Ok! Let’s talk about fitness. I know, I know, right now you feel as if you do not have the time, right? Between working, homeschooling the kids, cooking dinner, and maintaining a clean home, when could you possibly have time to get that workout in? Well, I am here to tell you that it is totally possible. The benefits of exercise are so important. Now I am not talking about just exercising to lose weight, I am talking about exercising to stay fit, taking care of your mind, body, and spirit.

Here are 5 reasons why exercise is important to your mental health:

1. Relax and improve sleep

2. Improves your self-esteem

3. Reduces stress

4. Improves your mood

5. Reduces your anxiety

Let’s get started…

Daily Routine

Establish a daily routine! I know for myself, I am constantly wishing that I had more hours in a day (I just have so much to do). Well, we all know that is not going to happen, so what do we do? We make our workout routine work for us. There are at least 30 minutes in our day we can dedicate to some type of exercise.

Try exercising:

Early in the morning (prior to the kids getting up)

During your lunch break

In the evening time

You can even knock out various exercises in between commercials such as: squats, abs, push-ups, and sit-ups.

Wherever you feel like you can squeeze in a workout, do it!

The best time for me is early in the morning morning prior to the kids waking up. I already utilize my early morning time as “me time” , so I decided to add my morning workout to that routine just because it really clears my mind and I feel a lot better. I feel so accomplished knowing I have completed my workout prior to even starting my busy workday and time with the kids.

Establish that routine ladies! It takes discipline but you can do it!

Diet

A huge part of staying fit is watching what we put in our bodies. Not only does dieting help maintain your weight but, it also improves your mental health. What you put in your body can help prevent infections and diseases as well as affect your skin and hair growth.

Even though we are always on the go, the meals we put in our bodies are still important. The older we get, our bodies start to respond to foods differently. For myself, I really must watch my sugar intake (I used to be heavy on energy drinks and sodas). Sugar for me goes right to my lower stomach which already can be a difficult target area. I also have high blood pressure which caused me to pay close attention to my diet. I also began to increase my water intake. So how do I maintain what I put in my body? Well, I meal prep!

Meal Prep for me has been such a life saver! Although it is a lot of work to do, I normally prepare my meals on a Sunday; it is well worth it in the end. So, what are some of the foods I eat?

Fruits

Strawberries

Pineapples

Apples

Grapes

Carbohydrates

Sweet Potatoes

Beans

Rice Cakes

Pastas

Vegetables

Broccoli

Carrots

Tomatoes

Green Beans

Proteins

Fish

Eggs

Turkey Bacon

Chicken/Turkey Breast

Take the time to plan it out! Even if meal prep does not work for you, pay close attention to the foods you are eating and move a little differently. Start slowly making healthy changes in your body and I promise, you will begin to see a change in the way you look and the way you feel.

Workouts

The actual work out! There are so many different workouts available to us out there. So many that you do not actually have to be in the gym to do them. Here are just a few exercises you can complete right in your living room:

Lower Body

Crunches

Bicycles

Squats

Lunges

Cardio

Jumping Jacks

Burpees

Jogging in Place

High Knees

Upper Body

Free Weights

Dips

Deadlifts

Push-Ups

It’s all about creating healthy habits! This means staying focused, being disciplined, and having a positive attitude. Promote a healthy way of living for your mind, body, and spirit. Start small if you have to, but whatever you do, make sure you make it work for you!

Just working on my fitness