I can’t believe 2014 is here.. where has the year gone? Time flies when you are having fun! Currently, I’m on my way home from Colorado. I went skiing with my husband, brother, and a couple friends. It was a lot of fun to start the new year on the slopes! The long drive had me thinking about everything I achieved personally and professionally in 2013, and it has me excited for what is to come in 2014! I created a highlight video of 2013 using the Flipagram app.

I would like to share with you how I made eating healthy and exercising a priority this past year, which led to a 10 pound weight loss since the beginning of January. I’m super excited that I have been able to maintain my weight loss, and I was able to purchase jeans in December that were 3 sizes smaller than in January! Did I eat healthy all the time? No. Did I exercise all the time? No. I achieved the right balance by making healthier decisions!

I will never forget when I was complaining to my husband about how I didn’t have time to exercise or eat healthy. His response, “Kayla, you have time, but you are just not making healthy eating or exercise a priority.” He was right, and I needed to hear that! I finally realized that I was choosing other activities to fill my time and my excuse wasn’t going to work anymore. For 2013, I made eating healthy and exercising a priority.

My main healthy eating goals were to eat more vegetables, fruits, whole/natural foods, and home cooked meals while eating less processed foods. Check out some of the recipes I used this past year:

• Roasted Baby Carrots with Garlic
• Almond Berry Chicken Salad
• A Chicken Breast Recipe for a Variety of Meals
• A Healthier Recipe for Beef Roast

For exercise, my goals were to workout at least 2 times a week at my CrossFit gym, but it really depended upon my schedule. My biggest accomplishment within CrossFit was competing in the 2013 CrossFit Open. The Open is a world-wide CrossFit competition where athletes complete one workout a week for five weeks and submit their scores online.

In August, I was excited that I achieved 5 kipping handstand push-ups for the first time. Remember to not give up on a goal even if it takes months to reach it! It is all about the small gains!

Increasing my physical activity level resulted in completing three 5k races: the Color Run, NAND Fuel Up to Color, and the Spartan Sprint. I think this is a huge accomplishment since I completed my first 5k in 2012!

The Color Run 6/1/2013, NAND Fuel Up with Color 5K Race 9/28/13, Spartan Sprint 10/12/2013

My husband and I also enjoy riding our bikes and playing volleyball to increase our physical activity level.

Thanks to UNL Campus Rec for the bike valet we were able to bike to the football game.

I was able to lose weight and maintain my weight loss by achieving my healthy eating and physical activity goals while enjoying unhealthier foods in moderation. I traveled a lot this past year. I attended the FBLA National Leadership Conference in June. During my trip and in honor of Throwback Thursday, I wanted to recreate an FBLA pic from 2001. Same outfit, just 12 years later. Thanks to losing weight and making healthier decisions the same clothes still fit!

Did you make a New Year’s Resolution goal? Make 2014 the year you lead a healthier lifestyle by making it a priority! Making a change takes time, commitment and a lot of encouragement. You may get off track at times, but pick up where you left off and start again. Keep working toward that goal and making healthier decisions! Check out my Walk Nebraska Newsletter “New Year, New You: 4 Tips to a Healthier You” to help you achieve your goals!