It's hard out there for a busy mom. If you've been wanting to shed a few unwanted pounds, but you simply don't have any extra time in your day to hit the gym, complete a workout DVD or attend a weight loss meeting, trying to figure out where to start can seem an impossible task. However, it's actually possible to drop a few pounds here and there without making any major changes.
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Be realistic. First of all, you'll have to accept you limitations. If you don't have time or energy for huge changes, you're not going to see huge changes. But, that doesn't mean that you can't lose five pounds or tone that booty–it just means you shouldn't expect to lose 20 pounds or completely reshape your body.
Swap your snacks. By simply getting rid of the chips, candy, ice cream, soda and fried food, you'll instantly cut hundreds or even thousands of calories from your diet. Calories cut equals weight loss, as long as you maintain the same or greater level of physical activity. That doesn't mean you have to go hungry though. Just don't buy the bad stuff and eat the good stuff instead–carrots, cucumbers, celery, avocado, apples, bananas, mango, pineapple, nuts, water, seltzer, are all excellent replacements for the junky stuff that taste great and will keep you fuller for longer, so you'll actually snack less.
Build in exercise. There are lots of fat burning, toning body weight exercises you can do without taking any extra time out of your day. Squat while you wash dishes, do crunches and jumping jacks during commercial breaks, do some yoga stretches at your desk or during bathroom breaks at work. Oh and don't forget to take the stairs when possible and to skip the prime parking spot right in front of the store for a further one.
Get more sleep. Studies have shown that more sleep equals less weight gain over time. Plus, the more sleep you get, the more energy you'll have for a more active lifestyle. Win, win.
Eat real meals. A lot of moms have a tendency to not take the time to sit down and eat full meals. Instead, they just graze and pick throughout the day–grab some chips while cleaning the kitchen, eat what's left on the toddler's plate, sneak some chocolate while the baby's napping, etc.,. While it may not feel like you're eating a lot, because you're only eating a few bites each time, the calories add up quickly. Grazers tend to consume many more calories than people who sit down to eat three times a day. Plus, you're probably munching on all the wrong things.
Dine out the right way. You don't necessarily have to choose from the "health" menu when you go out to eat. What you should do is streamline your meal. Cocktails, appetizers, entree and dessert all in one meal is totally unnecessary, and will likely leave you feeling painfully full. Instead, choose your vice. I, for one, will pick alcohol over dessert any day of the week, so I hardly ever even look at a dessert menu. You can save 500 to a 1,000 calories or even more, in a single meal by skipping just one component.
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