Health and fitness are always a hot topic. And the question I get asked the most is how I stay healthy and fit? How have I managed to keep my body in great shape after two kids. Pregnancy can really do a number on our bodies. But whatever happened to our bodies while creating life, was all worth it for our beautiful children. Please don’t read this looking for a way to get skinny. Read this to help improve your quality of life and health for yourself, and your family.
Being a Mom is hard, and we need to find ways to embrace what we have. While also trying our best to be our best. This guide is my lifestyle. How I have been trying to better my health and my families. This guide is going to give you body results, but it will help you evaluate your life, and what you’re doing now. To help show you what you may need to change in your life for better health.
When I mean health, I mean: overall health, cognitive function, physical function, sleep and many more. Health is just diagnoses or a basic description. “I’m healthy…”. It’s so many different aspects of our bodies.
For this guide, I’m going to be listing them in order of which I think is most important. To start…
Drink Water!
I know we are pretty much told this our whole life. And whenever you start a new fitness class or diet. You always hear drink water, and that’s because it is important. Every cell in our body uses water, so make sure you drink it! It helps with organ function, brain function, helps with digestion, helps flush toxins and deliver nutrients to our cells which helps boost energy. The list is huge! I always make sure to have at least one litre of water first thing in the morning. This helps kick start my digestive system and boosts my energy. Don’t worry about the excessive peeing. In time your bladder will adjust to the volume of water you’re in taking.
Get moving!
Being physically active helps with our muscles, joints, our cardiovascular system and more. I’m not talking to run a marathon. You do you, even if it’s just a thirty minute walk. Do physical activity you like to do, or you want be driven to stick with it. Get out there and try a new fitness class, sign up for a re relational sport or find a workout buddy! An accountability partner can be beneficial for you staying on top of your fitness goals.
Cut out excess sweets!
Did you know the average woman only needs 25g of sugar a day? The average male is 37.5g. That’s not a whole lot, considered the average flavoured yogurt has 12g of sugar. (Natural occurring sugar from fruit and other natural products are not included in this). Sugar is considered fast energy to your body. You digest and use it fast, which is why people feel tired after they have had their sugar rush. And too much sugar encourages our bodies to store it as fat. To help you feel full longer, aim for more protein. And want a treat? Look to fruit or get creative in the kitchen and bake healthier treats using honey, avocados and gluten free flours. I only eat 10g of sugar in my yogurt/day. Unless it’s a special occasion like a party or something similar to that. Look to cutting out a treat you have regularly you know isn’t good, maybe sugar in your coffee?
Fats are your friend!
I’m not talking greasy French fries, or a burger. I mean those healthy fats like Omega-3 -6, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats found in:
- Avocados
- Oils: Olive, peanut, sunflower, avocado
- Salmon
- Egg yolks
- Seeds
- Nuts
- Butter or Ghee
People have been misguided for decades, being told fats are bad. Saturated and trans fats for sure. If you can believe it, I have not eaten fast food such as Burger King, McDonald’s or other high fat restaurants for four years! The other different groups considered “healthy fats” as mentioned above are great for your heart health, cholesterol, brain function and helps you feel full longer. So be sure to start adding those fats in. I love making chocolate avocado pudding!
Sleep!
Sleep is obviously important. Nothing worse than a horrible night sleep, and then having to function the next day. Having a good night rests helps with organ function, your digestive system and your cognitive function. Having a hard time sleeping? Try cutting out screen use before bed. Do some light stretching, meditate, listen to music in the dark. I like to give myself thirty minutes to decompress before bed, to allow my mind and body to relax. Some of my favourite before bed to-do’s are:
- Mediate using my Calm App (Not Sponsored)
- Listen to light music
- Journal
- Do a light yoga sequence
- Have a bath with salts and lavender oil
Keep it SIMPLE!
I’ve realized over the years that there is a ton of information out there about healthy lifestyles. Different diets, workouts, what to eat, what not to eat etc. It can be quite overwhelming when you take the first step to improve your quality of life. The main tip I’ve learned is to keep it simple. You don’t have to overhaul your life in one day, or become vegan. You do what works best for you! That’s where the success is!
Our lifestyles are all different. But making small changes to better improve your overall health and quality of life will not only help benefit you, by whoever else is in your life. You deserve to make yourself important!
Thanks for reading,
Jaclyn Yvonne 