New Year, New Goals. I feel like I just wrote my 2015 New Year, New Goals last week. I also feel like we should flying around like The Jetson's or living galactic like Back To The Future. I mean it's 2016! As you know, I'm not a New Year's resolution person. I think if you want to make a change you should just do it and not wait for a specific day to start.
That said, at the beginning of every year I assess things and set goals for myself for the year. Setting goals gives me a flexible roadmap to follow. Now that you've read the 5 things that changed me in 2015 you're primed and ready to see what's in store for me in 2016 and it doesn't involve space shoes.
Health
Stay injury-free
After two years of injuries I'm done with injury. Done, done, done. I'm knocking on wood every where I see it. Bone density issues are complex and the most frustrating part was finding a doctor who would get to the bottom of my hormone problems. But after seeing many doctors I finally did find one and with her help, things have improved significantly.
Learn to live gluten free
Eating gluten free has been a lot more difficult than I originally thought. I have to inspect every food label for wheat contamination and eating out feels like more work than its worth. While many restaurants offer a few gluten free options, I've found they're not the healthiest. Hopefully, I can learn some tricks to make living a gluten free life a bit easier.
Tackle hip surgery
I don't even want to talk about this one. I've been living with AVN for 18 years and need a joint replacement. My PT believes my hip instability may be partially to blame for my lower extremity injuries, but orthopedics aren't sure (of course). I have an extremely high pain tolerance so it's hard for me to tell how bad it really is. I saw a doctor last month at Mayo and he said if he threw a ping pong at the bone it would shatter. So that's bad.
Since getting off crutches in November, I've had more pain. I'm not comfortable sitting or standing very long. After being diagnosed with AVN, doctors advised me to wait as long as possible to have surgery. But I think waiting any longer might make me susceptible to other side effects. Doctors won't comment on those things so you have to weigh them on your own. Thankfully, I have an excellent PT who's talked me through that. As much as I hate it and feel like it's the most unfair thing in the world, I think having the surgery will give me a better quality of life and put less pressure on my tibia and foot. I haven't decided when to have it yet. Sometimes life is so very unfair.
Fitness
Maintain current fitness level
As far as I'm concerned, my fitness level is excellent. I've been able to maintain it well considering the injuries I've sustained. I had my body composition tested a few weeks ago and body fat measured 14%. My goal for the year is to maintain where I currently am. I don't want to change anything with surgery looming in the future and still healing weak bones. Swimming, lifting weights and working with my pilates coach will continue to be my fitness jam along with conquering hand stands, weighted push ups and unassisted pull ups.
Pass personal training certification exam
Something that's been on my bucket list for years is to become a certified personal trainer. Last month I attended a weekend workshop and felt right at home with the content. I haven't decided yet if I will take clients after I pass the exam, but it will be nice to have it in my back pocket. I'm asked a lot at my gym if I'm a CPT so who knows maybe it will become part of my future one day. For now, I just want to focus on passing.
Personal
Warm up
I wish I could be one of those people who naturally trusted others, but I'm not. Michele wrote about the being friendly, trusting others thing recently and what she said resonated with me. Like her, I can be standoffish and don't mean to be. Although I would like to be more trusting, every time I have in the past someone does something untrustworthy which further drives my belief that people take advantage when given the chance.
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Blog
Refine
After two years of blogging, I have a much better vision for SF. When I started blogging, I thought it would be a hobby and never expected it would connect me with so many awesome, inspirational health living professionals. Now that I have that vision, I want to clean up my blog design and Pinterest boards as well as refine content old and new, reshoot old recipes, set a new marketing strategy, establish a budget and further enhance my photography skills.
Develop
Last year I established solid brand and personal relationships. I would like to do more to cultivate those relationships along with developing new ones. Along with that, I would like to become more comfortable pitching myself to brands and to people in general. I still find myself hiding the fact that I have a blog from people and I have no idea why. It seems like I should be shouting it to the world. I don't like tooting my own horn though. I think selling yourself is one of the hardest aspects of being a blogger.
Write another eBook
Last year I wrote Ditch the Diet & Achieve Your New Healthy & Active Life and would love to write another. I'm not sure what the next one will be about yet, but would love to hear your thoughts!
Professional
Be a student
Last month I enrolled at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition to become a certified health coach. Classes begin the end of this month. I am also registered part-time in a holistic nutrition wellness practitioner program which after 18 months will qualify me to sit for the board certification exam so I can work with clients in a clinical setting. With the holistic program, I will receive two NASM certifications in sports nutrition. I'm both excited and overwhelmed. Time to learn how to study again!
Find work
While I'm in school, I would like to find part time work. Maybe something in social media, that aligns with the programs I'm enrolled in and leverages my consulting experience. I'm pretty open to seeing what happens. My blog has been doing well and now that I have time to focus on it perhaps it will become that part time income.
Figure out what I want to be when I grown up
While I'm disappointed in the events of last year and feel many people abandoned me when I needed them most, I can only make lemonade out of those lemons and find the positive. I mean how many times in your life do you get the opportunity to explore who you are and do something brand new? Hopefully, the things I'm doing will lead me to where I'm meant to be.
And as usual, I created a 2016 Inspiration Board to serve as motivation for me and you in meeting our goals together this year so let's get to it!
What are your goals for 2016? Do you make New Years resolutions?
Linking up today with Amanada for Thinking Out Loud
[Tweet "Get Inspired with @skinyfitlicious 2016 #NewYearsGoals"]
I need to do this on a more personal level. I love your goals and being in charge of your own future is scary and amazing all at once. I'm so excited that you enrolled in IIN, I've been thinking about that program a lot, might do it next year (gotta get some clients/nail down life for awhile). Sounds like this will be your year for growth! Gluten free requires lots of home cooked meals and asking a ton of questions - we found out Dave is gluten sensitive and it's changed everything I make and how we go out to eat (we don't lol). PS coffee can trigger the reaction as gluten and it's been keeping Dave in a gluten induced mess for months even after pulling him off of all carbs (except pumpkin and butternut squash). Once we pulled the coffee, no more symptoms, he can even have GF oats again 🙂 score!