Healthy Living Tips For Busy Moms

Alright busy mama’s this post is entirely for you!  I see you and hear you because I am you.  This topic is so close to me because I can feel the frustration when I talk to other moms about making time for their health.  We are in a time of our lives where we are responsible for so much more than just ourselves but we can’t forget ourselves in the process!  In this post I am going to give you my secrets to making healthy choices even when I’m busy. 

These are things I do often in my life in order to keep moving forward on this healthy lifestyle.  I know it isn’t always easy and listen, sometimes things just don’t workout as planned.  I’ve gone a week with having to skip my workouts and I’m sure it won’t be the last one.  The biggest thing I can stress to you is that no matter what, you have to choose to show back up again.  If you can do that, you will succeed!  

I love having this little community because I know I can get real with all of you so get ready for some great advice and some tough love!  

#01 Healthy Snacks

When I talk to moms about their diet the first question I ask is how does their family eat.  It usually throws people off guard because they came to me about themselves, not their family but it matters.  Our goal is to start leading a healthier lifestyle and that goes for your kids also.  If you are constantly buying chips and cookies because that is what your kids are eating then eventually you are going to start snacking on them also.  Come on, you know I’m right!

That’s not to say you shouldn’t buy those items for your family.  Sometimes you just need to make small changes on how you buy them.  Maybe instead of buying packages of oreos you buy individually packaged oreos.  That way when you go into the pantry you can’t just grab one here and there, you will actually have to open a package to eat a few.  Adding those little extra steps helps our impulse control.

My absolute favorite snacking tip is to leave out cut up fruit and vegetables on a platter on your counter or table.  It’s a great way to make sure it all gets eaten but also that you and your family are making healthy snack choices!  Convenience is key with snacking so if you make it ready and available you are more likely to eat it! 

#02 Find A Way To Move More

Moving more doesn’t have to mean more intense workouts, it just means you need to move your body more than you currently are now.  Before I started working out at home I went to a crossfit gym and there were many nights where I just didn’t have time to make it there so the result would be to not workout at all.  That wasn’t really the right answer though was it?  I could have just done a workout at home or gone for a run or a walk.

When you’re busy you are going to have to start being creative with your time.  Between my work schedule, meetings, my husband’s work schedule, and my kids after school activities I have become very creative with my time.  It wasn’t out of me wanting to do this, it was out of need.  I knew if I wanted to have this lifestyle bad enough I was going to have to find ways to make it work.   

So how can you be creative?  I’ve switched my workouts to at home workouts full time instead of the gym.  There have been times I’ve done a workout on the sidelines of my kids practices or in the parking lot while waiting to pick them up from an activity.  You can get up before they do or workout once you put them to bed.  Sometimes if you are really struggling for time you can go for a walk during your lunch!  

#03 Meal Prepping

I am a big believer in meal prepping and planning, especially for busy moms.  Having my lunches prepared for the week saves me so much time each night.  It also helps me to get rid of the excuses.  I ditched the “well I didn’t have the time” mentality which helps me avoid ordering lunch at work or driving somewhere to grab something.  Usually when that happens I don’t make the best decisions so getting rid of that option helped tremendously! 

If meal prepping isn’t your thing then just planning your meals can help you make better choices.  Planning your meals is just thinking ahead to what you will eat/cook for the week.  You can do this with all of your meals or just some.  I find having that plan ahead of time lets me come home from work ready for my afternoon.  I know exactly what I need to get done and it helps me be consistent and successful!

So, these are my secrets to living a healthier lifestyle while being a busy mom.  I know they aren’t always easy and sometimes I slip up also!  The best thing you can do is make a plan, set some goals, and show up!  This means showing up even after you slipped up.  We aren’t failing when we go off, we just hit a minor roadblock. Get back started right away, you got this!

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