Being a mother is hard. Very hard. And very underrated. The pressure of motherhood results in many side effects (lack of sleep, anyone?) but the biggest one being the complete neglect of fitness and eating right. After all, who has the time to hit the gym when hitting the bed seems like a better idea right?

Wrong. We are here to to help and guide all the exhausted and unfit mothers. All it takes is some discipline and the desire to get fit, thats all!  So its time to straighten up women, read, learn and apply.

Eating Clean

Many of us included “eat clean” on our list of New Year’s Resolutions. Ready to make the change, but not sure where to start? When you’re at the market, avoid the middle aisles where you’ll find most of the processed, packaged foods with artificial ingredients. Instead, shop the perimeter of the store for fresh foods like seasonal produce and lean meats.

Goodbye Soda

Cutting out soda is a key step in revamping your diet. Swap out the soda for water and add slices of fruit or veggies for an extra touch of flavor. Not only will the switch help your waistline, but watch what it does for your wallet. You can save up to $1,000 in a year!

Run Your First Race

Determined to run your first race? Here’s a secret to getting started: “run-walks.” Alternating between running and walking quickly builds up your endurance and confidence – a great way to train and get fit! Start with 20 minutes a day, three times a week. When you can’t get outside, try a treadmill or take a stroll through the mall – it definitely counts towards your fitness goal.

Mix It Up

Even if you’re busy, try to get in at least three workouts a week. Make sure you switch up the type and intensity of your exercises so you don’t plateau or get bored.

It’s A Date

According to Aetna’s “what’s your healthy?” survey, if respondents had one extra hour in a day, they would use it for exercise. It’s important to come up with a regular exercise schedule – you can make it a goal for 2018 or any year — one that lets you know where and when you’re planning to work out each week. Of course, plans can change, but it’s better to skip a scheduled exercise session than to have no schedule at all. If you save your workouts for whenever a spare moment “pops up,” you’ll end up exercising infrequently.

Turn to 100-calorie snacks

According to Aetna’s “what’s your healthy?” survey, 33% of respondents say they could in an instant drop eating large portions in order to become healthier. Set yourself up for success with 100-calorie snacks. A handful of almonds, homemade ranch dip with 1-2 cups of veggies, or 6 cups of fresh-popped popcorn are all great low-calorie options to take on-the-go.

Jump Rope and Burn Calories!

When you’re a new mom, squeezing in time to lose the baby weight can feel like a huge hurdle. Jumping rope can be the perfect quick-fix: you can burn over 100 calories with just 10 minutes of high intensity jumping! And you can do it almost anywhere! Just do small things like take the stairs instead of the elevator. Don’t forget that it all adds up.