would help her out twice a week doing some extra chores so she could go to the gym at night. They were happy to do it.
Redefining What Is Good Enough Exercise
Another secret is to let good be good enough. As women, we tend to be perfectionists and feel badly when we don’t measure up to our expecta- tions of what must be done. Striving for perfection when it comes to healthy choices and fitness is a setup for failure. Mothers tell me all the time they can’t be successful in sticking with a fitness rou- tine because it is impossible to fit in time for going to the gym, doing an hour-long class or doing at least four days of exercise.
If they can’t do it
right or do a certain amount, they figure it isn’t worth it. When the truth is, anything you do that gets you active counts and is worth it. Even 10 minutes of some type of aerobic exertion will leave you feeling better and more energized.
Mothers I work with discover as they start looking for ways to be more active, they can do aerobic activities with their kids or as a family, walk instead of sitting in their car waiting to pick a kid up, follow along to a video or TV fitness show for 15 minutes, or find another mom and swap kids as they each go to their fitness classes. When you get rid
Having Permission to Follow What Feels Good
And the last secret is to give yourself permission to make choices that feel really good to you.
Instead of neglecting
your needs or your body, start to focus on what makes you feel good. Does it really feel good to eat junk food on the run, overeat at night or go to bed full? Does it feel good to have little energy or struggle to keep up with your kids? Does it feel good to feel deprived of food you really love? By paying attention to your hunger and fullness, you realize it feels better to stop eating before getting full.
When you give yourself per- mission to have “bad” foods in moderation, you fulfill a need, enjoy them more and stop overeating. When you start being active and take baby steps to regain your fit- ness, your body doesn’t hurt so much. And when you stop beating yourself up and real- ize good is good enough, you have an easier time succeed- ing and feeling good about being a healthy role model. As importantly, when you follow your desire to do what feels good to you, you are connect- ing to your own spirituality guidance.
aspiremag.net
of the rules of what consti- tutes exercise and fitness and instead focus on what feels good to you and works for your family, you discover it re- ally isn’t that hard to be active.
Connecting Your Mind, Body & Spirit A new mother once told me, “If I’m not sacrificing myself, I’m not a good mother.” Yet, as she sacrificed herself, she was getting more out of shape, becoming unhappy and feeling resentful, which nega- tively impacted her family and herself. Today she feels differently and sees that by taking better care of herself, she has more to give her fam- ily and to her passions.
The secret to being a great mother and healthy fit role model is doing what feels good, not striving to be good. It is no coincidence that this is also what connects your mind, body and spirit.
Alice is America’s Healthy Lifestyle Coach and bestselling author. She shows people how to finally succeed at healthy eating, regular exercise and long-term weight loss in a way that is enjoyable and feels so good they stay motivated and can easily maintain their new changes. Receive her e- book “Feel Your Personal Best” with 9 tips for success.
www.AHealthyLifestyleWorks.com/ freegift
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