Fitness

5 Fitness Tips For Busy Moms

October 13, 2014  |  By: Whitney E. RD

Good morning and Happy Monday friends!

I hope your week is off to an amazing start. This week is already incredibly busy for me with two exams in the next two days in my not so easy classes — Microbiology and Physiology. So instead of eeking out some half baked post for you today, I’ve recruited the help of my lovely friend Natalie.

Natalie writes the entertaining and inspiring blog Hello Day, where she shares her advice for living life to the fullest. As a wife and working mother of two, she knows a lot about cultivating balance, so today she has written a post for us about how to fit in fitness when you’re super busy.

This is specifically targeted to moms, but I think the advice can really apply to anyone. I certainly intend to employ it this week as I struggle to balance my hectic schedule.

Fitness and Motherhood

By: Natalie Bodenhamer of Hello Day for To Live and Diet in LA

Regardless your walk of life, fitness is an asset. While most of us agree, many of us struggle to make it a priority. Life’s roadblocks tend to get in the way, right? I have two roadblocks of my own – one is two and the other is three. My kids. There are days it seems their personal mission is to sabotage my fitness plans. It isn’t always easy to stay the course and make fit happen.

It’s important for me to remember the advantages (long and short-term) of being a fit mom, especially on the occasions that the effort seems to outweigh the reward. Fitness in my motherhood lends itself to energy, stamina, balance, resilience, perspective, joy, patience, excitement, and extra pep. It’s life giving. And while it may be a juggling act at times, it is always worth the investment.  

To those who strive for fitness in the midst of motherhood, I have the following encouragements:

1. Do what works. All mamas and families are different – the solution that works for one mom, may not work for another. Be willing to try a few approaches before settling on an arrangement that works for you. It could mean working out while a partner or babysitter watches your babe. Perhaps strapping your kiddo into the baby jogger and hitting the trail works for you. Maybe your little ones love the kid’s club at your local gym and can take regular group exercise classes. Be persistent and find a solution(s) that work for you and your kiddo(s).

2. Be flexible. As your kids grow, circumstances change and constrains shift. Be on the lookout for new opportunities for your fitness as time progresses. My oldest daughter just started preschool two days a week. The mornings that she has school, I get to go for a speedy run with my youngest daughter in the single jog stroller. The routine (and ease of pushing only one little body) have been a fun change in my regular workout routine.

3. Set realistic expectations. Before I had kids, I would never have considered a 2-mile walk a workout. Well, circumstances change and there are days that a 2-mile walk is all I can fit in. Regardless of the activity, duration and intensity, we should feel accomplished after completing a workout. Align your expectations with what is realistic and appropriate for both you and your kids. For instance, when I run with my double baby jogger, I do not focus on pace, but rather my form, the distance and my breath. Because, damn! Pushing a double baby jogger is tough work.
4. Maximize your time. Gone are the days of 2-hour workouts (for most of us Mamas). When we find time to sweat it out, we must make it worth the while. Focus on workouts that achieve your goal in minimal time. Most of my workouts last between 30 – 60 minutes, sometimes even less. So, I make sure that I am strategic about the type of exercise and intentional about giving it 100%. Because, I need to feel like I accomplished something worthwhile, even if it only lasted 30 minutes.

5. Be determined. Workouts don’t just happen – you make them happen. Set a goal, commit to a time, arrange childcare, etc. Do what you need to do in order to make your fitness happen. Celebrate your success and trust that your fitness is equipping you to be a better mom. 

6. Make it social. Free time is scarce, so turn your workouts into social sweat sessions. Meet up with a friend for a jog, bootcamp, yoga, zumba, etc. Having a workout buddy will likely motivate you and give you more than just the workout to look forward to.

The solutions will look different for everyone, however the encouragement is the same – know the value of fitness and be committed to making fit happen.

So, if you see a mama sweating on the trail, in the gym or at the park, root her on. Tell her she’s strong! Remind her she’s fast! Call her fierce! Because, her workout did not just happen – she made it happen. 

What say you, Fit Mama? How has fitness impacted you as a mom?

Photo Credit: Ryan Haack, Wolfcamp Studios

I’d like to give a big thanks to Natalie for taking the time to share her advice with us! For more from this fitsporational mama, check out her blog, Hello Day and follow her on Instagram @hellodayblog.