One year ago today (OK, tomorrow), I published my very first post on The Lyons’ Share. It was called “A Fresh Start,” and it truly represented that for me – I had been so passionate about health, wellness, and fitness for so long, and had completed my health coaching certification, but didn’t have an outlet to share my passion with others, since my employer didn’t permit me to have a side business. I had been reading health and fitness blogs for several years, had dreamed about starting my own, and had even dabbled in the world of blogging with a honeymoon blog and a summer vacation blog. 
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But this was different. With the other blogs, my intention was simply to share our vacations with family and friends, and to document them for ourselves. With this blog, my intention is to have an outlet for my passions, but also to spread my thoughts, and (hopefully) inspire someone, somewhere to make a change in their own health. This obviously requires putting myself, my opinions, and my blog “out there,” which made starting it all the more scary. However, I never doubted that it was the right decision for me, and I’ve never once looked back. 
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To celebrate my 1-year “anniversary” of blogging, here are the top 7 things I am proud of in the Lyons’ Share’s first year: 
- My content: I care a lot about the content that I put out on this blog. Sure, some posts have been more well-researched and thorough than others, some photos are even worse than others, some opinions / preferences / food intolerances change, and some topics already seem passé. However, there is not one of my 205 published posts that I regret posting, want to change, or wish I had never written. I truly think this is something to be proud of.
- The feeling I had on January 6th: I have never been more nervous about or proud of a post than I was (and am) of my post titled “Living the Life I Have Imagined.” The outpouring of support you all showed me – in the blog comments, emails, Facebook messages, and elsewhere – meant so much more than you could have imagined.
- Reaching diverse audiences: I obviously don’t blog for statistics, and don’t stress too much about my pageviews or other analytics. One thing I think is truly amazing, though, is the fact that I’ve had readers in 139 countries! This is my favorite statistic of all, and one that makes me so grateful to have the blog as a platform.
- The friendships I have formed: I have so enjoyed getting to know all of you, and I am grateful for the encouragement, support, and conversations we’ve shared. It’s amazing that you can feel like you “know” someone just from reading their blog and having a few outside conversations, but I truly do consider many of you my friends!
- The comments you all have shared: Although it sometimes takes me a while to respond (sorry!), I get an email every time a new comment comes through on the blog, and it makes me smile every single time. To know that you all are reading, thinking about the topics I post, making changes in your own lives, and sharing your own opinions with all of us makes me so proud and happy!
- What I’ve learned about myself: The blog has taught me to prioritize, has encouraged me to focus on balance, has fueled my passions for healthy living even more, and has brought joy to every single one of the last 364 days. Even on days when I felt confused or down in other parts of my life, I’ve loved that the blog has brought a big smile to my face!
- The confidence to start The Lyons’ Share – as a business: No, my blog is not even close to big enough to make money off of, and no, my blog statistics couldn’t convince me that my business was / is going to ultimately succeed. But seeing how much I loved spending time on health and fitness, and how I could inspire some people just through simple posts, was part of what gave me the confidence to start my health coaching business. I appreciate all the support, encouragement, and (of course!) referrals you all have given me for my health coaching so much.
Enough sappy stuff … let’s celebrate this amazing year with a giveaway!!! I’m giving away several prizes, and you can enter using the Rafflecopter widget below (you must click on the green buttons to enter). 
You’ll have the opportunity to rank your preferences. So, the first winner selected by Random.org will get his / her first choice, and then the second winner will get his / her first choice (unless it has already been selected, in which case he / she will get his / her second choice), and so on. Giveaway is open to anyone for all prizes besides Arctic Zero and myMix; if you are international, do not include those two on your rankings. If you do not want a certain prize, do not include it on your rankings. Giveaway is open until Thursday May 8th at 11:59pm CT, and winners will be announced on Friday’s post. All prizes have been donated by the companies, except the last, which I will pay for out-of-pocket. Here are the prizes:
- One free month of Barre3 online classes, representing my first giveaway ever
- One Polar FT4 heart rate monitor, representing my last product review of the first year
- One complete sample pack of Arctic Zero (with seven flavors of pints and 2 boxes of bars!!!!), representing the most excited I’ve ever been to receive a package for the blog and my favorite meal occasion of the day – dessert!
- One 5-serving custom blend of myMix Nutrition, representing the company I’ve reviewed that best embodies my favorite health principle of all time – bioindividuality
- One hand-selected package of healthy food items, since I gave this away as a prize during my Spring Reset and think it is a great prize! You can tell me what you’re looking for, an “unhealthy” product you need a substitute for, a food occasion that you want to target, or just leave it up to me to choose. I will select around your intolerances, preferences, etc., and ship you a fun box of goodies! (Value around $40-$50)
Once again, THANK YOU for an amazing year, and here’s to many more!
So tell me in the comments … How long have you been reading The Lyons’ Share? Do you have a favorite post or memory of The Lyons’ Share? Do you have any suggestions for improvement?
Congrats!!! You’ve been inspiring to me as I start on this journey as well. Would love to grab coffee/tea and chat one of these days too!
Yes! I would love to grab coffee or tea! I’m sure we’d have a ton to talk about! I’ll shoot you an email soon 🙂
I’ve been reading for about 2 months, and if love the lists of 7. Congratulations on the anniversary!
Thanks, Amy! I love the lists of 7, too 🙂
Congratulations! It’s awesome to see how much you’ve accomplished.
Thank you, Katie!
I’ve been following on twitter and reading along for a few months. I love soaking up health and fitness advice and exercise ideas.
Thanks for following, Kristen!
you definitely should be proud of all that!! you amaze me each day friend. glad to KNOW you
Thank you so much for those kind words, Lindsay! I’m so glad to know you, too!
Happy first Birthday to your birthday and congrats to you for finding this blog to truly embrace your passions! I’m not sure how long exactly I’ve been reading – several months – but my favourite posts [can’t pick just one] are your Motivation Mondays. As long as you keep those up I won’t stop reading anytime soon!
Thank you for that feedback, Miss Polkadot! Back to regularly scheduled motivation this upcoming Monday, I promise! 🙂
Typo alert in my first comment! Being the grammar nerd that I am: It was obviously meant to be “Happy first Birthday to your blog” :).
I love that you went back and corrected that, Miss Polkadot! Something I would do :).
i’m a new reader and really enjoy your blog! congrats on the anniversary 🙂
Thank you, Ali!
Happy One Year! I can’t remember who found who first but either way- I’m glad it happened. You share some really great [and informative] content with your readers and I appreciate how much you put into your posts.
Thank you so much, Cori! I’m glad it happened, too 🙂
congrats on the one year! I love your content–keep the healthy tips and delicious recipes coming!
Thank you, Kerry!
Congrats on the one year birthday! I just started following and love it!
Thank you, Emma! Glad you’re here!
Meg, I have constantly been inspired by your blog but most of all, I am proud to call you a good blend.
Keep being you. I can’t wait to see this go places. see YOU go places.
Thank you, Arman! I so appreciate your humor, support, and encouragement!
this has been an informative journey and i can’t wait to continue !!!! thanks for sharing
Thank you, Mary Ann!
Megan! I love your blog and hVe even a fan and following for a while now, I feel like I know you from Instagram now as well haha. All of your blogs are my favorite and look forward to reading them through out the week! You honestly keep my motivated every day and push me to follow my dreams. I would have never strived to become such a good runner without you, thank you for being my inspiration! I truly look up to you (:
Thank you for these nice words, Allie! So glad I could help out!
I’ve been reading for a few months now. I think my favorite post is still the one with the Healing Veggie Soup recipe. Mmmmm.
Thank you, Cassie! And thanks again for sharing that recipe – it’s hard to make that one look appealing so I’m glad you tried it anyway 🙂
Congratulations on your first year!!
I’m not sure how long I’ve been reading here – a few months – looking forward to lots more great post from you!
Thank you for reading, Kim!
Congrats on 1 year of blogging! I think I started reading right around the time you announced your career change. It has been so awesome getting to know you through your blog and comments! I love the variety of your posts…we obviously share the same passion for running but I also find it so helpful to read your posts about health. You always seem to break down the topics in a way that makes them easier to understand! Best of luck as you move into year #2:)
Thank you, Lisa! I really appreciate your feedback. So glad we’ve found each other’s blogs!
Congrats on the big one year!! So very exciting!!
Thank you, Laura!
Congratulations on one year of inspiring, motivating, and informing! Your blog became a favorite a several months ago. I love the format… Your lists of 7 are always an easy and productive read when in another blog I otherwise might have passed and told myself that I’d read it later. I appreciate the product reviews that offer cons as well as pros. What drew me to your blog was the information towards cleaner eating. What’s kept me coming back- it’s real, it’s relatable, it matches the goals I have set and clarifies the goals I refine.
Thank you, Christy! I appreciate that feedback! I’ll keep up the lists of 7s (my favorite number, plus a good balance between meaty content and not too overwhelming), the honest reviews, and the focus on clean eating. Keep up the good work on your goals!
I’ve been reading for the past 7 months! HAPPY BIRTHDAY to The Lyons Share!
Thank you, Sara! I think of you as one of my earliest readers, so I just had the thought … well who WAS reading prior to 7 months ago? I guess the answer is no one – haha!!!
Happy Blogversary!
Thanks, Megan!
Hmmm, when DID I start reading? Don’t even remember!
Overall you and I share philosophies about healthy living which makes reading enjoyable. I also love the focus your content has on education. Keep it up!
It’s been a while since we’ve found each other! Yes, I’m glad we share similar philosophies. Thank you for the kind words!
Happy blog-iversary! I’ve been reading for about 3 months 🙂
Thanks, Cassie! I’m glad you have!
I just recently (within past month) started blogging and found your blog through the blog-vine I guess! It’s definitely encouraging to hear how you feel about your first year, as well as launching a business. I am going to become certified as a running coach and so have similar goals to you. It must be such a great feeling to be able to take what you love and turn it into not only a business, but a way to encourage people to meet their goals as well. Very glad I found you and looking forward to following you!
Congratulations on starting your blog, Michele! So exciting!!! I am very, very far from an expert, but if you ever want to chat and bounce ideas off of one another, I’d love to get to know you better! Shoot me an email if I can be of any help. Enjoy the journey!
Congratulations!! You are such an inspiration! Can’t believe you have only been blogging for a year!
Thank you, friend! Didn’t we start around the same time? In trying to fact check that guess, I stumbled across your new (at least new-to-me!) About page … which is pretty much the GREATEST EVER ;).
I’m a pretty new reader, but I absolutely LOVE your blog!!
Thank you, Ange!
Happy Blogiversary!!! You have done so much with your blog is such a short period. You should be proud! I always learn something from your posts. And you know how grateful I am to you for the food intolerance info/help!
Thank you, Laura! You know that means a ton coming from you!! Glad you’re conquering your intolerances (with a teeny tiny break for some Swiss indulgences!)
Wow, congrats! I love blog anniversaries – such a good time to look back and reflect on everything you did that year! I’ve been reading for about the last 4-5 months. 🙂 Happy to have found you!
Thank you, Lauren! I’m glad we’ve found each other’s blogs, too!
Love this blog!
Thank you, Barbie!
I know for a fact you’ve inspired so many people! Keep on dreaming big and never doubting that you can make those dreams come true 🙂
Thank you, Davida! I appreciate the support 🙂
I’ve only been reading for a few months, but you seriously have your act together. I was surprised by this post because I thought you’d been blogging much longer than that!
I like your health advice. It has helped me change some of my awful habits. 🙂
Thank you so much, Meg! This means so much to me. I’m sure your habits are not awful – every step in the right direction is something to be celebrated!
Congrats Megan! I’ve only been reading it recently but I can tell you have such a passion for sharing health information and your coaching.
Thank you, Lauren! I do have such a passion for this field – I love it every single day! I’m glad we’ve found each other!
I just started following a month ago but love it!
Thank you, Shannon!
Congrats on 1-year!
I wholeheartedly agree with all of the things you feel proud about. Your passion and job for all sorts of healthy things – exercise, eating, happiness and more – comes through in every post.
And I have said it before, but you are one of my absolute fave bloggers! 🙂 Congrats!
Thank you, Michael! Thanks for the Twitter shares, too. I can’t even remember how we found each other’s blogs, but I’m so glad we did!
I just started reading in the last couple months when other bloggers I follow we’re sharing your content! I love recipes and health advice/info
Thanks, Paige! So glad you found me!
I’m a relatively new follower. Congrats on your 1 year Anniversary!
Thank you, Jill!
I just wanted to say congratulations on the one year!! I just barely hit the one year mark myself and haveta agree with you that I don’t regret a single post. Keep up the great work and keep loving what you do!
Thanks, Kels! And congrats to you, too! What an awesome feeling to have no regrets, right? 🙂
several months! no suggestions for improvements – stay how you are – TRUE TO YOU! that’s what makes you (and your blog!) so great! 🙂
Thank you, Linz, that means a lot!!
I’ve been reading your blog for about 2 months and love it-as you know! I really enjoyed participating in the spring reset and learned a lot about small changes I could make in my own diet. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you. Congrats on your anniversary!
Thank you, Deborah! I’m so glad I’m getting to know you, too!
I’ve been reading your blog for about six months! I look forward to your monthly newsletter- it’s obvious you put forth a great amount of effort with each post you publish!
Thank you, Hillary! I try my best! 🙂
I just started following a couple of weeks ago! Love your blog so far!
Thanks, Suzie!
I just found you a few months ago via Sweat Pink Ambassadors. I love your content and style. I promise to comment more 🙂
Thanks, Erica! I look forward to getting to know your blog better, too!
Yay!! So glad you began this wonderful and inspiring space. Keep on being you 🙂
Thank you, friend! You know I get a lot of inspiration from you, too!
I’ve been reading for months,and I am so happy I have! you’re awesome & I honestly wouldn’t recommend you do anything different. Your original and true to yourself. Keep being YOU xoxo
Thank you so much, Jessie! I’m so glad to be reading your blog, too!
I have only been a reader for a couple of months, but I LOVE your blog. I look forward to learning new healthy tip and reading about new products to try. You are a great blogger- Happy Anniversary!
Thank you so much, Erin! I appreciate the comment!