When I first found out I was pregnant around two years ago, my entire mindset changed. Before pregnancy, I was in pretty good shape and exercised often. I ate well and was generally healthy in all aspects of life. I tried to keep that same lifestyle going but as any seasoned mother knows, pregnancy eventually gets rough. Now here I am 16 months postpartum and ready to get back to my old self again.
I know I’m not alone in this situation, I mean you’re reading this with me right now. With that said, I want to help you get through your situation by giving you some tips and tricks that have been super helpful in my journey back to health so far.
Burn Those Calories!
One of my favorite ways to make sure I get my daily exercise in is to head over to the metropark by my house with my daughter and jog a few of the trails.
If jogging or walking isn’t your thing, there are plenty of things you can do at home to help keep those extra calories off.
As a parent, I can totally get how difficult it can be to get your workout in especially if you’re little one is a rambunctious toddler. Try not to beat yourself up too much if you miss a few days of your plan. None of us are perfect and nobody should expect us to be!
Make Healthier Dietary Decisions
This one has been the hardest part for me to follow since starting my health journey.
As much as I want to be that mom who eats vegan or other healthy diet regimens, there are just some foods that I can’t give up. Chances are you probably feel the same way, so I’m here to tell you that it’s okay if you want to eat that pizza or chow down on some chow mein.
You don’t need to be vigilant about counting calories, but practicing portion control and trying to make healthier decisions will go a long way.
Make Space for “You Time!”
Not only is maintaining good physical health important, but making sure your mental and emotional health are balanced as well is the only way to ensure you are 100% healthy. As parents and more specifically mothers, we often forget to think about ourselves.
This is something I struggled with a lot when I first entered motherhood. Heck, sometimes I still struggle with this. I never want to ask for help because I’m afraid people won’t think I’m a good mother. I hate that this is the mindset I, and many other women, have. Thanks to the Mommy Wars, I am always super careful how I present myself to others.
I know I’m not alone, so I’m here to tell you not to worry about what others think of you. I know it’s way easier said than done, but you are useless as a parent if you become so burnt out that you can’t function. I speak solely out of the experience. I’ve been there and it sucks, so bite the bullet and take some time for yourself, mama!
Try Not to Put Too Much Pressure on Yourself During Your Journey.
Before I leave you, I have one last piece of advice. This one may be the most important of all that I’ve mentioned in this article. I’m certainly guilty of this and I know it’s something I need to work on as well, but putting too much pressure on yourself to be perfect will be nothing but counteractive.
If you spend all of your time focused on hitting your entire health plan to a tee, the stress alone will keep you from reaching any goal you set. For some, letting loose may be easy. However, if you’re anything like me, you don’t like change or when things are out of whack.
If you’re feeling like this is too much and you can’t stop stressing about your health plan, here is your sign to let go and breathe.
Jenn Morrison is a blogger for Mommy Stroller websites that provides reviews and help for moms with picking jogging strollers.
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Hello JennMorrison48,
Thank you for sharing these suggestions to help moms stay healthy.
Regards,
July 13, 2017 - 10:12amMaryann
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