Mama Mondays | Fitness for A Busy Mom

Mama Mondays | Fitness for A Busy Mom

My name is Dani and I am a wife to an amazing man, mommy to a very busy, fiery, red headed 18 month old little girl with another one on the way as well as a fitness/health enthusiast.  I studied Exercise Science and fitness in college while I played soccer, and when I graduated I went right to work in one of the top gyms in the country.  I have worked at Equinox, Newport Beach, for almost 8 years and have worked with every kind of client imaginable.  My favorite, however, are the pre and post natal, the mommies to be exact.  Probably because I myself am now a mommy.

Getting back into a fitness and healthy eating routine after baby doesn't have to seem like an unconquerable feat, it definitely is possible.  Honestly, its a lot easier than most people would make it sound.  Before I get started I need to express how important it is for you as a mom to get time for yourself.  It really is way too easy to get caught up the daily hustle and bustle of your kids and work and wifely duties to make time for yourself, but a happy healthy mom and wife makes for a happy and healthy home and family.  Also, remember there are tiny little eyeballs watching your every move, and if your littles are anything like my little Lilley they are copying everything you do too.  And what a fantastic thing for them to emulate, your love for a healthy lifestyle!  So here it is, my 5 tips for getting back into a healthy routine after baby...  

1. Make a schedule. Schedules work for babe, right?  So why aren't you on one too?  Now creating a schedule for yourself doesn't mean it has to be set in stone, make it flexible, make it work for your day to day.  I have seen it so many times... A new mom comes to me ready to get in shape after baby and says "I'm going to make it into the gym everyday this week!"  Don't get me wrong,  the enthusiasm is fantastic but the reality is that I would not be a good trainer if I didn't help set my clients up for success right off the bat.  How many days, realistically, can you make time to get to the gym, or barre class, or go for a run/walk outside?  Thats where you should start.  The only reason I say that is because the first day that is missed you more than likely will be disappointed in yourself and tell yourself you've failed.  I never want my clients to feel like they have failed.  When those few days have become easy, then start thinking about adding an extra day or two.

2.  Take it outside.  Yes!!  Taking the workout outside is not only healthy for you its stimulating for your little one.  Now, you don't have to get all "bootcamp crazy" in order to have a nice sweaty workout sesh outside, you can just grab some music and take a walk, you will be amazed at how motivating and refreshing it can be to just be outside.

3. Eating healthy is a MAJOR part.  I'm sure most of you ladies follow at least 2 or 3, or 4 or 5 (maybe more) people on Instagram or Twitter or FaceBook as a fitness inspiration.  Yes??  I do!  And between their multiple posts of ab selfies, squat videos, and healthy restaurant meals are their "weekly food prep" pictures.  And then they preach that if you don't weekly food prep you are setting yourself up for failure.  The truth is, you don't need to weekly food prep in order to be successful but you do need to have the healthy food and snacks already stocked at home.  When you do your weekly grocery store run, make sure you are armed with a list full of healthy and easy snack options like fresh fruit, veggies and nuts as well as lean protein and complex carbohydrates.  I love greek yogurt for a quick and easy breakfast or lunch, I also use it in smoothies!  I also buy cans of tuna that I will either throw on a bed of greens for a quick salad or mix with some mustard and avocado for a healthier version of tuna salad.  Nitrate free deli meat and some low fat cheese is an easy grab for a quick sandwich or wrap.  Those are just a couple easy peasy meal ideas that don't necessarily need to be prepped ahead of time.  I also try to have and idea what we are going to be making for dinner most nights of the week, if its something like chicken I will prepare extra to have during the week as well.  Not everything has to be prepped out a week in advance.

4.  YouTube and Pinterest your workouts!  You heard it hear, from the trainer, to watch workout videos.  Just do me a favor, and don't tell my colleagues I said that.  I happen to think there can be some great quick and easy workouts for all fitness levels.  And they so easily accessible!  If it happens to be a day that you have scheduled to workout but its looking like the gym might as well be on the moon, bust out the laptop and get down to business at home!  They can be as short or as long as you'd like.  Don't worry about the fact that it might not be as intense as it would have been if you were at the gym because, hey, you still did more than you would have if you skipped the workout all together right??  And you did something equally good for your self esteem, you kept a promise to yourself.  So dust off those old workout DVDs or, ahem, tapes and hit the 'search' button on some new YouTube channels and get to work!

5.  Get your family involved.  The family that lives a healthy lifestyle together stays happy and healthy together!  Ok, so maybe that sounds a little cheesy, but its so true!  Go to the park together and play baseball or soccer.  Have a weekly cooking night together.  Go for a family hike.  Take an exercise class together.  Whatever it is, do it together, as a family.  You can start early on, because the quicker you make it your natural routine the easier it is to maintain it, and as your kiddos grow it will always be a part of their routine.  What a great way to enjoy each other but create healthy habits as well!  
-Dani

XOXO