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Whether you’re trying to lose the baby weight or just want to be in better overall physical shape, you know that, as a busy mom, finding time to workout and eat healthily isn’t always easy.

It also doesn’t help that there is so much conflicting information out there when it comes to trying to get fit — should you eat no carbs and tons of fat? How about all the carbs and no fat? Is it best to just drink protein shakes for every meal?

With so much information available online, it’s hard to know where to start. But, at the end of the day, getting healthy and fit isn’t as difficult as people make it out to be. If you keep these five hacks in mind, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your goal body.

1. Add HIIT Intervals to You Daily Tasks

As a busy mom, finding even twenty consecutive minutes to workout can be a challenge. Between trying to keep your house clean, feed your kids, and get meals prepared, you barely have time to think, let alone exercise.

One easy way to increase the number of calories you burn throughout the day is to incorporate tiny bursts of intense activity when you’re doing chores or taking care of your kids. This is sort of like a mom-friendly version of high-intensity interval training.

Some examples of HIIT intervals you can do throughout the day include:

• Do 10 air squats every time you load or unload the dishwasher

• Do 15 overhead presses with your laundry basket when you go to change loads

• Do 5 burpees after you put your kids down for a nap

• Do 30-second planks as you wait for food to heat up in the microwave or on the stove

It might not seem like much, but these little bursts of exercise will definitely add up over time, especially if you’re consistent.

2. Include Your Kids in Your Workouts

Maybe you feel like you have some time for a longer workout but need something to keep your kids entertained while you exercise. Don’t think that you have to be away from your kids during your workouts.

In fact, it’s great for them to see you prioritizing exercise — it will help instill the importance of physical fitness in them from a young age and increase their likelihood of prioritizing exercise when they get older.

Set up some toys in the living room or garage while you exercise so your kids have something to do. You can also encourage them to join you — kids make great weights and can provide some extra resistance to make your workout more challenging!

3. Limit Sugar

If you want to be really precise when you’re trying to lose weight, calorie counting is the way to go. But, calorie counting can be a challenge when you’re a busy mom trying to keep track of kids and keep your house together.

So, instead of tracking every single calorie you eat, start by simply paying attention to the sugar content of your food.

Most people eat way too much sugar throughout the day, and limiting sugar consumption is an easy way to lower your overall calorie intake without having to spend a ton of time counting, weighing, and measuring.

Flip over the package of your favorite foods and snacks and check to see how many grams of sugar they contain. Try to avoid options that have more than 6 grams of sugar.

4. Use a Slow Cooker

When it comes to preparing healthy meals, nothing beats the slow cooker. It’s also the perfect tool for busy parents. All you have to do is throw your ingredients in, set the temperature, and let it do all the hard work for you.

Good examples of easy meals you can make in the slow cooker include:

• Shredded barbecue chicken (just be sure to use a low-sugar barbecue sauce)

• Chicken noodle soup

• Beef or chicken chili

You can also make large batches of oatmeal or a breakfast casserole in the crockpot for healthy morning meals.

5. Don’t Forget to Track Your Progress

Finally, don’t forget to track your progress. It’s easy to get discouraged if you feel like you’re not seeing changes right away. But, if you monitor your weight, pay attention to decreases in your measurements, and take regular pictures of yourself, you’ll be reminded that you are making progress, even if it’s not easily visible yet!

Courtney P.

I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!

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