Getting in shape

A fitness guide for Busy Moms

 

Fitness and healthy living are not areas I excel in. I used to be really good about exercising but those days are long behind me. Even when I was working ridiculous hours, I was still able to get to the gym but following kids, exercise and fitness has fallen by the wayside. Healthy eating on the other hand is something I have always been awful at. 

Since kids, I have just not had the time to focus on these things. Or maybe that’s a poor excuse, maybe it’s just low down on my priority list.

I am quite keen to get into shape but with so many areas to that, I have no idea where to start or what to do. Vanessa, a mom of two herself somehow has it worked out. Along with healthy eating and an organic lifestyle Vanessa enjoys fitness. She is the perfect person to help me get my head around getting healthy and fitter in a way that is possible as a busy mom. I thought it would be good for me to share her ideas so she’s put together a guide for us, especially aimed at those moms who are daunted by the thought of the approaching summer. 

Thank you very much Vanessa! 

Summer Shape: A Short Guide for Busy Moms

 

The year just started.

 

For those in the Northern Hemisphere it’s still cold outside. For us in the Southern Hemisphere the warmer months are passing. So who really cares about the summer – right?

 

Well, consider this – in just a short few months, you lucky Northern Hemisphere locals will be probably hitting the beach and wearing a bathing suit. And while you certainly don’t need some ridiculously “perfect beach body” to enjoy your holiday, if you’re not in shape, you’ll feel just a little too self-conscious to fully enjoy yourself.

 

And let’s face it – everyone has a bit of extra weight after the New Year.

Firstly, what are Your Fitness Goals?

 

Around 66% of people in the United States who make New Year resolutions set certain fitness goals as part of their resolutions. But just how many stick with their resolutions?

 

Well, according to a study conducted by Harris Interactive from a few years ago, roughly 73% of people give up on them before they meet their fitness goals.

 

Image Source: http://www.bodybuilding.com

 

This means that simply setting a resolution won’t guarantee success. However, it doesn’t mean that you should give up. When it’s all said and done – it’s all up to you. No matter how good our advices are, you cannot get in shape if don’t do nothing about it.

 

And no matter if you’re aiming to shed a few pounds or you simply want to get fit for the beach, there are certain things you can do to get ready for your upcoming summer vacation.

 

 All you need are a few simply changes to your lifestyle in order to slim down and tone your muscles up.

 

How to Get In Shape

 1. Watch Your Portions

 

First things first – you have to stop consuming as many calories as you currently do if you want things to change. But don’t bother counting them or weighting your food. Just start reducing your serving sizes a bit.

 

If you don’t have enough time to buy groceries and come up with new, healthy recipes, consider using a meal delivery service lthat delivers a precise number of groceries along with recipes you need to cook with.

 

2. Create a Home Gym

 

Don’t panic, I’m not talking about a massive gym. You don’t need a couple of thousands of dollars to create a good little home gym.

 

All you need are 2 or 3 pieces of equipment, a foam roller and a couple of dumbbells. Those are the basics you need to get into shape. You can even buy used pieces of equipment on Craigslist or just go down to your local gym see if they have any pieces you can buy on discount.

 

You definitely do need to buy a comfortable pair of sneakers too.

 

 

3. Get Rid of Sugary Drinks

 

If you’re drinking a few cans of soda or a couple of bottle of vitamin water on a daily basis, you need to stop. Stop this now. While it may not be as easy as most people think, you need to lower your sugar intake, so you have to be tough.

 

Focus on drinking more water, the Mayo Clinic recommends at least eight 8-ounce glasses. Even coffee is fine, regular coffee, just make sure to drink it without any sugar.

 

4. Start Leaving Little Notes

 

This may sound a little weird – but hear us out.

 

Let’s say you’re often heading to your fridge for a quick 2 AM snack. In that case, just stick a little post-it note on the door of your fridge to remind you about your goals. And it doesn’t really matter what you’re going to write on it. You could just be a little “NO” or you could write down some inspirational message – it just needs to help you stick to your diet plan.

 

5. Get Some Healthy Snacks

 

If you really enjoy snacking, you really don’t have to change yourself just because you want to lose a few pounds.

 

You just need to start making smarter choices when it comes to snacks. Healthy snacks such as cheese stick, baked sweet potatoes and whole grains will help you satisfy your munchies and provide the energy you need for a quick workout.

Final Thoughts

 

The key is to start as soon as you can, and just keep in mind that you won’t get rid of those extra pounds in just a few weeks – it will take some time.

 

Finally, you don’t even have start working out two hours per day in order to get fit. Little changes, like those set out above will make a difference.

 

Do you have any additional advice? If you feel like we missed out on something or you feel you can provide some guidance to all of those moms out there, leave a comment and tell us all about it bellow.

♦

 

The gorgeous Vanessa Davis is a 32-year-old fitness enthusiast, mother of two and content writer at www.diet.st. She’s originally from Long Island, New York.

When she isn’t cooking up some new health and fitness article, she enjoys doing yoga and figuring out new, delicious organic-based recipes for herself and her kids.