Busy Mom? Get Creative to Lose Weight
Although being busy isn’t technically an excuse for being overweight, we know how hard it can be to lose pounds while you’re on “mom time.” If you’re bowing your head in shame right now, don’t! Many parents tend to fall out of a healthy lifestyle, especially when their kids also have packed schedules that make it hard to eat well-planned meals. According to a survey conducted by Cornell University, more than 20 of the 50 working moms and dads they studied said they turned to quick eating options — like pizza, fast food, and eating on the go — because they were so busy.
But not all hope is lost! Losing weight is possible and it only takes a few small changes to make it happen without throwing off your family’s hectic schedule. What’s even better is that if you get creative, spending time with your kids can be a big part of your new weight loss plan — and you can all have a good time doing it! Here are a few tips to get you started.
1. Make Play-Doh ‘Cookies’
In a recent interview with K5News, mom blogger Marie Chisholm of NewOrleansMomsBlog.com said she hopes to stick to her New Year’s resolution by including her kids into her weight loss journey.
“Since becoming a mom, my old tricks for losing weight haven’t worked,” Chisholm said. “This year, by incorporating my kids into my weight loss journey, I will have more fun and hopefully be more successful.”
One new game they’ll try? Instead of giving into her temptations and baking real cookies with her kids, Chisholm said she’s going to make Play-Doh “cookies” with her kids. By substituting real cookie dough with Play-Doh, Chisholm said she’s going to be doing a lot of “faking” instead of “baking” next year — but still squeezing in plenty of quality time with her brood.
2. Dance the Calories Away
Instead of going to the gym, opt for an in-house dance session with your kids. Pump up their favorite movie soundtrack or a kid-friendly radio station, and let the good times roll — and the calories burn right off. Try to keep it going for at least 30 minutes at a time.
“I dread going to the gym, but I never dread dancing and being goofy with my kids,” Chisholm added.
3. Play on the Jungle Gym
You’re never too old to play outside — and according to clinical exercise specialist (and mom of twins) Angela Bekkala, the jungle gym is a great place to start.
“When I take my kids to the playground, I try to play right along with them. I’ll do triceps dips off a bench, incline push-ups, step ups, and try to do a pull-up on the monkey bars,” Bekkala told Daily Burn. “Those little bursts of activity do add up quickly!”
If you’re not used to flipping around so much, try a few easy pull-ups to get you going. Some movement is better than no movement at all, right?
Whether you decide to incorporate your little ones into your workout routine or not, we think these are some pretty solid first-time ideas. Hopefully, you’ll think so too! At the very least, your kids will probably have a blast seeing you let loose a bit more with them — and that’s far more important than what the scale says, right?
