 2011. We’re having a really hard time deciding, so help us choose the best of the best! Which one of the below tracks got you moving, grooving and working out like a Fit Bottomed Girl in 2011?

Can’t see the poll? Click here to vote on your favorite workout song of 2011. 

Can’t wait to see what you guys choose. Here’s to another great year of workout tunes in 2012! —Jenn

After seeing what's under the tree on Christmas Day, do you work out or take it easy and relax? Credit: APM Alex

I love to work out. But I don’t think I’ve ever worked out on Christmas Day. I might go for a walk if it’s not too cold out or play a casual game or two on the Nintendo Wii, but nothing that I’d call a full-out workout with sweat and running shoes. For me, Christmas Day is to be spent giving presents, opening stockings, sipping on coffee with Baileys (a ritual at my in-laws on Christmas morning), watching funny movies, chilling with family and probably eating a few bites too much.

But I’m sure that some of you aren’t like me, and actually enjoy squeezing in a workout on Christmas Day (especially if you get some fit gifts or new workout DVDs for Christmas, I bet!). So, we thought we’d put it to a vote this holiday. Tell us what you do on Christmas Day!

Can’t see the poll? Click here to tell us if you work out on Christmas Day. 

As always, feel free to tell us all about your Christmas Day workout habits in the comments. And—of course—Merry Christmas and happy holidays from all of us here at FBG! —Jenn 

Even Superman gives fit gifts! Credit: JD Hancock

You know the saying, “It’s better to receive than to give”? Er, I mean “It’s better to give than to receive”? Well, we think both giving and receiving are awesome. While a number of fit items are on our holiday wish-lists, this year we’re also buying presents that share the gift of health with others.

Without totally spilling the beans on what I’m getting my loved ones this year, my holiday shopping list has included an item or two from both our fit holiday shopping guide and our fit stocking stuffers guide, along with some other fun stuff that is always great to give this time of year like gift certificates to local healthy restaurants, running shoes and workout DVDs. Heck, a couple of years ago, I even got my mom a TRX for Christmas!

I guess it’s not very unexpected that someone who helped start a blog called Fit Bottomed Girls would give gifts that boost health, is it? But what about you, dear readers?

Can’t see the poll? Click here to tell us if you buy fit gifts for others!

And it couldn’t be an FBG poll if we didn’t ask you to elaborate in the comments. So let’s hear it! Tell us all about your fit-gift-buying or non-fit-gift-buying habits! —Jenn

How do you choose your food? Are calories most important? Or taste? Or presentation? Credit: TheBusyBrain

We sure have been talking about food a lot lately. From a post on eating for energy to Erin’s thoughts on mini-meals to why Kristen doesn’t eat meat and this Robin Miller recipe and cookbook review, I guess it is the season for noshing, eh? While reading all of these posts, we started to wonder: What is it that drives you to eat the food that you do? Is it solely based on taste or how it makes you feel? Or does it have to do with family traditions (especially this time of year the pie is calling my name!) or something else entirely—like calories, carbs or fat?

We recommend all good things in moderation up in here, which pretty much allows you to eat whatever you like, as long as you listen to your hunger and choose healthy foods most of the time. While when we started the site I’d say that I’d mostly choose foods that tasted decent and were low in calories, I’ve switched to eating foods that make me feel good about 90 percent of the time. (I include chocolate and wine in that grouping, for the record.) What about you though? How do you decide what goes in your belly?

Can’t see the poll? Click here to tell us what’s most important about your food here. 

Excited to hear your thoughts on this, so please be sure to leave a comment telling us more about what’s important to you about your food and why! —Jenn

Does the right fitness gear help you run faster? Credit: lululemon athletica

I know it seems a little superficial, but I’ll be the first to admit that when I put on a certain pair of shoes or running tights—or specialty sunglasses—I actually feel more like an athlete. I’m more apt to take on that tough workout or push my pace a little faster or even zen out a little more. In some ways, the fitness gear I’m wearing totally affects my confidence. And as I’ve worn more fitness-specific (and colorful!) gear, I’ve become even more confident in my abilities. For sure, it’s not always a cause-and-effect relationship; I sincerely doubt in most cases that the gear itself is giving me a better workout. But if you feel fitter when you wear it, then who cares? Do what makes you feel good! At least that’s my take. What do you think?

Can’t see the poll? Click here to tell us how fitness gear affects your workouts! 

As always, give us your perspective in the comments. Would love to hear your take on this one! —Jenn