Often times the hardest part of getting fit is simply finding the motivation. How many times have you said to yourself, “Today is the day! I’m going to workout.” Only to find yourself a couple hours later saying, “Oh, but I’m just so tired. I’ll start tomorrow.” Tomorrow becomes next week which becomes next month. This happens with exercise, healthy eating (side note: I try not to use the term diet because of its negative connotations. For the most part, if we all just ate healthy we wouldn’t need to “diet”.), and many other habits we desire to establish.
Establishing healthy eating habits and exercise routines can be particularly challenging for mothers, particularly mothers of young children. Unfortunately, it often takes a considerable amount of sacrifice for moms to workout. It is so easy to just give in and give up!
Don’t give in! It is so amazing the difference a little exercise and healthy food make! I started a regular workout routine about 3 months ago, and feel sooooo much better than I had been. I have more energy, I’m more patient with my kids, and my overall mood is better.
Source: losing30lbsincollege.tumblr.com via Pamela on Pinterest
Since I know I’m not the only mom to have a lot on her plate, I wanted to share some tips to help you get a fitness and healthy eating routine going and then stick to it. It is not necessary to use all of these tips, but choose 2 or 3 that you think will work for you.
- Enlist a friend to be your workout buddy. Friends not only take the monotony out of working out, but if you have a friend who’s company you really enjoy, you may actually begin to look forward to working out.
- Start simple! One of the surest ways to kill a good exercise or eating routine is to set your sights too high and overdo it. If you are exercising just keep in mind that you are going to need to have enough energy left after your workout to take care of your kids for the rest of the day. Once your body becomes accustomed to the workout slowly begin adding to it.
- Incorporate your kids into your workout. I have NO time during the day when I’m without my kids. Gyms are too far so working out by myself isn’t an option.
- If you don’t have a jogging stroller it is worth it to buy one. If money is tight look on craigslist or other classified site. You can usually find a good stroller for fairly cheap. If you need help justifying the purchase, think about it this way, purchasing a jogging stroller will cost a fraction of what a gym membership with or without childcare would cost.
- Consider a kids workout DVD. My kids love Storyland Yoga
. It is fun for them and still a good light workout for me.
- Be active with your kids. Have a dance party, jump around, do reps of 5-10 lifting your kids up in the air (this one, obviously, would only work if your kids are little). Lie on your back and give your kids horsey rides with your legs. My legs burn after just a few minutes with my 30+ lb. 2 year old.
- Keep a food and/or exercise plan. You can find some ideas and links to good templates on yesterday’s post.
- Pay yourself for working out or sticking to your eating plan. Instead of handing your money over to a gym, pay yourself each time you work out or every day you stick to your meal plan. We all have things we want, but refrain from purchasing, right? Each time you work out put $1-$2 into a jar. You’ll have earned that special something before you know it.
- Don’t be too hard on yourself! Don’t worry if you miss a couple days or a week. Just keep in the front of your mind how good you felt, how much your kids loved your sunnier attitude, and get back on track when you can. Beating yourself up about missing days isn’t going to do you any favors.
- Choose certain days of the week to work out when you are least likely to have schedule conflicts.
- Don’t compare yourself!!! Different people have different body types. You can’t change your genes, but you can change your lifestyle. Focus on healthy, not on skinny.
Source: Uploaded by user via Starla on Pinterest
About Amy @ Oh So Savvy Mom
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