Becoming a mother is one of the most beautiful and natural things that a woman can do. Unfortunately pregnancy and childbirth can have quite an impact on the human body. Even worse, it’s hard to think about getting back in shape and keeping fit when you’ve got to take care of a baby and, in some cases, balance having a full time job as well. It seems almost impossible to stay in shape. With that in mind, here are some tips to help you balance motherhood and fitness.
Just Get Up and Do It!
Everyone has millions of excuses why they won’t be going to the gym on any given day; they have meetings; they’re exhausted after the baby kept them up all night; they’re too old and want to enjoy the rest of their lives and eat what they want when they want. You’ve got more important things to worry about than running a mile. Or thigh gap pics like this damage your motivation rather than fuel it.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong about any of that. What’s also true though, is that feeling strong and being fit is one of the very best feelings there is. No one regrets going for a quick run during their lunch break. Your children aren’t going to suffer if you hire a babysitter for an hour, and you aren’t about to die from waking up an hour early, even if you’re already exhausted. Actually, waking up an hour early and doing some exercise makes you more alert and awake! Just get up and do something. Tell yourself you can stop after ten minutes if you really want to.
Make a Lifestyle Out of your Diet
There are a lot of diets out there but the only diet that really works is one that doesn’t leave you feeling hungry. One good diet is the Paleo diet because it doesn’t have an emphasis on portion control or monitoring food, as it’s all about eating whole unprocessed foods. The food allowed in the diet is as hearty as it is delicious. What matters is that you eat a diet that leaves you lean and energetic ready to handle kids.
Make Records
One of the most gratifying things in life is gaining efficiency and strength in your body as you get older. Magazines and TV tend to spread the message that people need to take things easy as they get older. Make records of your movements. This shows you that it is possible to get better, faster, and stronger as you age. Compare your times for big events and make note of your achievements and growth.
Accept There’s No Point in Feeling Guilty
When you miss one of your workouts or eat something that you shouldn’t, just pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get right back on the horse tomorrow. You also shouldn’t let yourself feel guilty about enjoying the time you spend on a business trip. What matters is that you don’t be so overcome with grief that you stop living in the now.
Accept You Can Still Live a Life
The internet and magazines have mothers believe they are lesser because they take time to themselves or don’t breastfeed their kids. Women just can’t help themselves from judging the choices of other women. The reality is that you can still have a career and a life of your own when you have kids, and that includes keeping yourself in shape.
Do you have any tips for balancing motherhood and fitness?
*This is a collaborative post
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I have not reached that stage in my life yet but I know I can implement some of these tips into my current life.
I like to involve my daughter – even if she’s the weight!
I need to get back in to my fitness schedule. We recently moved house and everything got out of whack.
Working as a registered child minder, as well as being a mum myself kept me fit, I always said that I would never get bingo wings, but unfortunately I’ll health forced me to give up my career and I now have the dreaded wings!
As a work from home mum, I have to remember to stay fit. I do this by making out time for fitness.
Realistically I’ve no tips to add. Then again I’ve never been big on fitness, not since my teenage years. Although running after a 3 year old boy and lifting him should be classed as a form of exercise!
For me it is just about getting up and doing it! Some days, I am super good and others I just don’t feel like it. But I walk a lot with Baba to get some fresh air so I am not that terrible!
Great post that will definitely come in handy soon as recently I have learned that my wife is pregnant! Will follow this blog, because my life is about to change!
Keeping your body fitness to the mark is a challenging task post-pregnancy. But with strong will power it is achievable.