WT 162: Body Image & Staying Healthy Amidst the Demands of Motherhood
There’s no way around it. Motherhood changes a woman’s body. Whether it’s stretch marks from giving birth or a stretched schedule that seems to allow no time for exercise, there’s a new normal once kids are a part of your daily routine.
Today Sunny and Karen answer your questions about making time to work-out, giving yourself grace, and ultimately making peace with the beautiful and capable body God has given you.
Links/Resources from this episode:
Streaming exercise videos: Yoga, Beachbody On Demand
Karen’s Beachbody coach and friend of the show Stephanie Bishop
Portion Control food containers
Mom Control - Time Management lesson
Question 1: I'd love some tips on how to create an exercise program I can stick with in the season of having children at home with me. I feel so much better when I am active and exercise (even just walking laps) but it is hard to be intentional when we really don't have much free time as moms.
Karen’s Answer: Great question! What I did when my children were young, is I did workout videos when the children napped. I also, tried to do something every day, whether it was stroll around the neighborhood with a walk, ride my bicycle with Kelsey in her bicycle seat, but I tried to move every day. I didn’t worry about weights, because I felt like the children were my weights. You can join a gym, or you can do Beachbody which are a lot of videos you can choose from. Right now I’m doing Beachbody, and doing the Lift program. I think you have to figure out what works for you. We are all different. I get what you mean, so it’s good you are trying to figure something out.
Question 2: I find I get discouraged so easily and would like to find the balance of staying healthy and not having an unrealistic expectation for my goals.
Karen’s Answer: I get it girl! Me too! Here is what I do. Try to get my mind in the right place. Yes, I would like to weight what I weighed before I had children, but the reality of that is slim, especially when I’m in my 50’s. When I get discouraged I give up and eat junk food and bad stuff! I start off my day with a plan. If I don’t work out first thing in the morning, then I tell myself I will work out after work. Pick someone to be your accountability partner, that REALLY helps me. Right now my sister and I are doing the same Beachbody program and it helps me to know she’s going to ask me if I worked out. If you don’t work out or you eat something that is not healthy, remember tomorrow is a new day!
Question 3: I would love to hear Karen/Sunnys take on finding time to work out. I have a 3yr old, a 2yr old and a 3m old. I’m barely showering … and I hear about moms making sure to get “mom time” to get their work out in.... if I did have an extra hour to myself the last thing I would wanna do is go to the gym or “work out”. Does that make me bad for not wanting to do that for myself? Or for not wanting to have “self care” in my body? I know I shouldn’t compare my motherhood journey to my friends but when they talk about how it just gives them so much energy and enjoyment, it makes me think maybe I’m missing out or I should want to enjoy that. But I honestly don’t mind my mom tummy. 😂 Extra sleep sounds way better than running!
Karen’s Answer: Okay, first off, when did we start classifying ourselves as a “bad”? I hate that statement! You are not a bad if you don’t work out. I know I feel better when I am working out on a regular basis, but I’m not bad and the only person I’m hurting is myself. It’s my choice. There are seasons where I work out, and there are seasons when I don’t work out. I’m not a good person when I work out and a bad person when I don’t. I think of it more that I am disciplined when I am working out, but usually something else is sliding like laundry, time with Greg, or maybe cooking. But, when my children were young, I didn’t feel I had a lot of extra time so I was like you and working out was the last thing I wanted to do. You’ve got to find what motivates you and then do it. Some people LOVE working out and it fuels them. I am not one of those people, I do it, because I know I am a healthier version of me when I do, but I never love, it. I love it when I’m done!
Question 4: I am mom to a busy 5yr old yellow pre-Ker, 3yr old red boy in speech therapy, and a red headed 1yr old girl. I also work full time in management at a fast paced retail environment (RaceTrac). I work 45 hrs minimum each week in a convenience store surrounded by all the best unhealthy food choices. Between my kids swim, gymnastics, therapy, school and just the daily craziness of life I barely make it to my bed to sleep. I am usually on the couch when the alarm goes off in the morning, so finding “me” time is rare, but it’s affecting my health. I could use some advice on motivation, time management and finding something to stick with eating good.
Karen’s Answer: Oh boy! If I worked where you work, I would eat all the bad stuff and be in heaven! So, I get your struggle! I think for you, you are going to have to pack your snacks and food and stick to eating just that. You can maybe give yourself a treat every so often, but I would limit those. If you start eating healthier throughout the week, it will give you more energy. After a month of eating healthy, I’d reward yourself with something you love. ☺
Show Credits:
Hosted by Karen Stubbs and Sunny Williams, written & produced by Katie Leipprandt, edited by Kyle Cummings
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