Motivating myself to workout

One of the hardest things I have noticed since having a child is motivating myself to workout. Usually by the time I have a free moment I have so many things on the to do list that working out can get shoved off. Now, I work in a gym as a personal trainer. So, for ME to admit that proves just what a challenge it can be to fit exercise into the schedule of a busy mom.

Now, I am lucky. I work in a gym and have the knowledge to fit in what I can fit in when I can fit it in. Many other moms do not have that luxury and I hope to be able to help with that dilemma.

First, and most importantly, we need to take care of ourselves before we attempt to care for anyone else. Yes, I know how hard that can be. But we need to make ourselves a priority if we are to be the best mothers we can be. What we can and should do to make ourselves a priority is not really that hard. It just takes some planning and a willingness to change some bad habits.

1. SLEEP!!! Getting a good night's sleep is the most important tool we have to make sure we are operating at our best. 7 to 9 hours is ideal, but if you can't get that much sleep at one time because of work or infants then try your best to get on a consistent sleep schedule. Go to bed and awake at the same time. The ritual will help you get homeostasis and help to reduce stress levels in the body. If you combine the schedule with a good 8 hours you will be on the right road.

2. HYDRATE!!! Drink plenty of water. Dehydration is a major cause of exhaustion and can cause low energy and muscle cramping while exercising. When you drink caffeine or alcohol alternate with water. It will help keep you hydrated. You can also try flavored water and caffiene free green tea.

3. GET A BABYSITTER!!! Whether it is a favorite cartoon, naptime, using your gym's childcare service, spouse or relatives OR taking turns with another mother, get moving!!! DO NOT use lack of childcare to miss a chance to exercise. Worst case scenario, involve your kids. If they are small enough you can use them as resistance. (MORE ON THIS LATER) Or simply take them outside and walk and play. Any activity is better than none and the fresh air will do you all good!

4. EAT WELL. A big mistake many moms make is not to eat as healthfully as possible. Many moms will attest to forgetting to eat sometimes because they were so busy caring for others. If you do not eat well and often enough you might as well just ask to be exhausted. Fruits, veggies, unsaturated fats, lean proteins and high quality carbohydrates will provide your body with much needed nutrients and fiber to keep you full. The more your food contributes to your body the healthier you will feel and you will have the energy to workout. Working out will also give you energy and then you will want to exercise and maybe even enjoy it! Also eat frequently in small portions. If you go more than 4 hours without food your blood sugar will drop and it is at this point that we end up in the drive thru stuffing our faces with a Big Mac and fries. The excessive calories and saturated fat will make us feel satiated for a little while but inevitably the crash comes leaving us feeling worse than we did before downing that 1000 calories of garbage! Make healthful choices most of the time. Indulge occassionally, watch portion sizes and eat often.

5. MAXIMIZE YOUR TIME. So the kids are taken care of, the chores are caught up, bills paid, phone calls made, pre-workout snack eaten and you are ready to exercise. THIS IS THE CRUCIAL TIME!!! It is at this time when the phone/doorbell rings, the kids need us or a multitude of other things occur to distract us. Sometimes just the feeling of being caught up and MAYBE, JUST MAYBE actually getting to sit in the quiet for 20 minutes is too big of a temptation to make us put on our sneakers. BUT DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN! I guarantee you will feel better after exercising than if you blow it off and power nap. Turn off or ignore your phone. Don't we all have caller id? Tune out the world and take care of you. Use fitness DVDS or the ON DEMAND service offered by cable providers. Grab a routine from a fitness magazine or ask a trainer at your gym for some exercises or print out a routine from online. JUST GET MOVING even if it is just a power walk around the neighborhood. Throw in some pushups, squats, lunges, bench dips and crunches in between laps 3 times for 12 reps and in 20 minutes you are done!

I hope this has been helpful to you. Remember that you need to take care of you to take care of others. It can be too easy to forget ourselves. But it is so important to the ones we love that we are healthy and able to keep up with them. As the saying goes "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy". Take care and GET MOVING!