Busy Mom: Tips for a Balanced, Healthy Lifestyle

Being a busy mom doesn’t mean you’re too busy to workout and eat right. Regular exercise and healthy eating habits are investments not only in your own health but also in the health of your family. These tips can help you get on track to a better lifestyle.

1. Make Health a Priority

With all the things vying for your attention every day, you might be wondering how in the world you’re going to add exercise to the mix. The answer is to prioritize. Make working out number one on your list every day.

Pick a set time when you set aside everything else and focus on fitness, and plan all other activities to accommodate that time. It won’t be long before daily exercise becomes a habit.

2. Rethink the Gym

Trying to get to the gym every day isn’t realistic when you’re already shuttling the kids around to multiple activities.

Cut out the extra commute time by working out at home. There are plenty of free exercise videos available on YouTube, and workout DVDs can be purchased inexpensively on Amazon or at local department stores. Dumbbells, kettlebells, medicine balls and other workout equipment is easy to find and relatively inexpensive.

In some cases, you don’t even need any fancy equipment. Look for body weight high-intensity interval training (HIIT) routines that work up a sweat in under half an hour when you don’t have time for a longer workout. A simple set of fitness bands can help you get in a workout anytime, anywhere.

Vanna Belt working out with fitness bands at the beach.

3. Cook at Home – A Lot

Waiting until the last minute to think about dinner inevitably leads to poor food choices. Instead of getting takeout yet again as you rush from place to place, find time during the week or over the weekend to cook big batches of healthy food such as vegan soup, stew and chili.

Freeze these meals in individual or family-sized portions, and you’ll have quick dinners to serve throughout the week. Include nourishing snacks like trail mix or veggies with hummus in your food prep sessions so that they’re ready to “grab and go” whenever you need them.

And try on the go helpers like Procharge for a quick protein boost!

4. Include the Kids

Healthy, fit parents set good examples for their kids, and it’s never too early to start instilling beneficial habits. Start when the kids are born with “mommy and me” classes or exercises you can do at home with your baby. As the kids get older, take them to the park, to the playground and out on walks.

Enjoy activities such as backyard baseball or biking together as a family. When you’re making meals, get kids into the kitchen with you and have them help put the food together. Kids who stay active and start out eating well are more likely to make healthy choices later in life.

It doesn’t take a radical lifestyle change to fit exercise and balanced meals into your busy schedule. Adopting these simple habits will help you feel healthier, get stronger and be better able to juggle the responsibilities of being a dedicated mom.

This post was written by Vanna Belt whose mission is to help women feel more confident, healthy and fit. Learn more at www.vannabelt.com and her range of products from workout clothes to Gel-V.