Weplay Moms

As moms, we’re always on the go. Between sports, school, extra-curricular activities, managing the house and our social lives, it often seems as if there aren’t enough hours in the day. Unfortunately, it seems that one of the first things to get cut from our schedules is our fitness regimen. I’ve found that as my children get older, I have less and less time to hone my physical fitness, but I don’t let this hold me back!

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As a former Olympic® athlete, working out used to be my job and number one priority. Now that I’m a mom, things are a bit different. I’ve found a number of ways to stay in peak physical shape without sacrificing that precious time with my family. They help me out a whole lot, and I think they’ll work for you as well. Check them out!

Summer’s Tips:

• Eat Healthy, and Don’t Skip Breakfast: When dealing with a busy schedule, it becomes increasingly easy to eat junk food on to go. This doesn’t have to be the case! Try and eat a light and healthy breakfast of fruit or oatmeal before getting your day started. This will kick your metabolism into high gear and prime you for the rest of your day. Make a sandwich or salad for lunch, and try to make time to visit the grocery store and find some nutritious, wholesome foods for family dinner. This is the first step to getting you the power to get to soccer practice on time and still be a power mom!
• Get Enough Rest, Remove Stress: It’s a proven fact that sleep deprivation and stress can slow metabolism and have adverse effects on your health. I also know that sleep doesn’t exactly agree with a crying baby in the middle of the night. If you can, try and get to bed at a reasonable hour each night. Also, naps can be a big help if you’re up during the night. Furthermore, if you can have a family member or caregiver swing by the house and watch your child for a half hour or so, go for a relaxing walk and decompress. This can do wonders for your stress level.
• Choose Outdoor, Active Fun For You And Your Family: If you have some downtime to spend with your family, how do you spend it? Do you lie around and watch TV? Or do you go to the park and get some exercise? Get outside and play! If you have a young one who is still fit for a stroller, go for a long walk! This is a great way to get some exercise and fresh air while spending time with your child. Also, I LOVE getting my family involved in swimming, but I bet you could have guessed that already!
• Be Prepared For Seasonal Allergies: Seasonal allergies symptoms like runny nose and sneezing aren’t going anywhere, so it’s best to be prepared for them. I always like to have an antihistamine product on hand for when allergy symptoms pop up. It really helps!
• You Can Work Out In Your Living Room: Let’s say you have a half hour to get some exercise in. That just isn’t enough time to get to the gym. However, there are a ton of great exercises that you can do right in your living room, with or without the help of a DVD. Exercises like Pilates, Yoga, light weight training or even a run on a treadmill can all be done within the confines of your home with the assistance of some home equipment. Don’t use time constraints as an excuse not to be healthy!

So there you have it, just because you’re a busy mom doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be on top of your health game. I hope these tips really help you out.

Have a great day!

-Summer