When you’re a stay-at-home mom, your entire day revolves around your kids and taking care of the household. It’s a whirlwind experience that can be simultaneously rewarding and exhausting. Although your focus is on your children, it’s still important to take care of yourself—even when your schedule is packed.
Stay hydrated.
Moms are often so busy that they forget to drink enough water throughout the day. This can make you feel tired and sluggish. You might even misinterpret thirst signals as hunger signals, which can lead to weight gain. Get in the habit of carrying a reusable water bottle with you everywhere. You can use an insulated thermos to keep water cool in the car on hot days.
Prioritize sleep.
Getting enough sleep is one of the toughest health habits for moms, especially when the kids are too little to sleep through the night. But it really is critical for your health in general and your waistline in particular. If you don’t get enough sleep, you’ll experience hormonal imbalances that lead to excess hunger and weight gain. Try to carve out more time for sleeping whenever possible, even if that means you hit the hay when the kids go down for a nap.
Try not to be a short order cook.
Short order cooks are skilled at preparing many different, easy meals at once. This is an important skill for a restaurant worker, but it shouldn’t describe your kitchen at home. It can definitely be tough to eat healthy meals when the kids are picky eaters. Just remember that it takes frequent exposure to new foods before a picky eater will try them, so don’t give up hope. It may be helpful to have your children do age-appropriate tasks to prepare the family meal alongside you. They’ll feel a sense of ownership in the final product, and may be more likely to eat it—even if it includes the much-maligned broccoli.
If you need a little help getting back to your pre-pregnancy weight, get in touch with the team at WildBerryMD. Our customized weight loss programs can fit into anyone’s lifestyle. Stay-at-home moms and dads in Vail, Rita Ranch, Tucson, Sierra Vista, and beyond are welcome to get in touch with us at (520) 762-1557.