Life
/ November 2016

3 Ways To Up Your Health Game For Moms On The Go

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MyWayToVeg #CollectiveBias

Before becoming a mom it was pretty easy for me to set reasonable goals for the day and accomplish them. Now life is way more unpredictable and my schedule is super sensitive. Yesterday, for example, I had a list of things to do during the three hour window when Zoey & Zander both nap, but ended up accomplishing nothing.

Zander always takes his nap. But yesterday he got an upset stomach… I tried everything I could to settle him. In the end I burnt all three hours (and more) trying to comfort him with little to no success. Once something like that happens there is almost no recovering. When he was finally settled dinner had to be made, the house was a mess, Zoey’s bedtime routine was up next and then I had to nurse again and pray that Zander actually went to sleep this time. I stayed up till 3am playing catch up on work.

I am sure I am not the only mom who often has absolutely NO time to exercise, little time to sleep and sometimes even forgets to eat. So over the last few years I have developed some tricks to create a more healthy lifestyle for myself, without taking extra time out of my routine. I don’t always remember to follow these tips, but when I do it is LIFE CHANGING.

1. Sleep Schedule

This is definitely the most important thing for me, when my kids get enough sleep and I get enough sleep, everyone is happier and healthier. I start sleep scheduling right from birth. Zoey is 3 and she still takes naps every day and has a very consistent bed and wake time. I shared a very detailed overview of my sleep schedule in this recent blog post including printable sleep schedules from birth to 24 months.

Once you have established really good sleeping patterns for your kids use that schedule to your advantage. I try and plan for at least two hours in the morning or the evening that I can have to myself. Nap time is a bonus, but I know if I can wake up two hours before the kids, or stay up two hours past their bedtime I can get a LOT done! It is easy to just ‘go with the flow’ when it comes to naps, bed times and when we get up in the morning, but when you take time to act with purpose in this area of your life you will notice a huge difference in your overall health and success.

2. Get Some Healthy Meal Options In Your Freezer!

When you don’t have time to cook it is SO easy to grab that junk food you have stashed away. Especially when you suddenly realize it is 2pm and you are starving and don’t have any time or energy to make yourself food. I recently started buying MorningStar Farms® Veggie Bowls at Walmart because they are a healthier option, jam packed with veggies and take only six minutes in your microwave to cook (oh and they are DELISH).

I always have dreams of being this totally awesome, domestic mom and wife, who has a delicious homemade, healthy meal on the table every night. The reality is I don’t have time to cook something spectacular every night. And I don’t need to! MorningStar Veggie Bowls are a healthier option, and they are absolutely delicious, and instant.

Today Zoey and I shared a bowl of Italian Sausage Bake for lunch. It was packed with spinach, tomatoes, garbanzo beans and egg plants, things Zoey usually refuses to eat – but this veggie cuisine is flavored to taste like you actually have some delicious Italian sausage. We both loved it. Since I didn’t have to cook I got to spend extra time playing with Zoey. We had a lot of fun together and when I put her down for a nap she told me that it was a “really fun day!”, my heart melted…

I love that MorningStar Veggie Bowls replace the meat with veggies in these meals, that is one of the top reasons I choose MorningStar over other options. Veggies are SO important, but hard to get into your diet when you are a busy, on-the-go mom. I am not vegetarian, but I try and really limit how much meat I eat for health reasons, which is another reason MorningStar is a huge win for me.

3. Exercise On The Go

This tip is a little confusing, so let me explain. I never have time for a workout… SO I developed a little trick that takes NO time out of my day and really works. Rather than working out, I stick my yoga pants on when I wake up in the morning and while I clean up the house and get the kids ready, I run! I run up the stairs, down the stairs, through the living room and I even jog on the spot while I do laundry and dishes.

I try and exercise while doing things I really need to do, like brushing my teeth. This way it doesn’t take any extra time out of my day. I am already almost back to my post-baby body and I haven’t even ‘exercised’ once! Kris always teases me when he sees me doing this, but you can’t laugh at the results. I feel so good when I am active, even if it is just a little bit each day.

If you are feeling really adventurous you can even strap the baby on and do some baby-wearing while you exercise/clean the house and get even more of a workout!

I can’t tell you what a difference it makes when I take time to incorporate these three small tips into my daily routine. I feel happier, healthier and more successful at life.

Are you a busy mom on the go?? I would love to hear what you ladies do to stay on top of your health while managing a busy schedule. Let me know in the comments and check out this link for more healthy inspiration from some of my blogger friends!

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