It’s a complaint I hear a lot.
“I have three kids with three different schedules, a house to keep clean and husband to take care of. How am I supposed to stay in shape? Exercise is just not feasible.”
“I gained 30 pounds after my pregnancy and there is no way I can lose it. I want to lose those 30 pounds but I can’t. Exercise is not an option.”
The fact is, if your weight, your goals and your health are that important to you you’ll find the time. But it’s up to you. Weight loss and getting in shape just doesn’t magically happen, you make it happen. No excuses. You are not the only busy mom who struggles with this. But moms who make health and exercise a priority do find the time for it. How?
*Wake up an hour earlier and workout before the kids even wake up.
*Join a gym with daycare and let the kids have a playdate while you workout.
*Invest in home gym equipment. A good treadmill is worth every cent.
Set your goals. They must be realistic and achievable. Don’t just say “I need to lose 30 pounds”. It’s overwhelming and can lead to failure. Break it down into small, attainable, short-term goals and write down exactly how you plan to do it. Here’s an example:
Long term goal - Lose 30 pounds
Short term goal – This week I want to lose 1.5 pounds
How – I will cut out all soda, I will drink more water, I will add more fiber to my diet.
Those small goals for the week feel a more doable than losing the whole 30 pounds.
Find an activity you enjoy. This is crucial. If you know you hate running don’t start a running program just because you think it’s the fastest or easiest way to shed the pounds. If you don’t like running you won’t be doing it for very long. There are plenty of activities to choose from but pick a few that you like doing and can reasonably do each week. If you have 3 kids and a busy week going for a daily hike may not be reasonable. So consider your schedule when choosing activities.
Plan ahead. On Sunday night sit down with your calendar and plan the week. Find a time each day where you can fit in exercise. Make it an appointment. It is ok to make yourself and your health a priority. Consider this appointment one you cannot miss each day rather than something to do if you can find some time. If you don’t plan ahead you are likely to just skip the workout thinking you don’t have the time.
Create a habit. Doing something each day, even 15 minutes, is more important than skipping the exercise session altogether. You’re more likely to increase the time and speed of your workouts once the concept of working out is a habit.
Wear workout or active clothes. If you get dressed for exercise in the mornings you can take advantage of extra time when you find it throughout your day. You are already ready and don’t need to spend the extra 10 minutes changing clothes.
Do little things. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, stand instead of sit, park further away from the building so you have to walk more.
I will be posting much more on this topic as it is one that is near and dear to me.
3 Comments
“I have three kids with three different schedules, a house to keep clean and husband to take care of. How am I supposed to stay in shape? Exercise is just not feasible.”
“I gained 30 pounds after my pregnancy and there is no way I can lose it. I want to lose those 30 pounds but I can’t. Exercise is not an option.”
The fact is, if your weight, your goals and your health are that important to you you’ll find the time. But it’s up to you. Weight loss and getting in shape just doesn’t magically happen, you make it happen. No excuses. You are not the only busy mom who struggles with this. But moms who make health and exercise a priority do find the time for it. How?
*Wake up an hour earlier and workout before the kids even wake up.
*Join a gym with daycare and let the kids have a playdate while you workout.
*Invest in home gym equipment. A good treadmill is worth every cent.
Set your goals. They must be realistic and achievable. Don’t just say “I need to lose 30 pounds”. It’s overwhelming and can lead to failure. Break it down into small, attainable, short-term goals and write down exactly how you plan to do it. Here’s an example:
Long term goal - Lose 30 pounds
Short term goal – This week I want to lose 1.5 pounds
How – I will cut out all soda, I will drink more water, I will add more fiber to my diet.
Those small goals for the week feel a more doable than losing the whole 30 pounds.
Find an activity you enjoy. This is crucial. If you know you hate running don’t start a running program just because you think it’s the fastest or easiest way to shed the pounds. If you don’t like running you won’t be doing it for very long. There are plenty of activities to choose from but pick a few that you like doing and can reasonably do each week. If you have 3 kids and a busy week going for a daily hike may not be reasonable. So consider your schedule when choosing activities.
Plan ahead. On Sunday night sit down with your calendar and plan the week. Find a time each day where you can fit in exercise. Make it an appointment. It is ok to make yourself and your health a priority. Consider this appointment one you cannot miss each day rather than something to do if you can find some time. If you don’t plan ahead you are likely to just skip the workout thinking you don’t have the time.
Create a habit. Doing something each day, even 15 minutes, is more important than skipping the exercise session altogether. You’re more likely to increase the time and speed of your workouts once the concept of working out is a habit.
Wear workout or active clothes. If you get dressed for exercise in the mornings you can take advantage of extra time when you find it throughout your day. You are already ready and don’t need to spend the extra 10 minutes changing clothes.
Do little things. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, stand instead of sit, park further away from the building so you have to walk more.
I will be posting much more on this topic as it is one that is near and dear to me.