Get into shape for the New Year
Whether you’ve not long had your baby or your little one is approaching toddlerhood or preschool age, it’s likely you’ll have been working harder than you ever thought possible since you had your baby.
Parenthood is an incredible journey but it’s hard work too – and if you’re like most other moms on the planet, you’ll have been putting your baby first every time. This means you might have been neglecting yourself – and that’s not good, because the best way to be the best parent you can possibly be is to take care of yourself. A happy, fit and healthy mom means a happy, fit and healthy baby. Follow gurgle’s tips to be your happiest and healthiest in the New Year…
Eat better…
Never forget that you are your child’s first teacher where nutrition is concerned too. And eating a healthy diet not only models good behavior for her but it also gives you the energy you need to keep up with 24-7 baby and childcare.
After you have your baby it’ll be all too easy to fall into the habit of eating a microwave meal or takeout every night. There’s no doubt they can be convenient but takeout is notorious for its saturated fat and sodium content, and those TV dinners also can be calorie-packed. Try to avoid them if you can, and focus instead on eating healthy, with a god balance of carbohydrates, whole grains and protein.
Try healthy salads (easy to put together with ready-prepared greens and pre-sliced mushrooms and peppers), teamed with canned tuna or salmon, or a sliced deli chicken. If you want something hot, whiz up a pasta bake with whole grain (or half and half) pasta cooked in low-sodium broth. Throw in half a cup of frozen diced veggies, thicken with a spoonful of cornstarch mixed in water and add canned tuna or chicken, or half a cup of canned red or black beans (rinse them under running water to remove the added sodium) for protein. Soup is a wonderful winter warmer – either make your own using low-sodium broth as a base and adding veggies and meat of your choice, or buy ready-made but be sure to choose low-sodium and fat-free options.
Be nutrition-minded when it comes to snacks too. Avoid refined grains (cookies, donuts, pastries) and snack on ready-prepared baby carrots or broccoli florets dipped in low-fat ranch dressing or hummus. Mix cheese cubes with apple wedges, and have handy mini-cheese rounds or sticks in the refrigerator.
Good nutrition is a fundamental building block for health and happiness. Your healthy diet will re-energize you most needed, and eating more brightly colored fruit and vegetables will give your immunity a boost right at a time when the cold weather often heralds winter cold and flu bugs. Plus, if you’re still packing a few extra pounds from when you were pregnant, eating healthfully can help you shed those pounds at a steady rate you’ll be able to maintain – much healthier than a New Year crash diet.
Get some exercise…
It’s a sad fact that women who don’t lose their extra pregnancy pounds within six months of their baby’s birth are more likely to be overweight a decade later. Nothing drags a mom down so much as knowing she hasn’t looked her best since she had her baby – and nothing is a better self-esteem booster than getting back in shape. So make getting more
exercise one of your New Year’s resolutions. It’ll help you burn calories, lose weight and fight the stress that can come with parenting.
Walking is one of the easiest and gentlest ways to start exercising if you’ve been leading a sedentary lifestyle or if you want to ease back into fitness after your baby is born. It exercises your whole body, gets your heart working, gives you time to reflect, and you can do it with your baby: in fact, you might be able to find a local strollercise club near you (if not, why not start one yourself?). Aim for 10,000 steps a day, which most experts reckon is best for health (wear a strap-on pedometer to keep a running count of your total). All that walking around indoors counts, and if you march along briskly, or add some weight into the equation by toting your baby in her sling, you’re looking at serious calorie busting! The bonus? You’re also strengthening your bones, which will help you avoid osteoporosis as you get older.
Swimming is also a great exercise, as is cycling – buy yourself a stationary bike and plan in a couple of 15-minute sessions each day. Treat yourself to a cardio DVD, or tune into the health and fitness channel on your TV, if you have it – it’ll have great 15-minute workouts targeted at different fitness levels. Aerobic exercise increases overall fitness and also help you burn off any lingering
mommy tummy, but for the best results try to get in some gut-busting moves too.
Look your best…
Just getting into the shower at midday because your baby keeps you so busy? Or spending so much time racing around after your toddler that the beauty salon is a distant memory? You may think your appearance should be the last thing on your mind now you have to prioritize your baby or child, but mom TLC isn’t trivial. You deserve some me-time, so leave your child with your partner or another relative, or a trusted friend, and pamper yourself.
An easy-care haircut ensures you’ll look great even without a hairstylist to blow-dry you to perfection, while a facial will have you glowing instead of glowering. It’s worth splashing out for the odd beauty shortcut too – getting your eyelashes dyed will save you five precious minutes getting yourself ready in the mornings, while a leg wax will save you the hassle of shaving or messy depilatory creams. And let’s face it: you’ll likely have been washing your hands every five minutes since your baby arrived, so they deserve a manicure.
The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.
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Last Modified: 28/12/2008
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