When I think super mom, I have a friend that comes to mind every time. One of my best friend’s Kate, is a mom of 3, and has this thing called motherhood figured out! Kate was an NPC bikini competitor and now is implementing the healthy practices she learned during that experience into her life as a mom. I am always asking her to reveal her latest workout tricks and healthy tips because let’s be honest, staying healthy with kids and everything life has to offer is a challenge! But let me tell you, Kate is up for the challenge and has mastered her healthy routines. Read below to learn about Kate’s 5 practices to prioritize health in 2022.
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Routine, Routine, Routine
Create a routine that works for the YOU! Whether you are a working mom, a stay at home mom, or a single professional, a routine is very important. As a mom of 3, I know that the second my kid’s feet hit the floor in the morning, it’s going to be chaos until those precious little feet are back in bed at night. For me, having a routine helps to keep our family organized insures that we can get everything done in a day that we need to. Don’t over think it, start small and make it simple. Wake up and get ready at the same time every day, plan your meals and snacks, schedule a nap time or quiet time for the kids, and make sure to carve out 20-60 minutes of time to work out. If you have a routine, it’s harder to find excuses not to workout and eat healthy.
Workouts May Vary Day to Day
When I say that I have done it all, I’ve literally…DONE…IT…ALL. From a cardio junkie in high school and college, to a nutrition deprived fitness competitor in my young professional life, and now a stay at home mom of three who has worked out at the gym, yoga studio, home and everywhere in between. I am definitely not a professional, so take my advice for what it is, but I have found prioritizing working out is what matters. If you prefer to do group fitness classes, ride the Peloton, weight train, do yoga or train for marathons, that perfectly fine. Find what works for you, and make it happen, in some fashion, every day. You can choose to do a lot of things in 30 minutes but this is important, your health should be a priority. Going for a hike, or walking your dog is also exercise. Take your kids along with you and include them in on the fun! Don’t use your kids as an excuse to skip a workout, they need it as much as you do. A prime example; I work out every day when our youngest (17 months) takes her nap and our older two (5 and 3) do an hour of quiet time. I usually get a solid 30 minute workout in before someone needs something, but what usually ends up happening is someone decides their nap or quite time isn’t in the cards for the day and I end up with one (or three) kids in my home gym. I choose not to quit, I give them a set of three pound weights, crank up the Trolls sound track and let them “workout” right along next to me. Yes, it slows me down and yes, it can be frustrating but I am still getting my workout in and they are having fun, moving and practicing healthy habits right along next to me.
What’s Your Motivation?
Find what motivates you to want to be healthy. My motivation has changed over the years but I continue to listen to what motivates me. Is it wanting to look and feel good in my jeans? Is it wanting to be able to run around outside with the kids? For me, it’s my kids and husband. They watch me, and they need me. They see me taking care of myself by eating healthy, working out and staying active, and let’s be honest, what our kids see is what they do. I never want to have to sit down when we are playing outside because “Mommy needs a break”. I don’t ever want my kids to look back on their childhood and think, “Our Mom just expected us to entertain ourselves”. I never want my husband’s eyes to lose that light when they see me walk into the room in a cute outfit. Those humans are my motivation, what is yours?
Cook the Good Stuff
Cook real food, you know, the food that God intended us to eat, fruits, vegetables and grains that come from the ground and things that come from animals; meats, eggs, fish, and dairy products. You do not have to slay over a Ree Drummod recipe all afternoon to make a super simple, healthy and nutritious meal for you and your family. Serve your kids what you and your husband are eating. Yes, we have battles over vegetables but we sit down to dinner every night as a family and we get through it together. Not only have the kids grown accustom to the fact that they eat what Mom and Dad eat but it also saves me time and energy not having to cook three different meals because someone doesn’t like something. The best way (that I have come up with), to ensure we are eating healthy is to plan ahead. Every Sunday, I sit down and make our menu for the week and write my grocery list based off of what we need for the week. I take one trip to the grocery store, because let’s be honest who has time, or wants to go grocery shopping, more than once a week? If you do not have a natural love for cooking or get bored with the same old same old, do some research and invest in some cook books by people who are like minded and cook the same way you like to. Two that I am currently obsessed with are “Just Feed Me”, by Jesse James Decker and “Magnolia Table” by Joanna Gains.
Click the links below to check out these cookbooks on Amazon.
Rest and Recharge
Last but not least, pray. It is as simple as it sounds. Through every season of my life there is one thing that has never changed, remained consistent and never waiverd, and that is Jesus. I find that no matter what side of the bed I wake up on, if I can start each morning with a quick chat with the Man above, it brings me peace and helps me start each day with a clear mind. I will be the first to admit that it is not always the easy choice to live a healthy life style. Sometimes it is way easier to skip a workout or grab a burger at a drive through, and sometimes that is okay, but don’t give in to those temptations all of the time. Take care of yourself and your family. If you feel weak, need guidance or are just flat out beat down, take a deep breath and pray. Jesus will never lead you astray, and he is always there. You are SO important and making your health a priority is crucial. Set yourself up to make yourself better in everything that you do. You only get one life to live, let’s do this!
Conclusion
I told ya, she is a rockstar! Kate truly lives up to these healthy practices everyday of her life. Her kick butt attitude and no excuses mindset has created a formula for success and health in her life. Kate’s consistency in all of these practices is admirable and her practices are achievable for all who wish for a healthy lifestyle. So give a few of these a try, and see how your life will be transformed!
Check out my blog post “Effortless Tips to Motivate Yourself to Workout”, to find the motivation to get started on a healthy lifestyle.
Let’s stop thinking about it and make our healthy lifestyle dreams a reality in 2022!
Xo,
Merr
Always inspirational!