Staying Healthy As A Mom

I often look back at my pre-child days and wonder what I did with all of that free time? I should have been using that time to cook gourmet meals or go for long hikes in the woods - anything to stay healthy and fit. Instead I somehow wasted those glory days of free-time and look back on that time with regret. With my relaxed schedule, I still would have had time for TV and sleeping more.

But here I am now, a mom of two, working full-time, and I barely have a minute to myself. It's easy to tell someone, "Oh, anyone can squeeze an hour a day into their schedule to workout!" but I'd like to see them find time in my day that didn't involve sacrificing another important task. Or sleep. Which counts as an important task when you already don't get enough of it.

However, I've managed to lose 10 pounds in the last few months to get myself ready for summer. (All chronicled at Losing My Hind.) It hasn't been easy, and as warmer days get closer and closer my time seems to shrink much faster than my hips. So what's worked for me?

First, I did have to force myself to find time to exercise. In the winter, I did it with workout videos and scheduling a fitness class twice a week. Scheduling the class makes it a permanent part of my calendar - I can't just push it aside for some minor crisis because it has a specific time penciled in. It's two hours of the week marked off for me and just me. Surely in all of the hours I give to work and family, I can spare two hours a week for myself, right?

Next, I had to plan my eating. I work third shift, leaving me few options for meals that aren't prepackaged or delivered in cardboard boxes. Eater fewer calories, while trying to incorporate whole grains and vegetables, isn't easy when you have to eat frozen meals or fast food. I quickly learned that I needed to plan out meals and snacks and bring it all with me, or I'd surely find myself staring at the vending machines at 3am. I bring a low calorie frozen meal, like Weight Watchers Smart Ones, with me and eat it for lunch. I also bring snacks like string cheese, Greek yogurt, and apple slices to give me something to munch on throughout the night.

Weight Watchers Smart Ones is making it easier to stay on track with a healthy meal plan without spending time on prep work beforehand. Their products provide a variety of delicious, convenient and portion controlled meals and snacks that contain lean proteins, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. And now they are offering two new breakfast items – like the new Egg, Sausage & Cheese Wrap and the French Toast with Turkey Sausage. Plus, the packaging tells you the Weight Watchers PointsPlus values in each serving, allowing you to conveniently plan for the day. Visit http://www.eatyourbest.com/ for more information.

I honestly feel more in control of my health now than I ever have in the past. Despite being busy, I can make the small changes to stay healthy. Perhaps becoming a mother helped nudge me in that direction, because being healthy is no longer just about me. I now want to keep myself healthy so that I can see my children grow up, and provide them with a good role model to follow down the road.
What small changes can you make to be healthier?

Full disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Weight Watchers Smart Ones and received a promotional item and coupons to facilitate my review.