Blogs > Magazines

As I stood in the grocery store the other day browsing the magazine stand for something to read I realized something that I had been overlooking for a while; the nature of the magazines that I buy has changed a lot over the last few years. Instead celebrities with no makeup and high fashion movie stars, the covers of the magazines I gravitate towards usually have beautiful pictures of yummy looking food or a runner.

Yes, I knew that times had changed when I put back a Cosmo in favor of Canadian Living.

The other thing that I noticed was that I rarely buy magazines at all anymore. With the exception of a deeply discounted subscription to Chatelaine the only magazine I buy regularly is Runners World. I rarely pick up an issue of Glamour or Women's Health anymore (I used to buy every single issue) and when I do I am just not as engaged as I used to be. But why?

Is it because I'm getting older? (don't answer that)

It it because I am just not as cool as I used to be? (leave that one alone too)

Nope. Its because of you guys. That's right, I have replaced magazines with blogs. I argue its with good reason but you can be the judge of that:

Reason 1: Cost

Blogs are free. Magazines on the other hand are upwards of $5 per issue. I spent nearly $40 on magazines to take to Cuba in April and was done them all by the third day. Definitely not a cost effective option in my opinion.

Reason 2: Wholesome Food

In the healthy living blog community there is a push towards real food (You know, that stuff that comes from the actual earth?). Women's "health & fitness" magazines tend to feature low-calorie, fat free (and sugar infused) options with minimal nutritional value. Believe me when I say that in my magazine reading days I never would have considered this a lunch choice like I did today.

Reason 3: Fitness

Many of the blogs I read are written by runners and fitness enthusiasts who work out because they love to. They have goals and accomplishments far beyond total calorie burn. On the flip side many magazine tend to focus on the easiest or fastest way to lose weight through physical activity. The shift towards exercise as a lifestyle is definitely a welcomed change for my own life.

Reason 4: Recipes

There are many times that I go to buy a magazine for a recipe and then realize I probably know at least two bloggers who created that exact same meal and it will taste better and be healthier. If not I can certainly take ideas from their creations and come up with something pretty darn good on my own.

Reason 5: Substance

In blogland, there are stories and experiences and actual content, not pages and pages of ads pushing diet pills and get thin quick schemes. Sure some bloggers make a living from their blogs and I support that because they have integrity with the ads that they display and I don't have to turn to page 265 to get the rest of the half-told story.

Reason 6: Community

There is a sense of belonging in the healthy living community that can't really be understood or appreciated until you are a part of it (which is easy...come on in!) Through blogs you are cheered on when you succeed and picked back up when you fall. People here just get you and you feel like you know a little bit about what its like to be them. Magazine people on the other hand....yeah, not so much.

Reason 7: Real Looking People

The blogs that I read are full of beautiful people (yes I'm talking to you SR) and the best part is they are natural and diverse. Some are tall blonds (*cough* you again..) and others are petite brunettes. They have freckles and pimples and some probably even have cellulite (that's more me then you SR but we can pretend can't we?) And even better then the best part is that they aren't afraid to be real. They are wacky, and honest and even down right gross. And if there's a plastic pair of you know whats in the bunch you've certainly got me fooled! Definitely can't say that for some of the magazines out there (did you see that Montag debacle up there?)

Reason 8: Me

I'm a blogger and not in magazines and its my prerogative to prefer places where I am welcome. Its Sam logic, don't worry if you don' quite get it.


With all that said, I can't say I won't ever buy a gossip mag ever again. But know this, it won't be opened until I have caught up on my G-Reader that is for damn sure!

Blogging for the win!


So tel me, do you read a lot of magazines? Whats one magazine you simply have to to buy?