Tag: fitness challenge

The start of a new year has a way of making us feel like we need to erase everything and start over. New goals, new routines, new versions of ourselves.

But here’s the truth most fitness conversations miss: you don’t need a clean slate! You already have momentum, experience, and growth behind you (yes, even if the last few weeks of the year didn’t look how you planned!).

This New Year fitness reset isn’t about guilt or perfection, it’s about honoring what you have already accomplished and choosing how you want to move forward now.

Celebrate the Small Wins (They Matter More Than You Think!)

Progress isn’t only measured in before and after photos or perfect streaks of workouts. Some of the most important wins are the quiet ones.

Maybe you move your body during seasons when motivation was low; that’s a win! Maybe your workouts became shorter, but more consistent; that’s a win! Maybe you chose walks, mobility, or rest when your body asked for it; that’s a win!

For moms especially, fitness often happens in fragments; a stroller walk or a home workout squeezed in during nap time. A season of showing up imperfectly but repeatedly.

Those moments count! They build resilience, confidence, and a foundation you can continue to build on.

So, before you rush into the next goal, take a moment to acknowledge all you have accomplished this year!

Falling Off the Wagon Doesn’t Erase Your Progress

The holidays, illness, travel, or burnout can easily disrupt routines, but that doesn’t mean you’ve failed.

Fitness isn’t fragile! A few weeks off doesn’t undo months of consistency; your body remembers the habits you’ve built, and your mind remembers what movement feels like.

You didn’t quit, you paused.

And pauses are part of a sustainable, lifelong approach to health and wellness!

Let this be your permission slip to let yourself off the hook and stop letting the end of the year (a time when most of us are slowing down and enjoying time with family) overshadow everything you’ve worked for in the months before!

2025, My First Postpartum Year: A Different Kind of Strength

This past year was my first year postpartum after welcoming my first baby at the end of 2024, and it challenged me in ways I did not fully anticipate.

I struggled with pelvic floor dysfunction, especially when running, and I navigated postpartum depression and anxiety. My workouts looked nothing like they did before pregnancy, and mentally, I had to relearn how to meet myself where I was.

What made the biggest difference was community: leaning on other moms and parents for support, honesty, and relatability reminded me that I wasn’t broken, I was rebuilding.

That experience is why I created Core & Restore: No-Leak Physique, to help women rebuild core and pelvic floor strength with confidence. It’s also why I created Run Like A Mother: The Postpartum Comeback, to support moms returning to (or starting for the first time!) running safely and sustainably.

My challenges became the blueprint for helping other women move forward without fear or frustration.

Starting Fresh Without Starting Over

Prioritize Yourself and Your Health

Taking care of your body isn’t selfish; it’s foundational.

When you prioritize your health, you show up with more energy, patience, and resilience, not just for yourself, but for everyone who depends on you as well.

This year, let your wellness matter.

Incorporate Fitness in a Realistic Way

A successful New Year fitness plan fits into real life.

That might mean fewer workouts with more intention, choosing movement you actually enjoy, or letting walking count. Let your season set the pace!

Consistency doesn’t require intensity, it requires sustainability.

The Fitty 500: A New Year Fitness Challenge Built for Real Life

One of my biggest personal milestones this year was running 500 miles in 2025. This was the most mileage I’ve ever covered in a single year, and doing it during my first year postpartum felt intimidating. But I chose this goal intentionally.

I wanted a reason to keep moving for me and for my daughter: for my physical and mental health, to show up for myself, and to model for her that women are strong, capable, and resilient.

I also knew that my workouts would look different with a new baby. Relying on walking, jogging, and running felt realistic and flexible. It became something I could do with my daughter alongside me, rather than something that pulled me away from her.

That experience, and the joy and accomplishment I felt when I completed my goal with 10 days to spare, is what inspired the Fitty 500.

The Fitty 500 is a virtual fitness challenge to run, walk, or hike 500 miles throughout 2026, at your own pace. It’s designed for all fitness levels and busy lives.

You’ll get:

• A full year to complete the challenge
• Access to a supportive Strava community and mileage tracker
• Accountabiltity without pressure or guilt
• A Finisher’s Prize (including a custom medal and t-shirt) when you complete all 500 miles

Early bird registration is $43 now through 01/15, then it increases to $57.

If you’re looking for motivation that lasts beyond January, this is it!

More Ways to Move Forward With Support

If you’re craving structure, guidance, or a plan that fits in your current season:

• Browse my programs to find the right level of support for you
• Book a free consultation if you want help mapping out your next steps

You don’t have to figure this out alone!

Carry Your Progress Into the New Year

You don’t need to become a new person in January, you just need to keep going.

Take your wins with you! Let go of guilt, and choose goals that support your life, not compete with it.

This year, let fitness be something that strengthens you, not something that weighs you down. You’ve got this!