Parenthood can be hard on the body. Not only do you get very little sleep in the first few months (and perhaps even years), but the endless amount of daily responsibilities you have to keep up with, the sometimes-stress that comes with raising a brand new human, and the self-sacrifice that comes from not being the most important person in your life anymore can have a real impact.
These are outcomes most parents accept. We know that parenthood is hard and we might not have three hours of free time a night, or that we might not have time to head to the gym as we used to. But if you’re not careful, it’s easy for bad habits to get the better of us. No one will judge you for eating when you can and perhaps not making the healthiest choices, but unfortunately, these can add up as we get older and lead to weight gain, lethargy, and even further discomfort.
So, perhaps the question isn’t “how are you supposed to lose weight with children to care for?!” but instead “what micro-efforts are sustainable for my health right now?”
In this post, we intend to help answer that:
Consider Online Help
You might not be able to join a gym or head to classes, but you may find some helpful guides online, such as quick workout videos or simple meal ideas that might save you precious time when you’re juggling a million things. Parents who’ve been there before often share their real-world tips online too, and you can see some of those on this-here website!
Moreover, if you need connection, online communities can offer support when you’re feeling overwhelmed or need a boost of motivation after a tough day. The use of online weight loss clinic assistance has exploded for that very reason.
Just remember that someone else out there understands exactly what you’re going through and might have figured out a solution you haven’t thought of yet for specific issues that feel frustrating or insurmountable. It’s not a bad idea to use them.
Use Home Workouts
Your living room might become your new gym when you have a spare five minutes and that’s totally fine. Playing with your kids counts as movement too of course, so don’t think you have to be doing an official workout or you’re just not being active, as dancing around the kitchen while making dinner does count.
Some parents find success with very short but consistent workout sessions, such as five minutes here and there throughout the day, perhaps with isometric exercises, can make a difference to how you feel physically and mentally.
Curate Your Shopping List
Grocery shopping with focus might save your health and your wallet, because if you don’t have junk food in the house, you’re unlikely to eat it.
You could stock up on foods that work as both adult meals and kid-friendly options, such as fruits, yogurt, nuts, hummus, or hard-boiled eggs work well as quick snacks that give you actual energy instead of a sugar crash later, and could be a nice addition compared to potato chips.
Shopping once a week rather than making multiple trips might help you stick to your list and avoid impulse purchasing too. Now, you don’t need to make your household cupboards look like you’re training for an international bodybuilding competition, and having some treats for the kids isn’t a bad thing. But what you put in is what you get out, and so curating a healthier list is a good idea.
Use Meal Prep & Planning
Sunday afternoon meal prep can help you remove some stress (as cooking often allows us to), and perhaps save time through the week. That’s because spending an hour or two preparing basics for the week ahead can let you freeze multiple meals you can prepare easily later on, maybe saving you a huge number of hours later.. Even washing and cutting vegetables or cooking a batch of protein saves valuable time later.
Slow cookers and pressure cookers are fantastic for this, as you could toss ingredients in during a morning lull and have dinner ready with minimal effort later. You can also apply this with the caloric intake you need so you always know the portions are right and the routine is set.
Try Small Routine Structures
Have a routine, as it helps you with momentum and allows you to avoid trying to reinvent your experience each day. We usually suggest that mornings work better for movement, and evenings offer a moment of calm for self-care.
This way, you’ll feel more focused and attentive and not like the burden of weight loss is tearing energies away from you.
With this advice, you’ll be certain to lose weight healthily, even with children to care for!
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