2016 Year End Recap

2016b Year end RecapThe end of the year provides a wonderful opportunity to look back on the last year of experiences and reflect on how they have shaped and changed us.  It also signals the start of a new and exciting year full of possibility.  Soon I’ll share my goals for 2017 but before I do its good practice to first to look back on the year.  Celebrate successes, acknowledge areas where I may have fallen short.  Identify what I can improve upon,  and simply reflect on the year and the impact it has made.  Without further ado….my 2016 Year End Recap

Fitness Goals

Health & Fitness

My plan was to focus on reestablishing my fitness routine post pregnancy with 4-5 one hour workouts a week with one long run. 

SUCCESS:  I have been able to maintain a minimum of four  45 minute workouts a week since 3 months postpartum.  At eight months postpartum I started light running on the treadmill.  By ten months postpartum I was outside running 4 times a week with one long run.  The intensity and appearance of these workouts and runs is much different.  Many of my workouts now take place at home, and I don’t always have time for workout clothes so PJ’s it is.  Sometimes  there is a baby incorporated.  Long runs prior to pregnancy were anywhere from 10-19km.  My long runs now are 7.5km, but the distance will come with time.

IMG_6786Running

I was registered to run the BMO but acknowledge that it would be too close to my due date.  I wouldn’t have enough time for recovering and training. I intended to still take in the  positive energy by cheering on the runners. ?

SUCCESS: I cheered on runners at both the BMO Vancouver Marathon, and the Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon.

Jogging StrollerI  planned on getting a jogging stroller.

SUCCESS: ,It’s not the skookum stroller I originally had my eye on, but it was FREE and it does the job!

I intended to run 6 races in 2016; June 5km ChildRun, 10km Blueshore Financial Longest Day Road Race,  10km or Half- Scotiabank Half Marathon, SeaWheeze Half Marathon,  Vancouver Rock’N’Roll Half Marathon, 10km or Half Fall Classic.

FELL SHORT:   My fall at 37 week and the Separation of my Pubic Symphysis lengthened my recovery process considerably.  I am listening to my body and taking things slow. Although I fell short of achieving this goal,  I consider it a win for having the discipline and patience to allow my body the time it needs to heal safely and completely.

Baby & Mom yogaYoga

 I intended to take up yoga once a week for 2-3 months to help with postnatal recovery.

SUCCESS:  In the first half of the year I did yoga videos for runners from home. Once  I got comfortable Momin’ I joined a mom and baby yoga class at Perfect Hearts Yoga in Steveston.

Family Goals

berry-nourished-2016Take a more active role in the cooking and grocery shopping.  Helping to ensure we have plenty of healthy snacks on hand, and home cooked meals prepared.

SUCCESS:  Thrilled to report that I have been able to achieve this in the last 6 months of the year.  I have followed local dietitians Berry Nourished and Crystal Higgins- the Flexitarian Diet to get healthy inspiration. We have even incorporated #MeatlessMondays into our dinner rotation.

My main objective for our family ensuring that everyone continues to feel loved and sibiling-love-2016respected, while taking care of our newest member.

SUCCESS: This goal is not quantifiable.  However I will say that both my Step-daughter and Step-Son have been AMAZING big siblings. My heart bursts when I see them playing with their little brother.  The love they have for him is undeniable and the adoration and love he has for them is amazing.  I am truly blessed to have all three of them in my life.

 FUN Goals

We received the  MEC Happytrails Child Carrier Backpack and I planned to use this on the following hikes: Buntzen Lake,  Brandywine Falls, Gold Creek Falls, and Iona Beach Regional- Park

FELL SHORT:  Sadly we didn’t make it to any of these hikes.  My injury prevented me from doing any of these for the majority of the year. By the time I felt capable  to do them the weather had turned. 🙁   I’ve had considerable time for recovery so I should be ready to hit the trails in 2017…..now to MAKE the time. 😉

We wanted to run in the Color Me Rad 5km  and the  Vancouver Pure Protein Night Race.

Color Me Rad 5km 2016PARTIAL SUCCESS: My step-daughter and I had fun participating in the Color Me Rad 5km in May.  I wasn’t able to run at that point so we walked.  It was a great way to get out and do something active and fun.  We didn’t make it to the Pure Protein Night race.  At this time I was struggling with a baby that made bedtimes a Mommy only affair.

We wanted to take a Summer vacation.  I was not brave enough to plan a camping trip with a baby under the age of 6 months.  So it had to be an affordable summer rental that would fit our budget.

SUCCESS: Thanks to family and friends  we were able to go on not one, but TWO summer vacations. The first, to Nanaimo  where we visit my brother for 5 days.  Here we were able to go for walks, take in some of the local beaches, and spend time with family. The second, to the Sunshine Coast for a week. Here we Kayaked, SUPed,  hot tubbed, and enjoyed incredible views.

Business Goals

 FELL SHORT:  BAHHAHAAA,  I made and ambitious list of 8 business books to read for personal development.  Again it must be said….oh, how naive was I.  These days I don’t have much time for reading….and when I do the list looks a little bit different from what I set out at the beginning of the year. ?

Business GoalsWith regards to my fitness business I wanted to blog a minimum of twice a month.  Start teaching and training twice a month. and explore the idea of incorporating some sort of baby and me stroller fit classes into my skill set.

PARTIAL SUCCESS: I blogged one a month for the first three-quarters of the year and twice a month for the last quarter. I was able to start teaching 4 times a months in September.  I investigated incorporating a Stroller and me class into my skill set but by the time i felt confident to take this one I found Ii wouldn’t have the required availability.  It doesn’t mean its not a possibility it just may not happen as quickly as I originally thought.

Financial Goals Financial Goals

Maintain the financial progress  made in 2015, while budgeting to avoid unnecessary debt.

MAINTAINING:   We have managed to keep a float despite the increased expenses a baby brings and our increased rent. The real struggle is still to come in 2017 when we add full-time daycare to our list of expenses.

 overall

In 2016 I navigated the final stages of pregnancy. Experienced child-birth.  Witnessed a miracle.  I fell in love.  Learnt to be a Mother, and I watched my family grow not just in size, but in LOVE.

2016 was an incredible life changing year…….Looking forward to 2017!!!

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9 thoughts on “2016 Year End Recap

  1. Mary Jane says:

    Thank you so much for sharing this info, particularly with the post-natal recovery process and how it relates to fitness. I’m currently pregnant (first pregnancy) and it’s nice to read about a real person’s experience with building back after pregnancy. Thank you very much for sharing! Cheers, Mary Jane

  2. T.M. Brown says:

    Congrats on all your success and kudos to you for sharing your honesty with those times you fell short. Of course, bigger congratulations on your new addition and may your family continue to grow in love!! Happy 2017!

    • VenusFitness-Shannon says:

      Acknowledging where we fall short can sometimes be more important than our successes. Thanks for stopping by. Happy 2017!

  3. Lauren says:

    Sounds like you accomplished a lot. Happy New Year! I appreciate your honesty of being able to admit you didn’t quite reach your goal.

    Lauren

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