Fitness for mom
Think about what you actually want to achieve now, and give yourself a realistic action plan. This way, you can avoid the inevitable disappointment around March of seeing the monthly gym membership leave your bank account once again, without you having had time to go!
Research has shown us over the years that the best way to produce long-term changes in your health and fitness is to make relevant changes to your lifestyle. But don’t stop reading there! These are small changes but it is a long-term project; some of the changes you put in place this New Year need to still be part of your life next year and the year after that...
Follow my steps to changing your lifestyle and the whole family will be healthier for it!
Set a target
Nothing motivates more than having a goal to work towards. It could be a certain weight to attain, or even just down a dress size for a particular holiday or summer event.
Get walking!
Remember, small changes help make you healthier, and walking is a great way to get more exercise and expend more energy. Walk wherever you can, park a little farther from the shops and take the stairs whenever possible. Making a little extra space in your schedule for a 20- to 30-minute walk at least three times a week will leave you stronger to cope with the physical and mental challenges of being a mom!
Work out!
Schedule some time with a friend — if there’s a group of you, take it in turns to look after the kids — and instead of meeting for a coffee, get together and do a workout DVD at home. Find one that’s spilt into sections, so you can easily do just 5 or 10 minutes. Or carry on for half an hour if you want.
Take the kids swimming
While you’re looking after them, jog in place in the water for 15 minutes — you will really feel the workout!
Use an online virtual personal trainer
If motivation is your biggest stumbling block, this is a cost- and time-effective way to stay stimulated and give you ideas on how to exercise. If there’s a group of you, see if you can join together. (There’s nothing like a bit of peer pressure!)
Put on some music and dance
It’s fun and can burn lots of calories, plus your kids will love it too!
Invest in a few weights
Keep them handy at home so you can schedule a quick workout, even if it’s just 15 minutes a day when the kids are asleep or at school. If you can’t afford to buy weights, have a look in the cupboard. A couple of tins or bags of rice will have the same affect as commercial gym weights.
Join a stroller club
Get motivated with other moms, form a group and go jogging at a regular time each week. Start slow — mix equal amounts of running with walking for the first few months. If it’s tricky to get this off the ground, enlist the help of a trainer to get you started.
Find extra time
While watching TV, standing at the stove or waiting for the washing to finish, do some leg exercises, stomach crunches and pelvic floor exercises.
Make a date!
Schedule workout time in your diary and don’t cancel it for anything! Many people find that writing it down makes it harder to back out when the time arrives. Workout diaries can also be satisfying as a personal record of progress. In a couple of months you can look back and see how much your fitness has improved!
Reward yourself!
Take your measurements and weight before you start and check them every six weeks. Reward yourself with a massage, facial or manicure when you lose some inches!