Fitness tips for exhausted moms

We sat on the couch together, I was exhausted and he was too. At three AM my baby finally went to sleep. As I lay there wondering if he would wake coughing again. I pondered how I would make it through the week. Life in our house can come to a quick standstill when one of the kids is sick. Any Mom you talk to knows the exhaustion that comes from sleepless nights with sick children.

My experience told me I was in for a few weeks of illness. Typically one child gets sick and then another. I am now three weeks into this full time nurse mode. I am exhausted but am coping much better than previous years. You see, in the past, illness and sleepless nights would throw me into a roller coaster ofcaffeine during the day and just a few winks at night. To let my workouts go and just surviving was good enough for me. But this time I was determined to hold on to what I had worked so hard for physically. I wasn’t going to let the sickies ruin my fitness plan.

Getting and staying fit means rising to the challenges that try to stop our progress. We have to prepare mentally and physically for the roadblocks that will come our way and try to throw us off course. Here are some tips to help you through those tough times when sleep seems so distant and exhaustion is the word of the day.

• Don’t be a perfectionist: Realize it’s ok to scale back your workouts in order to get rested. If you normally workout five days a week, cutting back to three is ok.
• Be flexible: Create a “Workout when you can – Rest when you can – plan”. Get a workout and rest in at any time of day or night. Just because you normally go for a walk or run first thing in the morning, there is nothing to keep you from going during lunch, or in the evenings instead. Be gracious with yourself and be flexible with your fitness.
• Do what you can: If you cannot get your normal workout in then focus on what you can do. Body weight exercises, aerobic video, or only 10 minutes of something is better than nothing.
• Hold on: Remember, during illness or other life interruptions you are trying to hold on to your current level of fitness. Holding steady during this time is key to being able to pick up where you left off when your children are healthy and you are rested. Do what you can, whenever you can, not to loose too much endurance and strength.
• Know when enough is enough: Realize rest and healthy eating is just as important as exercise. Watch out for emotional eating and turning to food for comfort from the stresses of life and make sure you rest when you can. Eat enough healthy foods to keep you going, but don’t over eat.
• Cardio makes you feel better: Remember a 20 minute walk or run will make you feel better, increase you immunity, your energy level, reduce your stress level, and help you sleep better when you do get a chance to get some shut eye.

Being a Mom can be exhausting some days but being a FIT MOM is key to being a better, more relaxed, confident Mom for your kids. Fitness can give you endurance and strength to minister to your family when things aren’t going like you had planned. Having a game plan for when illnesses inevitably come your way, is another tool to help accomplish your overall fitness goals. Remember that life isn’t perfect and your fitness plan needs to be flexible as well as focused even during illness.

For more Health and Fitness encouragement visit me at www.mybodmod.blogspot.com. Also, the “Be Healthy” section on The Happy Housewives Club Forums is a great place encouragement and support to reach your fitness goals! Come join in the fun as we share our journey to become fit and healthy once and for all!