Something you often hear from moms when it comes to fitness is that they don’t have the time. Of course it can be tough to fit fitness into a daily routine, especially when you’re not used to it. It’s hard for people who don’t have kids, let alone those who do! However, making the commitment to make the time, rather than trying to find the time and failing is the best thing you can do. It might sound harsh, but many of the excuses that people come out with, even if they have kids, are lazy or “I can’t” excuses. There’s a saying: ‘it’s not a priority for me’ instead and see how that feels.
Now, if you really want to make fitness a part of your lifestyle, here are some suggestions:
Get Up An Hour Earlier Than Everybody Else
Getting up an hour earlier than everybody else might seem impossible, and obviously, if you’re already sleep deprived you shouldn’t do it. However, forcing yourself to get up an hour earlier when it’s sensible to do so could mean having the time to do a few circuits, go to a class, or do a quick run before the rest of the household gets up. The great thing about doing it as soon as you get up is that it’s out of the way then, and you feel great for the rest of the day. You should notice a huge difference in how you feel for the rest of the day once you’ve exercised, as you’ll get the blood pumping and endorphins flowing like never before! Remember, people with very busy lives and busy jobs sometimes get up at 5.30am or earlier just to get everything done. It is possible, you just have to want it. Starting the day before everybody else starts the day can feel like you have a great headstart, too.
The best part is, you don’t have to do this every single day. Some people find that it helps their mental health, so they actually want to do it every day, or at least do some light yoga and stretching. Incorporating something for half an hour to an hour around 3 times a week can be a great way to start getting fitter!
Walk More
Ok, so let’s say you really can’t work out that much for whatever reason. Here’s what you do. Buy a fitness or step tracker, even a cheap one, and track your steps. Aim for a minimum of 8000 and then work your way up to 10,000. The more you walk, the better. Walking is one of the most low impact exercises you can do. It’s also very enjoyable if you listen to a great playlist, a great podcast, or even use your time to meditate.
Do Workouts At Home
You don’t have to leave the house to work out. Purchase a few pieces of equipment and go to town! Buy some bands and some kettlebells and create your own little circuit. Looking at sites like Momsintofitness.com you can even stream workouts and copy them. Just set a timer and do it and you can relax for the rest of the day.
Get Active With A Friend
It can sometimes be easier to work out with a friend, but it can also be harder if that friend isn’t as committed to living a healthy lifestyle as you are. Find a friend who wants to start walking with you, or if they’d like to join you in the gym. You don’t have to be with them every time you work out – in fact, it’ll be good to build confidence by yourself, too. Just be aware that sometimes friends who workout together are more likely to stick to it and will get better results!
Make Sure Your Diet Supports Your Activity Levels
There’s no point in incorporating more steps into your daily life and fitting in a workout, if you’re not going to eat to support it, either. You don’t have to live off salads or even live off vegetables; but you should make sure that your diet supports your activity levels. It should incorporate plenty of vegetables, healthy protein, fats, and carbs. It should be balanced, and you should eat things you enjoy in moderation. You really don’t want to get involved in any fads or do anything extreme, as these things don’t last!
Find A Type Of Exercise That You Actually Like
The reason you might not be prioritizing exercise right now is because you haven’t found something you actually like. You might need to try a few different kinds of exercise before finding your style. This is the case with lots of different people. They say they don’t like exercise when really they just haven’t found the right kind for them.
Have Great Reasons For Wanting To Do It
The reason most people start to exercise is because they want to look good. There’s nothing wrong with looking good, sure, but you should have even better reasons for wanting to do it, too. This could be living longer, fighting off diseases and illnesses, improving mental health, and setting a good example for your kids. If you have lots of reasons to stay fit, you’re more likely to stick to it. Doing it because you want to look good is a pretty weak reason. This won’t make you want to stick to it for very long. This is one of the main reasons most people give up before they’ve reached their goals!
Incorporating fitness into your lifestyle is mostly down to one thing: priorities. The people who have abs and fit bodies, workout 5 times a week. They aren’t often very different to you. Most people have jobs, kids, and other distractions. The difference is, they want it enough to go out and get it! Are you going to make it a priority?
