Happy birthday to How to Move!
Reflections on the first year
Today is a big day: It’s the one-year anniversary of the first issue of How to Move. I’d been thinking about doing it for quite a long time and had even written the Welcome post months prior, but I finally dove in last summer, and I can’t believe what an incredible year it has been.
This was my first post, and I’m pretty pleased that I’ve stuck to what I set out to do there — my gut didn’t steer me wrong.
Welcome to How to Move!
Welcome to How to Move, an anti-diet newsletter about exercise. It’s focused on what to actually do if you want to engage in fitness, without engaging in diet culture.
As I wrote then, I had some hesitations about starting this project, but you all have helped me move past those twinges of anxiety and impostor syndrome, and you’ve showed me that I really do have something helpful and important to offer. No matter how much body-neutral, fat-positive content is out there helping people move their bodies in a way that actually supports their wellbeing, it’ll never be too much.
Since then, I’ve written 111 posts and published 45 workouts. I’ve run about a dozen original interviews with experts who have helped us learn things like how to shop for workout shoes, how to get comfortable in a new gym, what’s cool about powerlifting, and how to dip a toe into running.
We’ve talked about how you actually probably can do push-ups, what Pilates is legitimately good for (and how it might be overhyped), ways to move when you’re stressed as hell, what really happened when I cut back on caffeine, and how to approach exercise when you feel like you’re moving through mud.
We’ve talked about pelvic health a whole lot, too. And weighted vests, of course!
What’s been most fun for me, though, is hearing from all of you. It truly never gets old learning how HTM has had a positive effect on your approach to movement and relationship with your body. You’ve told me about buying a set of dumbbells that’s heavier than you ever thought you could lift. You’ve shared that I’ve helped you rebuild your relationship with exercise after years of managing a chronic illness or recovering from an eating disorder. This note from Jess was just… chef’s kiss:
And on that note, you’ve also so kindly and gently shared when things I’ve suggested haven’t worked for you: especially movements that don’t feel comfortable if you have a large belly or boobs, or heavy legs, or whatever body thing you have going on that I may not. PLEASE NEVER STOP DOING THIS. I always want to know, and always appreciate the chance to become more mindful and thoughtful about making my workouts and guidance work for as many people as possible. This feedback is gold, and you’ve always been so generous and loving in the way you share it. Gah! It’s so great.
I did want to share one teeny thing that may change since that welcome post one year ago: I MIGHT dip a toe into affiliate links. I’m not talking about trying to sell you some nonsense fancy leggings you don’t need, but literally just like… maybe I’ll see if I can get a few bucks of affiliate revenue for the Power Systems dumbbells and bands I literally use several times a week myself and have been recommending in this newsletter since the very first workout I posted here. IDK! We’ll see. I filled out the form. Ha!
Anyway, you are all wonderful. Thank you for being here. As I shared in my semi-embarrassing “please help me make this newsletter more financially viable” post (which was also a big moment for me and which you were so lovely and supportive about, btw!), there are a few things you can do if you’d like to help me celebrate this birthday.
Upgrade your subscription. Sign up for a paid subscription, or upgrade to a founding membership.
Paid subscribers get full access to all posts (including weekly workout videos, and occasional posts where I go into some TMI and feel shy and put up a paywall), and the Substack chat. This is a great time to upgrade, because my prices will be increasing later this month! Sign up now at $5/month or $50/year, and you’ll stay at that level even as the price for new subscriptions goes up.
Founding members get all that plus an “office hours” chat with me where we can troubleshoot exercises that aren’t working for you, talk about your routine and habits, and help you get on track to reach your goals. It’s very fun!
Share this newsletter! You can do this by…
Talking about it with your friends and family.
Sharing it with loved ones who might be interested. (Hint: You can just forward the emails!) (Other hint: Moms and aunts love me!)
If Substack gives you an offer of gift subscriptions to give away, use them!
Link to it in your own newsletter, if you’re so inclined.
Follow me on Instagram and share my posts there on your IG Stories. You guys, I frankly have no interest at all in being a big Instagrammer, but it’s an important way for this project to grow, so help me out and give those posts a like and, even better, a share.
If you or someone you know has a company that might be interested in sponsoring my work here, please reach out. I haven’t dipped a toe into sponsorships yet — and you can imagine that in the ~wellness world~ this kind of stuff can be a real landmine — but I’m very open to considering it with the right partners that are aligned with my approach. (No diets, no quackery.)
Finally, if you have a newsletter, podcast, or community that might be interested in hearing from me about building a sustainable relationship with exercise, working out in a body-neutral way, WTF Pilates is for (and not for), things you should know about your pelvic floor, how to actually start strength training, or anything else, let’s talk! I’d love to explore interviews and content swaps. DM me or comment here!
I’ll just add, if you would like to share a testimonial, they’re really helpful, and you can do so via DM or by filling out this form. And if you EVER have a question about exercise, or a special request for a workout, article, or anything else, please never hesitate to let me know.
You can also just not do any of that — I still appreciate your presence here so much.
Happy birthday, HTM, and thank you all!
xo
Anna
Happy birthday!
Look. Do the affiliate links. You've already shown your readers that you curate helpful information. If you take that same care to curate and recommend products, I think people will be more grateful that you've helped them solve a problem or reach a goal than they will feel some kind of way that you got paid for their purchase.
Happy birthday HTM! Fully support you adding affiliate links— if there’s anyone on the internet I trust to only link things they actually use and love, it is you!