BAM Fitness Coaching

Image by shawnblog via Flickr

What does “Me Time” mean to you?  Going for a manicure and pedicure?  Having your hair done?  Getting to go to the grocery store or run errands alone?  Taking a long, uninterrupted, hot bath in the evening?  Sitting on the couch curled up with a good book?  Every woman needs a little of this once in a while – being a mother and wife is a 24/7 job.  There will always be someone who needs something from you – ALWAYS.  And, being a mother and wife, generally means that you put everyone else’s needs in front of your own.  Sound familiar? 

For most women and mothers, “Me Time” generally means a lot of the things I listed above. . . treats, time alone without kids, and pampering.   This is all good!  However, how often do you include a good workout part of your “Me Time”?  How often do you make sure you get enough sleep instead of staying up late to finish a kid’s school project or fold a basket of laundry?  How often do you find yourself picking up fast food or eating junk because you haven’t taken the time to fix yourself something healthy to eat?  Sometimes getting an “It’s All About Me” attitude is the only way a mom can get back to the basics of being healthy and fit.   

One of the things I realized while I was losing my extra weight was that my health and fitness needed to become a priority.  What message was I sending to my kids and to my husband?  I was becoming a frumpy wife who didn’t care about the way she looked.  I was slowly becoming a mom who was fat, unfit, and unhealthy – not a good message to send to children.  Before it got out of control and I turned into a mother who couldn’t go outside and play soccer with her kids, I made a change.  I altered my priorities to put my health and fitness at the top of the list. 

No longer did I skip workouts when I took a trip or had out-of-town visitors staying at our house.  Exercise was, and still is, a main priority of my weekly routine.  In the past, I’d find just about any excuse to skip a workout – it didn’t take much to talk me out of working out.  Kids, house, errands, family, husband, meals, etc. . . everything came before my workouts.  Now, for the most part, those things might have to wait until I’m done exercising.  It truly isn’t that difficult to fit in a 30-45 minute workout most days of the week.  (I typically workout 5 days a week.) 

I make sure I have plenty of healthy food choices at home so I’m not tempted to eat junk.  And, I always have some healthy alternatives to keep in my purse or car – no more Starbuck’s scones!  My beloved cinnamon chip scones from Starbuck’s have roughly 480 calories, 18 g of fat, 70 g of carbs, and 7 g of protein.  Ouch!  My alternative snack, if I am out and about and find myself starving, are Cliff MOJO bars.  These sweet and salty bars fit in my purse or tennis bag and only have 180 calories, 8 g of fat, 21 g of carbs, and 8 g of protein.  I also take the time to prepare fruits and vegetables, so I have healthy alternatives to potato chips or a cookie when I’m home. 

For me, lack of sleep isn’t an issue.  For the most part, I get my 8 hours of quality sleep each night.  However, a lot of people deal with insomnia, hectic schedules, and poor sleeping arrangements that cut into sleep.  Google “weight gain” & “lack of sleep” and you will find and endless supply of research that studied the relationship between being overweight and not getting enough sleep.  Anytime I’m sleep deprived, my willpower flies out the window.  Everything is tempting, I’m hungry all day, and I’ll eat just about anything that is placed in front of me.   Get your sleep . . . That load of laundry can wait until the next day to get folded!  Move your kids into their own beds . . . you will both sleep better, even if it means a few sleepless nights in the beginning. 

Do you want to lose weight and get fit?  Do you want to fit into those jeans or that cocktail dress that are hanging in the back of your closet?  You you want to get rid of that bulge that hangs out of the top of your jeans?  If you want these things, you need to make yourself a priority.  Make the time to exercise, even if it means a 20-minute walk/run around the block. . . any activity is better than none.  Start including workouts and healthy food prep as part of your “Me Time”. . . you and your family will be better off for it!