Eat well.
Plan to fail if you fail to plan mama. There are days when I celebrate the fact that I managed to feed my baby my dogs myself in that order. But I never feel as accomplished as I do when I grocery shop and meal plan and prep on a Sunday afternoon. I KISS (keep it simple silly) with a Whole Foods diet of lean protein, unprocessed carb and veggies. Plus all the snacks! Fruit, kind bars, carrots and hummus, tuna salad stuffed avocado, almonds and skinny pop are my go-to’s. Instagram #mealprepmondays and Pinterest are full of ideas. Spend a good 1-3 hours baking, roasting and crock or pressure cooking while daddy plays with the baby. Separate meals into either category containers to mix and match or go ahead and piece together meals to freeze or refrigerate. Then take the rest of the week off!
Notice I didn’t say to eat right. Right is relative when it comes to diet. Fads come and go and counting calories can be daunting. Avoid seeing food as inherently good or bad. Learn to enjoy good food that is good for you and enjoy the feeling of fueling your body and having a treat now and then
Train.
One major adjustment to the new normal of being a mom is figuring out an exercise routine that fits your lifestyle. Some of my favorite options for mommy friendly workout are:
Stroller Strides- it was a god send for me because I moved here alone with my husband who is super busy himself. With no family close and no options for infant daycare I needed something I could do immediately after being released for exercise while keeping my nursling close. It’s also a great way to meet other moms and bond with your babe. Now even though she’s old enough for child watch I still look forward to working out with her
Beach Body on demand- By now you probably have several friends who are health coaches. If you’re a busy mama who needs to fit in a 5 am workout before work the streaming service can be a great resource.
Several gyms in Wacotown do have childcare after 6 months of age with family membership. Utilize this option if you need a break from the kids while you workout
D1 sports training- has awesome scholastic programs if you have older kiddos so mom can sweat while the kids work on their athletic goals too!
Or just take a good old fashioned walk or run around the block. Whatever you choose just get your body moving. 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least 3 times a week is recommended for optimum health.
Be consistent.
Whatever diet and exercise plan you choose, start and then stick to it. A year from now you’ll wish you had started today.
And the not so easy step…
Love yourself.
One of the hardest parts about being a fit mom is believing that you fit that description. Fitness is defined as the condition of being physically fit and healthy. It encompasses muscle tone, athleticism and more importantly freedom from disease and disorder. I prefer the second definition. The quality of being suitable to fulfill a particular role or task.
Ex: “he had a year in which to establish his fitness for the office”
Can you fulfill your function as a mom if you lack the energy to play with your kids? Can you be the mom you want to be if you aren’t happy within yourself? I recently did the #radicalvanitychallenge which encourags women to find ways to measure their fitness aside from pounds. Women and moms chose words like progress, strength, and confidence. Define fitness for yourself and make a plan to achieve it. Find the why behind your desire to get fit and make sure self love is a component. Every mom can be a fit mom. We’re all rooting for you. Go mama, go!