Top 5 Working Mom Fitness Tips

I know I said I was going away for a while, but sometimes I can't help myself especially when it's spring and everyone's trying to get in shape for summer. Quite some time ago, I posted my tips for staying in shape while home with the kids and promised I'd do a similar post once I went back to work after maternity leave. Almost six months later, here I am. (So timely, I know!)

1. I converted to a stand-up desk shortly after I got back to work. There are some drawbacks to standing at your desk all day, especially when it comes to picking out footwear in the m0rning. Needless to say, my cute heels have been all but retired in favor of flats. I have also been known to kick my shoes off and stand in bare feet for quite a bit of the day because there's a big difference between shoes that are comfortable and shoes that are comfortable ALL DAY for 9 hours. I've heard that standing all day vs. sitting burns an additional 300-400 calories per day, though, so it's worth it. AND I don't feel like my hips are conforming to the shape of the chair, either.

2. Get up in the AM. I am a BIG believer in morning exercise. I'm lucky to be a morning person who doesn't require caffeine or even an alarm clock to get me out of bed, but I believe in morning exercise anyway because it affects how you think the rest of the day. When I've already invested 1/2 hour or more in exercise, do I really want to sabotage any weight loss by raiding that candy jar that's just 10 feet away from me all day? Well, I'll admit it's still hard but at least the morning exercise makes me think twice about it.

My new morning fitness routine?

Yes, I broke down and got an Ergo carrier. It was fairly pricey but I really felt I'd use it and after just one week, I realize I WILL! I grab Luke every morning at 6am and we go walking and talking for about 30 minutes. True, walking isn't the most strenuous exercise out there but I can run later - right now I just want to have some alone time with my precious baby boy! Anyway, with any luck by the end of the summer I'll look as thin as this lady in the above picture. :)

3. Don't eat after 5pm. This one is tough for me, since I don't leave work until 5:30pm so it requires me to basically pack my entire day's worth of food in the morning but when I adhere to this rule, the scale REALLY moves! I try to remember this when I get home just in time to see the kids eating dessert and I'm sooo tempted to partake!

4. Have a goal, not just a goal weight. Mine is our 9 year wedding anniversary coming up at the end of May. We're having pictures taken of us as a family. Here's a preview of me....

Ok, clearly that's not me but if I could look like that just this ONE time for this ONE picture, I would be THRILLED!

5. Confront the scale every day. I don't always like it, but it tells me the truth. Sometimes before I even step on it, I know. I take off every stitch of clothing and even remove any hair clips/rubberbands before I get on that thing and sometimes even THAT doesn't help! But I do it and will continue to do it EVERY DAY even after I make my goal weight. I know it will take some diligence to keep at the weight I haven't been at since sophomore year of high school, but I will get there and I will STAY there.

Just 15 lbs to go! (That's a lot, huh? Well I'm closer now than I've been in 10 years so that's still something to celebrate, right?)