On the Move

Eating healthy as a whole can be a bit challenging, but when you throw in being a mom on top of that, it can be downright exhausting. Let me start off by saying that healthy eating isn’t just for you, or for a moment, it is a lifestyle.  As a whole, the entire family can and should be enjoying the tastes and flavors of whole nutrition. If you are wondering if your family would enjoy the new way of eating, then try to encourage them to join you in the kitchen. Make it a fun time that you and your kids can experience.  

Now, if you are a working mom, that probably means that time is of the essence, but don’t you worry, because you are not alone.  Who has the time these days? Well, you just have to be strategic and that is when scheduling comes into play.  

1. Schedule Your Time

First, you have to pick a day that is dedicated to batch cooking, YES, I said it.  You may think that you don’t have time to cook, but being in control of your meals will surely pay off in keeping those pesky pounds at bay.  Scheduling also saves time throughout the week for other activities. What I find to help me is by planning a weekly menu. This way I don’t need to scramble when it’s time to cook.

2. All For One and One For All

A family is a TEAM! What this means is healthy living should be a journey that the family embarks on together. Often times, I hear of moms cooking differently for each member of the family. This not only takes a lot of time, but it also puts a lot of stress on YOU. I say, “all for one and one for all,” which means we all eat the same meal. Shop for convenience foods that will make cooking healthy easy and fun. Instead of making spaghetti and meatballs, opt for zucchini noodles with turkey meatballs instead. Just pick up some pre-cut “zoodles” for your convenience, and viola!

3. Treat Your Fitness Like A Business

I once heard it said, “You should schedule your workouts as if it were a business.” This one phrase really hit home. You would never skip out on a business call, so why skip out on yourself? Something is truly better than nothing. Whether it’s an after dinner family walk, or getting up early before the kids start getting ready for school; everything counts. 

4. Make Obtainable Goals

It’s just as important to make obtainable goals, as it is to schedule your workout time. Sometimes you can feel like the end goal is unattainable. Say you want to lose 30 lbs, well, why not start with just 5. This way, doesn’t it seem like less of a daunting task.

5. Make Your Own Night Time Ritual

Everyone talks about waking up before the kids are up, but no one talks about what you could be doing at night. This doesn’t necessarily have to do with exercise. My question is: what are you doing for self care? Stress and anxiety can also cause weight gain. Having a night time routine will help set your mind at ease before bed. Try meditating, diffusing essential oils, reading, journaling, or drinking some herbal tea.

6. Sometimes It’s All About “YOU”

Similar to having a night time ritual, you should be making time for YOU during the day. Whether it’s 15 minutes or 1 hour, try to set aside some undisturbed time. Take this time to do anything…or nothing at all. Browse the web, scroll on social media, whatever it is that will reduce stress during the day.

7. Stay Hydrated!

Do I really need to go into detail about the importance of drinking water? We all know how important it is, just as much as we know that it’s not easy to do so. Well, whether it’s running errands or taking kids to appointments, try to keep your water bottle on you at all times. I recommend getting a 2L water bottle. This way you can easily see just how much water you drank. You can even challenge yourself throughout the day.

8. Don’t Skip Out On Breakfast

Yes, being a mom means taking care of all the kiddies, but it does NOT mean skipping out on YOU. They say breakfast is the most important meal for a reason. (And no, a cup of coffee doesn’t count!) Just like how you would probably make sure the children have a healthy breakfast, you should also make sure you have one too. Take the opportunity and splurge a little on this meal — keeping in mind . It’s been proven that eating in the morning will keep you feeling more satisfied than eating later in the day. I’m telling you, eating breakfast will certainly make you feel like you can cease the day. 

9. Pro Tip: Superfoods

I’m just going to say it outright: cut out the processed and refined sugar and substitute it for superfoods. Superfoods are foods that provide our bodies with essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Since superfoods help to stimulate cellular regeneration, that means it’ll give you more energy in the day. Some superfoods you should incorporate in your diet are:

• Avocado
• Salmon
• Blueberries
• Apples
• Spinach & Kale
• Green Tea
• Dark chocolate
• Eggs
• Nuts
• Broccoli
• And so much more

10. Get Enough Sleep

Getting the sleep you need can be tough with children. The standard amount that an adult should get is 7-9 hours. Make sure to make sleep a priority for you. Sleep can re-energize you and it also helps to repair you mentally, physically, and emotionally. Moreover, sleep can help your immune system, mood, metabolism, and overall health.I really hope that all of these tips and tricks have served you well. It goes without saying that being a mom certainly isn’t easy. Now, you might have tried all 10 steps, but to no avail. This might mean that there are other issues potentially sabotaging your weight loss efforts. This is why you should stay tuned for our next blog post that will talk about your metabolism and how to increase it to achieve your weight loss goals!