Looking after children is a full-time job. It can drain a lot of energy and you may feel tired more often than usual.
Maintaining a proper fitness routine and looking after themselves can seem like a distant dream for mothers.
However, taking small steps to prioritize yourself can go a long way in preserving your wellness.
These include making slight changes to your routine like eating healthier, increasing your daily step count, and including physical activity wherever possible.
Here are 7 realistic fitness tips every mom should know.
1. Eat Nutritious Meals
Consuming a balanced diet daily can be difficult because moms usually have a lot on their plate.
Some mothers focus on making nutritious food for their kids but neglect their own health by eating whatever is readily available. Unintentionally, they might end up eating more packaged foods.
Proper planning and meal prepping will help you cultivate healthy eating habits.
Take one day out of the week to buy all the groceries, prepare your meals in batches, and store them in the refrigerator.
You can easily find tons of easy yet healthy recipes on the internet. They often mention nutritional information like calories, carbs, protein, and fiber.
2. Try Quick & Short Workouts
You don’t have to do a continuous 1-hour workout to maintain your ideal weight. Instead, you can plan two to three short high-intensity workouts for different slots throughout the day.
You can follow one of these quick workouts first thing in the morning before your baby wakes up. Later in the evening, you can exercise again while the little one naps.
It is easy to find 20-minute workouts on YouTube that include strength training, cardio, and HIIT.
3. Track Your Caloric Intake
If you think you are eating well and working out, but don’t see any changes, it is probably because you’re consuming more calories than you realize.
While you don’t have to note every calorie, a rough calculation will help you understand the composition of your diet.
Random snacks in the middle of the day like a bag of chips can contain 400-500 calories, almost on par with an average meal. Yet, you would feel hungry minutes after munching on them.
So, focus on consuming low-calorie foods that have high satiety value.
However, all high-calorie foods aren’t bad. For example, two spoons of peanut butter may be a great snack depending on what you consume the rest of the day.
4. Explore Non-Surgical Options
If you have an underlying medical condition, following a strict diet or exercising regularly may not suit your body. In such cases, you can consider non-surgical options to shed pounds.
For example, a weight loss balloon, also known as a gastric balloon, is a device to reduce your stomach’s capacity. Therefore, it will restrict your dietary intake. This method is usually recommended for people who cannot lose weight naturally.
Another wellness option to consider is investing in a home sauna. Adding a sauna to your home can provide numerous health benefits, including improved circulation and stress reduction. If you are looking for a sauna for sale, ensure to choose one that fits your space and budget constraints.
Schedule a consultation with your doctor to discuss and identify the right non-invasive procedure for your health conditions.
5. Walk As Much As You Can
Incorporating 30-40 minutes of walking into your daily routine can supplement other changes you’re making to your lifestyle.
Going for a short walk is also a great way to clear your head, put your phone away, and listen to music.
You can even couple it with jogging if you want something more intense.
Even if there is no park or garden with a trail in your neighborhood, you can walk to the grocery store instead of driving or catching a cab!
6. Keep Your Body Hydrated
Amidst the hustle and bustle, it is easy to overlook your body’s hydration needs.
You can carry a water bottle with you when going outside and keep it nearby when you’re at home. It can remind you to take sips in the middle of your work.
Drinking plenty of water will also help you stay full. So, you won’t try to grab sugary treats or highly caffeinated beverages and disrupt your progress.
7. Don’t Forget To Rest
Getting enough sleep will ensure you’re relaxed and up for the next day. Otherwise, you will feel sluggish and may not even eat properly.
Avoid scrolling the newsfeed late at night. Put aside all your devices and focus on getting a good 7-8 hours of sleep.
Try hitting the bed around the same time every day and play relaxing music in the background.
Conclusion
It is also important to communicate with your partner about your wellness needs. By sharing responsibilities with them, you can get enough time for self-care.
Don’t be hard on yourself by setting unrealistic goals. Strive for progress and not perfection.
