Hello, Coach Temmyphil. As a mother with three kids and a demanding job it has been difficult to include fitness into my schedule. Before I became a mother I used to do a lot of exercising and had a great body but now I can’t be consistent and I have lost my body shape. Please what can I do?

Good day!
You have raised a very important question that I believe a lot of mothers out there are asking themselves.

First thing you probably have noticed in life is that Something must give for something to be.

You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself as motherhood comes with a whole lot of responsibilities. So you probably won’t have enough time in your hands for fitness as you did before.
But understand that with responsibilities comes power/rights as well.

You don’t have to lose yourself because you had kids or have a demanding job. There is only so much you can give, if you are not your optimal self.

So, I will be teaching you a few ideologies and tactics that will help you regain your fitness lifestyle.

 Fitness is a Lifestyle, not a Chore or Game.

When you see fitness as a game, you are most likely not going to take it serious or feel it worth a lot of your time. This is why, when people mock you for exercising/dieting, you feel offended easily because you believe (just as they do) that fitness is not supposed to be serious.
When you see Fitness as a chore, you will be wary of it. You will try to avoid it. And you will only do it because it is necessary or when it is a do or die situation (sickness).
You want to view fitness as a lifestyle because it affects every part of your life, even that of your kids.
Having a fitness culture will increase your lifestyle and make you even more productive.

 You Make the Time.

I believe time is our most valuable asset and we seem to assume that we have no control over it.
We bombard ourselves with lots of commitments because we strive to be as impactful as possible. But it is not about How Much we do, but How Well we can do the little we have.

What is the worst that can happen if you say NO?
This is why most of us are in jobs that wreck us, instead of build us.
If your office time is 6hours, then let your 6hours be 6hours. Don’t bring work home.
And if you work from home, set a time to get off work. Let your employers/customers respect your time.
Even your kids too.
Once you get control of your time, it will be easy to cut off or add new activities.

 With Responsibility Comes Power/Rights

As a mother, you might not have much power/control over your marriage but you do over your kids.
The higher the responsibility, the greater the power or rights that come with it.
Take for instance, if you do the cooking at home, you determine what the house eats or at least how it eats. You can aim for healthier foods for your home.
Once you accept a responsibility, know that it comes with rights/power and that could be your bargaining chip.

 Inclusive Fitness Culture

You might be worried a lot about your kids or husband and their reaction or encouragement/discouragement to your fitness lifestyle.
What can you do to make it work for you? Include them. They are exercises that two or more people can do together.
When you buy fitness kits for yourself, buy for your kids and husband as well.
Take them out to hike or run or even take a walk or hit the gym.

A mother is the custodian of the family culture. So it is within your power and rights. Let fitness be part of that culture. Not only will it guarantee a healthier life for your family but help it bond stronger.

Finally,

Steps to Get fit as a Mother

1. Get a Fitness Coach, join a fitness community.
2. Normalize taking long walks in the morning or evening (not stressful walks).
3. Control your diet. Include more fruits and vegetables.
4. Include your kids. Little kids demand a lot of attention but when they feel a part of what you are doing, they won’t disturb much. Teenage kids will find it amusing and join in for the fun or adventure.
5. Create and Stick to your body goal model.
6. Upgrade your fashion to follow your body changes.
7. Own and Control your time. Spend it wisely.

Did you find this useful? I would love to hear from you in the comment section