Running From Mom-Guilt | Overcoming Mom Fitness Guilt
Fitness related mom-guilt is a huge struggle for moms. How many days are you your last priority? Mommin' ain't easy, and it's only natural to put ourselves last but fitness is too important to put off and below, I'll explain why. It's time to get over the mom-guilt and get to sweatin'!
I love to run. I always have, and I always will--not because I love the way I fit in my jeans (although that's a huge bonus), but because I'm obsessed with serotonin and dopamine--the two powerful chemicals responsible for "runner's high". If you're a mom with small children, you probably know what I'm talking about.
We all know the importance of exercise on physical health, right? That's probably why you started exercising in the first place--to lose a few pounds. But let's take a look at the benefits of exercise on your mental health.
Watch this quick video to find effects of exercise on the brain.
• Exercise helps with depression.
There have been many studies done about exercise not just helping, but actually treating mild to moderate depression--better than prescription medications in fact. There are many reasons for this. Exercise triggers chemical changes in the brain that bring on a sense of calm. It also releases endorphins & serotonin, powerful chemicals in your brain that boost you with energy and an overall sense of well being, or what I call "the feel goods".
• Exercise helps with anxiety.
I never struggled with this until my first baby left the womb--then it hit me like a ton of bricks. Exercise relieves anxiety through the production of new neurons (which are more excitable than old ones) and through the release of endorphins.
• Exercise helps you deal with stress.
You know that tight feeling in your chest you get when you just feel overwhelmed? Or maybe yours is in the form of a headache, stomach issues, or lack of energy. Exercise helps with all of that. When you exercise, your brain produces...you'll never guess...endorphins (can I just keep saying endorphins over and over?)—chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers, and relieve stress.
So now that we see the benefits of exercise, how do we deal with the mom-guilt?
Come to the realization that exercise isn't just another time-demanding activity, but a longterm investment in health.
Exercise is so much more than just a task on your to-do list. It's actually taking care of yourself, and treating your body with respect. Our bodies were created to exercise. If we aren't taking care of ourselves, how will we ever give our family what they need from us? They need us to be energized, happy, and resilient. If you can manage these things on your own, hats off to you, but I can't and I need that physical activity each day to give me that boost!
Stressed out moms tend to make stressed-out kids. Stress-free moms create happier, stress-free kids.
This is just one of the many science-based articles about the effects of a stressed mom on her baby. This actually starts in the womb, surprisingly. The effects of your own stress are not just on you, so finding a way to release that stress would be beneficial to those you love the most.
You will actually have more energy to give to your kids.
Ironically, the cure to exhaustion is to exhaust yourself through physical exercise. Exercising enhances your blood flow, which makes carrying oxygen and other nutrients to your muscle tissue more efficient, which then helps your body produce more energy.
"Contrary to popular belief, exercising doesn't make you tired -- it literally creates energy in your body.
Your body rises up to meet the challenge for more energy by becoming stronger,"
Samantha Heller, MS, RD, a nutrition advisor for the Journey for Control
Make a plan, and stick to it!
Show your family that health is a priority--not just for you, but for your kids as well! Pre-plan your exercise routine, whenever it fits for you. Write it down somewhere--you're 50% more likely to achieve that goal than if you don't write it down. Explain to your kids (even small ones) that healthy is important to you and exercising makes you a happier mom. Immediately after my runs my daughter asks me "Mommy, do you feel happy now?"
Wake up a little earlier.
Studies show that you are more likely to stick to your workout goals if you get it done it in the morning--when willpower is strongest. This might be the only time in the day when your husband is home, so you can head to the gym. If that isn't an option for you, just head down to the living room and start a new video workout (there are some really good ones that will kick your bum--posted below) My friend, Sarah (mom of 4), wakes up at 5 every single morning to do her Beachbody workouts. She never misses one because it's a plan, a routine, and she makes no excuses.
Plan for an extra-fun activity each day.
If you actively plan a fun quality-time activity (whether it be a craft, trip to the park, a playdate with friends or a fun backyard picnic), you'll likely alleviate some of that the mom-guilt. I often do this when I do longer workouts. Quality is so much more important to your kids than quantity.
Squeeze in a stroller run.
Running with a jogging stroller is NOT easy, I know, but that's a huge benefit to you! You will get a workout in twice as fast, plus your kids get to be involved in the process. My daughter (almost 3) has just reached the age where she wants to run the last quarter-mile leg with me, so I'm getting to model for her the importance (and fun aspect) of exercise.
