Give yourself a break and get inspired by Kristy, who may have been just like you – exhausted, overweight and awash with guilt about her family’s unhealthy diet. Now she’s energised, organised and happier than ever. Her secret? Read on!
If you’re a mum, chances are you’ve had your fair share of stress. Yes, your children are a great source of joy, but raising them is also pretty stressful. The key is to manage that stress so your energy levels don’t dip and let those not-so-good habits creep in.
12WBTer Kristy’s story is a common one. With three kids she had no energy and would collapse on the sofa every night after work. She was overweight and passing her eating habits onto her kids.
“I was always so tired and we’d get home from work late and order takeaway at least three nights a week. We’d even go as far as driving 25 minutes to the nearest McDonalds to avoid cooking! I knew what was healthy and would buy fresh food and vegies with the best intentions, but it would all sit in the fridge and go off!”
Kristy and her gorgeous kids
It can be a vicious cycle: you’re too tired to cook, so you choose the easy option and feel worse for it. But a little organisation can go a long way, as Kristy found out. She now does a huge cook-up once a month and prepares all her family’s meals in advance.
“We’re so time poor this means all I have to do is grab a meal out of the freezer and we have a healthy, portion-controlled meal in minutes. All I have to do is add some pasta, vegetables or salad and we’re good to go!”
For many mums (and dads) one of the best things you can do for stress is physical exercise. But if the thought of taking time out for yourself brings an attack of the guilts, remember that the better care you take of yourself, the better care you can take of others.
Kristy and her family now love getting outdoors together
Kristy says: “I’ve always put everyone else first and that meant my health took a back seat. Learning to put myself first and get my life, health and head back on track has only benefitted my family. I’m active and present in my kids’ lives rather than just being there.”
Need proof of the benefits of exercise? Check out this blog post on the influence active mums have on their kids, plus it gives you some great mum-and-bub exercises!
For Kristy: “The biggest lesson I’ve learnt is that it’s OK to put yourself first. As a working parent it’s too easy to get caught up with the kids and all the day-to-day stuff that comes with juggling work, parenting and life in general!”
