Hey guys! Thank you all so much for your well wishes about my surgery. I am on the mend and hope to go back to work soon.
And I’m already thinking about my health and fitness goals for this year (as soon as my doctor says it’s ok for me to exercise again):
A look back on 2015
I brought in 2015 with a bit of uncertainty because I was dealing with a pesky knee pain that would not resolve. So while my fitness goals were not very concrete, here are the things I said I wanted to work on:
- Possibly get back into running and run in the Virginia Tech 3.2 for 32 race in April.
- Get back on my bike. Cycle pain-free
If you followed along here then you know that I eventually had a knee scope in early March and did extensive PT for 4 months afterwards. And then I tore my posterior tibial tendon in July, which essentially put me out of commission for the rest of the year.
I didn’t get back into running, but the good news is that my knee pain eventually resolved after EXTENSIVE physical therapy + 6-7 sessions of dry needling. I got back to a point where I was riding my bike with no major issues and it was truly amazing!!
Goals for 2016
I am going into 2016 with the same approach I had last year dealing with an injury. I want to exercise. I want to be athletic. I want to feel the rush of crossing a finish line. But I don’t want to set lofty goals that will lead to disappointment. So ultimately, my #1 fitness goal in 2016 is to be smart about exercise to avoid re-injury.
Strength Training
Seeing how my knee pain resolved with hard-core strength training really opened my eyes to how lacking my previous fitness regimen was. Spending 2-3 days per week in the weight room working on strengthening my legs was really the foundation for my knee recovery.
So my priority starting off the new year will be to get back into a strength training regimen. I am essentially starting from scratch because I have not worked out since coming off of crutches in November. But I have my PT exercises and I know what worked for me in the past. I feel good about starting there.
Cycling
Once the time is right, I want to get back on my bike. No speed goals. No distance goals. Just want to cycle and enjoy it!
If I’m doing well and feeling good physically then I would love to join in on some group rides. Charlotte has some awesome cycling groups! We’ll see how I’m doing as the year progresses.
Running
Ah, running. You guys know how I feel about this… I want to do it. I know at this point that it might not be the best idea.
I had extensive talks with my PT about it over the summer and his recommendation was to prioritize my fitness goals so that I am doing what I love without causing injury to my body. In other words, cycling > running. I really took this to heart and still agree with his advice. I just want to see how I do and where 2016 takes me. If I ever get to a point where I want to try running, it will definitely start with a very slow walk-run program.
Diet + Nutrition
I spent over half of 2015 being unable to work out, yet maintained my current weight and generally felt good about myself from a health standpoint. I’m going to attribute this 100% to following what I know works for me when it comes to my diet:
- Eating at home and preparing my own meals as much as possible
- Making fruits, vegetables and lean proteins the center of my meal planning
- Staying hydrated and avoiding liquid calories
- Not depriving myself… sticking to healthy eating most of the times leaves plenty of room for the occasional take-out meal or glass of wine without feeling guilty or regretful
Thanks for following along with me on my health and fitness journey! Can’t wait to see what is in store for me in 2016!!!
What are your health and fitness goals for 2016?
Did you learn any lessons in 2016?
Looks like some great goals for this year and I have no doubt you’ll be able to achieve them.
Good goals! Sorry to hear about your surgery- I had a similar one a few years ago and everything came back normal- hope it will for you as well! Also I hope that 2016 brings you a very healthy year in general :)
Thank you :) I hope so, too!
Im sorry to hear about your set back in 2015, but it sounds like you found something really great in it – strength training!! Lifting is my happy place, I just love that rush of feeling strong. I hope you continue to progress with it this year!
I hope so!
Personally, I think cycling should be your sport for 2016 as you recover and get strong again. Cycling is fairly easy on the body and is always recommended for mending knee/leg issues. Very little resistance. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that you will feel good enough at some point to wear those beautiful Brooks shoes and start running again. It sounds like you are being smart and really taking things slow to avoid re-injury. Smart! Happy New Year and cheers to new beginnings in 2016!
These are all great goals! The cool thing about a terrible year is the sense of “it can only get better.” I believe it will for you! You’ve proven yourself to be a strong lady.
Thanks, Kate. Let’s hope so :)
It’s good to hear you’re doing well after surgery! I also had a knee surgery in 2015, and I’m really hoping to feel “recovered” in 2016 – and I think you’re absolutely right about strength training being the key! I wish you the best of luck with your goals! x
– Anne | annesmiles
Good luck to you as well! I hope your knee completely recovers and you can get back to doing the things that you love in 2016 :)