2014 Review: What Happened and What Didn’t

With 2015 approaching, I couldn’t help but think about what 2014 has brought, what I have accomplished and where I’ve failed. It is that time when we all reflect, analyze, think, and hope.

So I decided to do a 2014 review: go back to my 2014 Resolutions and see what happened in 2014 and what didn’t.

Let’s see here… This is what I resolved to do in 2014 at the end of 2013:

– Get certified as a yoga and Spinning® instructor.

I did indeed get certified as a Spinning® instructor shortly after I posted that resolution, and at this point of my life it’s hard to imagine there was a time when I wasn’t certified and teaching.

Yoga teacher training never happened though… BUT I got certified to teach TRX®! Unplanned fun and a new adventure 🙂

Both those things have completely changed my life and my schedule in 2014. They have brought SO MUCH joy, sense of accomplishment and reward that I can’t even begin to describe how happy I am that I resolved to do this last year.

I was lucky enough to get hired by my local YMCA and teach both indoor cycling and TRX® to our wonderful members.

Teaching has also helped me find a lot of new friends and connect better with the ones I already had.

– Run a 5K

This past year I’ve been on and off running. I started training with C25K. Dropped it. Then started again. Dropped it again. I’ve been doing it on and off pretty much all summer.

And then I ran/walked a 5K on Thanksgiving morning.

I chose not to race and signed up to go with walkers not runners. I did not want to be tracked and paced by anybody but myself. I had my Polar RCX5 with me and my Loop.

My goal was to actually finish it – run or walk or both. I reached it 🙂

I did finish my 5K, and I had a BLAST! You know what I did when I got home after it? I started looking up races. 🙂 Because I felt that “I CAN DO THIS” high that runners keep talking about. Well, yeah – it’s real 🙂

– Be able to do 10 push-ups and 10 pull-ups

Nope. Still can’t do them. This resolution needs to be carried over to 2015.

– Take swim lessons this summer

Didn’t happen either…

– Bike outside on a trail more (the goal is at least couple times a month weather permitting)

I did bike more this summer than I did the summer before, but still not nearly as much as I should. I think I will make it an ongoing goal – ride outside A LOT 🙂

I did go on the trail several times this year though – one of them for an organized biking event – my very first ever race bib of any kind was from that race:

– Loose my last 10lb to reach my goal weight!

This one was interesting. For the longest time I struggled with those last 10lb. Then a said “Screw it” and stopped weighing myself, but was still counting calories.

Then I did my very first Whole30.

…and it completely changed my relationship with food. I stopped counting calories, started eating a lot less processed foods, started reading my labels AND I lost those last 10lb as a side benefit to feeling amazing.

Here’s what else happened in 2014 that I had NO idea would happen when I was writing down my NY Resolutions at the end of 2013:

• I started posting my indoor cycling playlists and class profiles, which is a big part of this blog now.
• Went to my very first bicycling event – Race, Ride, Run, Ramble.
• Went to Savannah, GA for FitBloggin’ and met a whole LOT of wonderful people.
• Challenged myself to stay active every day for 30 days after writing the very first ever Tough Love letter to myself.
• Got interviewed by the Life Style Accountability Show and ICI/PRO Podcast.
• Took my first ever cooking class at a restaurant.
• Helped John put together, organize and run a very awesome Indoor Cycling Instructor Challenge!
• Painted my face green.
• Was honored to be selected as an Ambassador for Polar, Sweat Pink and FitFluential.
• Ran my very first giveaway on this blog.
• Worked with such great brands as Skechers, Mezetta, GNC, FlipBelt, Pro Compression, Popsugar, ProCakes and others.
• Had guest bloggers here for the very first time – Amber and Nicole.

And SO much more!

This blog has grown so much in the past year – because I have grown. It grew with me – getting better every day just as I strived to.

Never in a million years did I expect that to happen to this blog in just one year.

I am so grateful for the Lean Lena community, for all the inspiration you guys bring into my life.

Every one of you.

THANK YOU for that and for supporting this blog in 2014.

Here’s to a wonderful 2015 and great things that are going to happen to all of us in it!

Happy New Year!