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Exercises, Workouts

The importance of exercise as a parent:

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As every parent knows, when becoming a parent finding the time and energy to do any form of exercise can be hard. Your own priorities are shifted to suit your childs needs and you are hit with lack of sleep and energy, however, this is completely normal. Especially as new parents, you’ll find yourself exercising less due to the new routine.

Exercising does not necessarily mean trying to lose weight, it helps to keep you physically healthy and strong. Regular exercise is essential for everyone’s well-being, including parents. Being a parent is not always a walk in the park, therefore it is vital to take extra care of your mental health.

Going to the gym is not for everyone, therefore, many prefer to workout in the comfort of their own home and space. Which can be made simple and fun for even your children to enjoy or watch if too young.

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Don’t underestimate walking. Walking has many hidden health benefits that we do not often realise. Not only does walking improve blood circulation but also strengthens the heart. It helps improve adults and children’s sleep (which is a plus for parents), strengthens muscles, lightens your mood and boosts your energy.

Leaving the house as a parent can sometimes be difficult as not everything goes to plan. Walking can be done anywhere whether it’s near your house or in a park, it’ll help parents to relieve their stress, get out of the house and enjoy the fresh air and this goes for kids of any age too.

Here are some ideas to make exercising easier and fun:

-let your child join in with home workout moves:

Online workout videos are the best to follow when working out at home, it guides you to do the correct moves that will strengthen your body and there are so many videos to choose from.

When allowing your child to join in with you, it can be a time to bond and enjoy an activity together and both benefit from.

Switch the video on a big screen for your child to see and let them join in (of course only the easy workouts) if your child is still too young let them watch they will most probably find it funny.

-Yoga:

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Yoga is beneficial for both parents and children, it focuses on the mind and the body reducing stress and anxiety, and can really help children with their emotions.

It is great to do as a family activity all you need is a yoga video and a yoga mat and your all set to go.

– Invest in home gym equipment:

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Although most homework outs don’t require gym equipment, it is always good to have a few in your household in order to develop your exercise and strength.

There are a variety of equipment to choose from in different sizes to fit your needs.

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Keeping both you and your children active during the day can help children to settle quicker when sleeping and helps parents to feel more relaxed.  Remember even simple short exercises are good for your mental health.

 

 

Weight loss

Tips on how to lose weight on a calorie deficit diet:

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When you hear the word diet you automatically think of boring dull food and hours of exercising. But when on a healthy calorie deficit, you can enjoy the foods you love by eating in moderation and taking part in fun short home workouts that will help you to reach your goal.

Your calorie intake is calculated in a certain way depending on your height, age, weight and how active a person is. You would need to eat 500-1000 calories less than the number of calories your body needs a day in order to lose 1-2 pounds (lb) a week. To find out your calorie allowance for your BMI check the NHS Website.

Fitness app:

Fitness apps are an easy way to guide you in the right direction with not only exercise but meals and calorie counting. The app allows you to work out from home with professional guidance and also has easy low-calorie recipes to follow that you can enjoy.

However, there are several apps available at exercise.co.uk that have more advanced options than others.

  • Own your goals
  • Sole Fitness
  • Inspire Fitness
  • Bionic Body
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Here are some important tips:

– What to eat:

A balanced diet is the key to a healthy diet with stable weight loss. When preparing meals make sure your plate contains proteins at least one meal a day, carbohydrates, minerals, fibre and vitamins. Fill your plate up with plenty of vegetables in order to feel satisfied. Aim to cut down saturated fat and prepare meals with a little salt.

– Which foods to avoid:

Foods that are high in calories are best to avoid, such as oil. It is very easy to go over your calories when cooking with oil. Therefore, the best alternative is ‘spray oil’ this will help to keep count of your calories.

– Don’t drink your calories!

A forgotten source of calories, are drinks. Drinks are often packed with calories and sugar. Always check the calories to make sure.

When drinking a lot of sugar beverages, can increase your hunger and add unnecessary calories.

It is best to save these calories for something more filling.

Tea and coffee are great to drink when dieting, they are healthy and low in calories. They also stop cravings. However, avoid adding sugar as only one spoon has 16 calories in it. This may not sound like a lot but when drinking a few cups, a day the calories add up.

– Drink plenty of water:

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Not only does water help a person stay hydrated but it also speeds up metabolism and helps avoid feeling hungry.

Use a refillable water bottle which you can sip from throughout the day.

-Weigh food and count calories:

When weighing food makes counting calories easier and more precise.

Don’t forget you are not limited there are always alternatives for certain foods with lower calories, just remember to always check the label when shopping.

When on a diet consistency is the key. If you have a one-off day or a cheat meal, don’t worry, don’t give up and carry on where you last left off.