I used to do this.
But damn writing articles for other companies can take super long and be boring especially if they come up with the topics.
But good points!
Nice.
I did some paid articles for a blog a while back and some technical presentations at conference. Got me a deal at O'Reilly. You should try get a gig at O'Reilly.
It won't be that hard since you got something with Manning already!
Just get up in the morning and run around the block with small 3kg weights every morning.
Take some kreatine it will give you some energy to actually go out and do that.
Do that for a few months and you will start loving excercising and it help you move back to going to the gym.
On days that you don't feel like running just go out , run down the street for a few metres and come back.