Katerina Tiapula
Being a Mum is a wonderful, but very busy time and it can be very hard to find the time to take care of your health.
Aside from being busy, your confidence is not at a peak just now after stretching your body many different ways and the desire to don the ole bike shorts and work out top may not be the most appealing feat. You are definitely not alone!
Unfortunately, this is self perpetuating. The stronger you feel the more you can complete. The less tired you are the more effective you will be. Your performance and abilities are being limited by poor health. You will be more productive, feel much less fatigue, manage the stress of caring for a child and feel much more control over your life when you are fit.
So put off those excuses and fit some fitness in today.
Fitness Isn’t Just About Exercise
You have a body to keep running. You need to be internally healthy, you have emotions to deal with and intellectual stimulation needed as well. Fitness is about loving your body, your strengths, and your abilities. Fitness is also about laughing and loving life.
How To Get Fit
If you find that you are afraid to see your reflection in the mirror, if you look at a beautiful dress in your current size and grimace, if you are tired after breakfast in the morning or if you just aren’t laughing enough these days… you may need to:
(1) Eat better.
Really start keeping track of what you eat so that you know that you are getting a proper diet of proteins, carbohydrates, vegetables and fruit. Do not deprive your body of valuable nutrition; you need it most now.
(2) Realise that fitness and thinness are not related.
There are plenty of unfit people of all sizes. Don’t be fooled.
(3) Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day.
Try to keep it around 10 for nursing mums.
(4) Take vitamins.
Those postnatal & women’s vitamins are great. Take them daily.
(5) Sleep as much and as often as you can.
Your body cannot function, stay healthy and build strength if it has not had adequate sleep. 8 hours is good. Sleep is vital to your body. If you are nursing you need more rest. If you simply cannot sleep 8 straight hours due to those feeding times. Take naps as often as you can.
(6) Read a good book.
(7) Go to an art exhibition.
(8) Learn something new daily.
(9) Start a new outdoor activity.
Try rollerblading, kite flying, cycling etc
Keeping fit inside and out will help you to manage the changes that your body and life are going through. Those changes don’t just happen the few months after birth. Now that you have a child your life will change as your child grows. Each big growth step for your child is a change for the parent.
Fitness and Exercise Tips for Mums
Arwan Lumbri, a Fitness Specialist and Club Manager from ACS Wellness Club, offers this advice to Mums:
Your health and exercise is often a neglected area of your lifestyle to juggle in your daily schedule, especially when you are a mother, a wife and a messenger. Fitting in that 30-minute session at the gym seems to be the last thing on your mind.
Here are some handy tips to make sure you get something out of your day:
(1) Make it a family activity.
Walking with your family gives you quality time together and also ensures you all get some exercise.
(2) Too busy for fitness?
Try to arrange complimentary schedules with your husband so that you both get time to workout and spend time with the children.
(3) Mutual encouragement and motivation.
Encourage and motivate each other to be active & get fit! , eat well, think positive and be happy. “You’ve got to move it to loose it”.