Staying Fit and Healthy As a Mom + Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate Shake

One thing that I love about being a mom is showing my daughter what it means to be healthy and to live a healthy lifestyle.  My mom did that for me.  We were always active and she always cooked us healthy food.  I remember all the bike rides and walks we would go on as kids, and we would spend hours at the parks too.  When we got old enough she has us in sports as well.  We all got to try different sports to see what we liked the best.  Then in middle and high school we had to choose one team sport to play.  I loved that she made sure we got involved in team sports and stayed active.  I loved soccer, volleyball, track, and I eventually found my passion...tennis!  I also learned how to lift weights when I was 15, my brother who was a football player, taught me my way around the gym.  This is something I am forever grateful for.  I love lifting weights, it is such a great stress reliever and it keeps me strong and healthy so I can take care of my daughter and be around and healthy as she gets older too.

Ever since she was a baby and I got cleared for exercise I have worked out.  She is a January baby, and where I live it is freezing in January, so I would just go in my basement gym (my awesome hubby built for me), and get my workouts in while she napped.  It was just something that I worked into my routine.  When it warmed up I would go for a 4 mile walk everyday, and it helped to get some sun and fresh air.  Fast forward to 4 years later, and I still get my workouts in regularly.  It is something that she is used to and she has her toys in the basement so she can play or come hang out with me in the gym if she wants.  As a mom of a daughter it is important for me to set a healthy example for her.  I don't talk about losing weight or toning up around her, I tell her I am getting strong so I can carry her when she needs me to and to be able to be a good mom to her.  We cook healthy meals at home, but I also don't restrict too much from her.  We talk about healthy foods we can eat all the time and treat food that we can eat sometimes.  The only thing that I will not let her eat is fast food, I don't want her to have a taste for it.  It is chemically enhanced to make you crave it, and my hope is that by the time she tries it (hopefully she won't), it will taste gross to her.  My hope is that she grows up with a love for being active and eating healthy foods and eats the treat foods in moderation.  I just want her to be happy and healthy!

Here are my top 5 tips for staying fit & healthy as a mom: 
1) Schedule your workouts.  Think of your workouts as a healthy appointment you have with yourself and don't cancel it!  Re-schedule if needed, but don't skip it.  You are more likely to get it in if you have a plan, set an alarm in your phone as a reminder and put your workout clothes on. 

2) Have your kids join in.  If they are old enough to do what you are doing, have them join in.  Or make a modified version of what you are doing so they can join in.  If they are little enough, hold them while you squat or do your push ups with them laying under you and give them a kiss each time you go down (I used to do this when my daughter was a baby and she loved it!)

3) Wake up early and get it done!  This one is easier said than done, especially if you are not a morning person like me! :-)  However, if you make it a habit it gets easier and then you have it out of the way.  I try and get up at least 2 times a week before my daughter is up and workout.  It makes the days she goes to school a little easier.  Then when she is at school I can get studying, cleaning, blogging or errands done.  Need some help getting up early to workout?  Check out these tips.

4) Make your nutrition a priority.  When you eat healthy, your family eats healthy!  Plan out your meals for the week before you grocery shop and this will make it easier to have a healthy week.  Also, keep healthy snacks on hand.  I always have a Premier Protein Fiber bar or pre-made shake in my purse when I am out in case I get hungry.  I will also keep an apple and some nuts with me too.  These make it easy to snack healthy when I am on the go.  Pack a healthy snack for your kiddos too!

5) Ask for help when you need it!  Sometimes as moms we think we have to do it all by ourselves!  But we have spouses, or family that can help out when needed.  Ask your spouse to hang out with the kids while you get your workout done, this will keep them busy and give you the time you need to workout.  You deserve the time you need to get your workout in.  I know that getting my workouts in makes me a happier mom and wife!  There are plenty of people to help you when you need it, all you have to do is ask!

I hope that these tips help!  Do you have any to add?  I would love to hear them in the comments.  :-)

Ready for a delicious Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate Shake?  Of course you are!  Who doesn't love peanut butter and chocolate together?  This is another amazing recipe from Premier Protein.   Try it out and let me know what you think!  I love it!