As parents, we understand the value of a productive schedule; While we’re busy making the kid’s lunches, getting them out the door and on the school bus, and battling chaotic morning traffic, the thought of staying healthy slips into the back of our mind. How can we, as parents that don’t have a minute to spare, get in shape, and maintain our health?
If you’re ready to implement some easy-to-follow tricks into your daily routine, here’s what you should consider.
1. Pre-Cooked Meals
Having a well-balanced diet filled with healthy fats, good carbohydrates, lean protein, fruits, and green veggies is the cornerstone of a healthy body. However, we don’t have time to cook these meals each night while juggling our other responsibilities. If this sounds like you, pre-cooked meals are going to be your lifesaver!
Pre-cooked meals, as their name implies, are various dishes that you cook in bulk. Pick any day out of the week and schedule an hour or two where you can cook undisturbed. Incorporate healthy proteins, green veggies, a carbohydrate source, and a piece of fruit into each meal. Cook enough meals for, say, three or four days in advance. Then place each meal into a container and store them in your fridge or freezer.
2. Gut Health
Optimizing your gut health is one of the most overlooked tools for getting into shape. When our gut has healthy bacteria, digesting foods, and optimizing the nutrition from those food sources is fast and efficient.
When we’re low on healthy gut bacteria, it can cause problems such as constipation, fatigue, weight gain, and skin irritation. To counteract this, we must incorporate probiotic supplements into our routine. Probiotics, put simply, are living organisms that maintain and regulate gut flora. When we increase the number of healthy bacteria, we have in our system, our stomach and digestive system work more efficiently. Give probiotic pills and drinks a try for the sake of gut health. It could make a world of difference to the way you feel day-to-day.
3. Consistency Over Duration
With your current schedule, you can’t block out hours each day to get into the gym. Instead, we encourage you to develop the habit of consistency, not duration. It’s far more efficient to go for a brisk walk for ten or fifteen minutes every day instead of walking three hours once a week.
4. Calorie-Counting Apps
The most crucial step to staying in shape is knowing the number of calories you consume daily. If you go over your body’s calorie limit, you tend to gain weight. Go under this number, and it seems like weight melts off your frame.
Instead of pulling out a scratch pad with every meal and jotting down numbers, use calorie-counting apps to your advantage. These apps use an intricate database filled with thousands of foods and beverages. Take the guesswork out of your meals with these easy-to-use applications.
5. Involve Your Family
If you find it difficult to sneak away from your kids or family to maintain a fitness routine, bring them along with you for the journey! Not only will it free up valuable time in your schedule, but getting healthy as a family is a beautiful sight to see.
Encourage your kids to run, play, and have fun while walking on a trail or hiking up hills. Meanwhile, you can engage in conversation with your partner, family member, or friend. By doing this, you maintain your health and invest in the future of your family!