Busy mom!

amandamo1989

I am a busy mom with a 2 year old son and a full time job. Eating healthy and working out can be a challenge. I lost about 45 lbs and gained some back. Needing to get back on track! Any motivation, tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated!

Lizzy622

a programmable cooker could be your best friend. Throw your ingredients in for a health low calorie soup or stew and come home to a hot healthy meal. My biggest problem when the kids were little was stopping for fast food or other restaurant take out because I didn't feel like cooking after picking up the kids from daycare. Also having dinner ready gives you more time to run around and play with your son.

amandamo1989

I do need more crock pot recipes

treehopper1987

Are you me? haha

My son is almost 2 as well. I am learning I have to make time for me to be a better mother for him. My son is in swim lessons at our local gym, which pushed us to go ahead and become members; they also have a daycare center that we can utilize for 2 hours a day. So we, as a family generally go several times a week. One night a week we spend at the pool (indoor), so my son has learned that it is fun to go to the gym.

As far as diet, I learned I needed to become a role model for my son, since he wants to eat what my husband or I eat. My son is much like me in that he will eat about anything you put in front of him, so healthy choices are key for us. We try to eat a lot of lean meats such as fish, chicken, and pork, limiting our red meats that generally tend to be higher in calories. Then we eat a lot of veggies to go with it. I try to plan our meals ahead of time so that I can prepare as much as possible the night before so I can just grab and go as soon as we get home. Some quick veggie tricks, steamable bags from the freezer, or even steaming while you meat is in the oven is doable. We try to stay clear of carb-rich foods such as pasta, rice, breads, as much as possible. Also, try to inform yourself what vegetables have a lot of carbs (they tend to have more calories too), such as potatoes and corn. It is also nice to have some meals planned for the slow-cooker so that if I know it's going to be a busy day, my meal is ready to eat when I come home.

Leftovers also make good meals for lunches and dinners on the nights we work out. When we get home, we just throw leftovers in the microwave and we're good.

So to sum that up... Focus mostly on diet and exercise when you can. Fill up with protein-rich, low-fat meats and lots of fiber-rich vegetables (fruits tend to be high in sugar)

amandamo1989

@treehopper1987 my son eats much better then me!! I envy the time you get to spend at the gym. But yes I want to be a better role model for my son as well.