Fitness For Busy Moms

Look less like this

And more like this

Isn't that every mom's goal?  Juggle everything and still have your sanity, healthy happy children and all your work done!  I'm right there with you.  It takes a lot of time and effort to raise children, work, keep the house clean, have a nutritious meal on the table and not only find time for a workout, but have the energy too!

First, you have to decide it's a priority to eat healthy and make time for your workouts.  If you can't get there, don't give up.  It gets easier the more you do it.  Just set aside 1 hour.  I know, you're thinking, 1 hour?!  I don't have 1 minute, let alone a whole hour?!  Been there.  Made the time.  I guarantee you can do it too.  Just stick with it.  Yes, you'll be tired.  Yes, it's hard.  Yes, you can do it.

Second, you have to not only decide it's a priority for you to do things for you.  You have to treat it like a commitment.  You don't sign your kids up for swimming lessons, pay the money and not commit to it, do you?  If you do, you're wasting your money!  Once you decide to make something a priority and commit to it.  Commit to it fully and do it.  Don't procrastinate.  Schedule a time for you, for your health, for your sanity, for you, you and you only.  Yep, you need a full hour.  Even if you do a 30 minute workout, you still need a shower!  So, don't press yourself for time.  Schedule it.

Third, keep doing it.  Workout, shower, have a glass of water and a deep breath.  Then congratulate yourself on a job well done and look forward to your one hour of your time for you and you only.

I refuse to pay a babysitter to work out.  You with me?  I fit it in.  Get up an hour early to go for a run, naptime,  my kid's favorite tv show, lunch when Daddy's home, while doing dishes and folding laundry, an evening workout class.  I get there.  I have faith you can find the time too if you just get creative with it.  Here's some other times I fit in a little mini-workout all day long:

• 25 crunches after changing a squirmy toddler's diaper (I'm already on the floor!)
• 50 calf raises while washing pans
• lunges while putting away dishes and laundry
• Jumping Jacks while waiting for something in the microwave
• Squats while folding laundry
• Stretch while blogging
• kid lifts - they love it!
• race the kids around the house
• take a walk with the stroller
• push-ups after bathtime - I let the kids crawl on me for added weight BONUS!
• Yoga Anywhere!

Focus on your nutrition.  You'll lose more weight and generally be healthier if you focus on correct nutrition.  Eat clean and clean the crap out of your house.  No chips, cookies, baked goods, processed foods.  What's left?  Clean eating. You'll never out exercise a diet of CRAP, so get with it and eat right.  I know it's easy to grab some cookies or chips in a hurry, but grapes and apples are just as quick and easy!  Take the Fridge Challenge and get a good start on healthy nutrition.