2016 year in review {top 10 most viewed workouts + recipes of 2016}

that’s a wrap 2016 — recapping the top 10 most viewed workout and recipe posts of 2016; and sharing a sneak peek into 2017!

Last week I was gifted what I’m thinking is going to be the best, most impactful gift I’ve ever received, a book — Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist.

I’m only 52 pages deep, and I’m already grateful for every word I’ve read. You see this post was supposed to start with a laundry list of good intentions and goals for the New Year — like work less, read more, complain less, be on time more, stress less, and have more fun…plus a whole other list of goals — like get my business finances in order, prep a freezer full of food before baby comes, run a half marathon post-baby…

But if I can be 100% honest with you guys, that ball of energy jumping in the air pictured above is really tired. I’ve worked the hardest I’ve ever worked in my entire life to try and keep this little engine, nourish move love, chugging along; and I’m exhausted. I’m tired of being too tired, too busy, too overwhelmed and too strung out on the drug of productivity. I worship my to-do list and push until I can’t push any further, and then I push a bit more because I’m committed to proving that I am tough and I can handle it all.

The truth is, I can’t do it all. And if I can’t do it all now, how am I ever going to do it all when baby comes in three very short months?!

I don’t know how to answer this question quite yet. But I do know that:

1. I love this blog and every single one of you who read my posts, do my workouts, and make my recipes
2. I absolutely love writing, filming and sharing new, challenging workouts with this community
3. I feel inspired every time I read a comment that someone did my workout and felt better for it
4. Although it’s often hard for me to admit, I am dang proud of this little business and what I’ve accomplished in 2016:
   a. Collaborating with dream brands like Old Navy, Fabletics, larabar™, Wantable, Mizuno, and Vital Proteins
   b. Creating workouts and workout videos for highly respected platforms like Gethealthyutv.com and sweat series {now re-branding as The Healthy Glow Collective}.
   c. Selling over 100+ copies of my training programs and workout videos/DVD’s
   d. Bringing a community of women together and raising funds for The Her Initiative and several other organizations that change lives.
   **PS – mark your calendars the second annual Party for Her Minneapolis is happening on Saturday, February 18th {more details to come soon}
   e. Hiring my first real part-time partner, Heidi! You guys Heidi is amazing, she’s putting my life back in order one spreadsheet at a time and making me less anxious about become a new mom one witch-hazel maxi pad at a time. I thank God for bringing her into my life on a daily basis.
5. And it’s even harder for me to admit that I am not proud of:
   a. How often my husband ends up cooking dinner or eating a cold turkey sandwich because I’m too busy teaching classes, answering emails, writing blog posts and responding to social media
   b. The numerous conversations I’ve never listened too because I’m always multi-tasking and typing an email while on the phone
   c. How often I snap because I’m overwhelmed
   d. The fun activities I’ve ruined because I’ve stressed over getting the perfect Instagram-worthy photo to post
   e. My empty nursery and the fact that I haven’t purchased a single baby onesie or pair of cute little socks because it’s not on my to-do list

I also know that regardless of how much I want this business and blog to succeed, this business which has been my number one priority for the past year and a half is no longer my number one priority. As Shauna so beautifully puts it in Present Over Perfect, “Now I know that in the same way I’ve always believe God’s Spirit dwells deeply in this world, it also dwells deeply in me. I’ve known that, cognitively, but my life spoke otherwise. Now I know that the best thing I can offer this world is not my force or energy, but a well-tended spirit, a wise and brave soul.”

So what’s next for nourish move love in 2017?

If you look back at my 2015 year in review post you’ll see that I had a pretty good handle on what I wanted to accomplish in 2016 — more high quality fitness posts with video, more Pinnable workouts, and sponsored posts in collaborations with brands I love.

In 2017 I’m planning to: 

1. Film a pregnancy workout program with Gethealthyutv.com {filming in January, stay tuned for the release in February}
2. Release free, monthly 30-day workout calendars to everyone who’s on my email list {the January 2017 calendar will be hitting your inboxes soon so make sure you’re on my email list}!
3. Continue to share awesome workouts + workout videos, but add more trending fitness apparel content t0 each post
4. Reduce the number of recipes I’m personally sharing and do a lot more recipe round up posts
5. Share more lifestyle posts on becoming a new mom and partner with brands in this space that I personally love
6. Possibly do a website overhaul and redesign
7. Post one blog per week versus two-to-three blogs per week when baby arrives {and possibly take some time off or away from the blog}

These are my plans, but I want to hear from you — the people who really matter — what do you want to see more of in 2017?! Please do me a big favor and take this 10 question, reader survey {click this link or complete the survey below}!

Create your own user feedback survey

top 10 most viewed workout and recipe posts of 2016

This year I wrote 103 posts, making this post 104 and the final post of the year. So let’s jump into the juicy details of the top 10 most viewed workout and recipe posts of 2016.

I have to say I was surprised by some of the top performers as they are some of my older posts; but everything takes time to get picked up by Google and Pinterest and generate traffic. Something big I’ve learned in 2016 — everything takes time. Building a business and blog is no quick and easy feat. This also makes me curious to see how my hard work this year will pay off, and what will be the top performing posts of 2017.

One more thing, I did want to mention that my most-viewed post in one day was actually my pregnancy and power of prayer post. I can’t thank you enough for your support, faith, love and prayers throughout the ups and downs of 2016!

top 10 most viewed workouts in 2016

1. 12 Squat Variations + Lower Body AMRAP Workout
2. 10 Morning Yoga Poses
3. Barre 100 Ab Series 
4. Lower abs exercises for flat, toned stomach
5. Barre strong workout 
6. 7 calorie torching kettlebell moves
7. Killer kettlebell pyramid workout 
8. Medicine ball hiit circuit
9. 6-move arms and abs workout to strengthen and tone
10. 390 reps, abs of steel medicine ball workout

top 10 most viewed recipes in 2016

1. Daily detox lemon, ginger, & turmeric tea
2. Healthiest 3 ingredient cookies you’ll ever make 
3. Cacao oatmeal with banana + chia
4. Savory sweet potato, turkey sausage egg bowl
5. Healthy, gluten-free zucchini banana muffins
6. Healthy superfood trail mix 
7. 9 delicious green smoothie recipes that fill you up
8. Easy, no-bake pumpkin oat balls {which was also a top performer in 2015} 
9. 5 delicious and healthy spoonfuls of desserts
10. 18 healthy banana recipes to satisfy your carb cravings

Now that you know what was popular in 2016. Tell me what do you want to see on the blog in 2017? Please take this 10 question, reader survey!

One final thought…

When the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, you will have 525,600 new minutes to spend in 2017. thousands of little life-minutes. Minutes you can spend working, reading, complaining, running, stressing, smiling…what will you do? how will you choose to spend all those life minutes in 2017?

if you’re feeling too tired, too busy, and too overwhelmed like me you can, ‘stop. right now. remake your life from the inside out.’ {credit Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist}. 

And one final thank you…

I know I don’t say it enough, but thank you. Thank each and every one of you who’ve landed on this site. I work hard to share valuable content, but if it wasn’t for you, none of it would matter. You give me purpose, inspiration, and you are the reason I get to call this blog my job. I am so grateful that you chose to spend time, sweat and dish up with me! Thank you!

PS – If you work for a brand or know a brand that may be interested in collaborating so I can share more free workout content with you, email me — lindsey@lindsey.madetothrive.com!

PPS – If you read this entire post, bless your soul!

Happy New Year + Cheers to 2017! 

This post does include amazon affiliate links. All words and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting nourish move love.