3 Ways Fitness Helps You Be a Healthy Mom
August 22, 2022
by carol evenson, guest contributor
The task of raising a family is so important. Your kids may be little, now, but those are the humans that will grow up and have to face hard decisions. Those are the humans that will change the world, and it all starts with you. The environment surrounding your children will help shape them into the adults they will soon become. As a mom, your little ones are watching you closely. They are little sponges looking to emulate everything you do. That is why your health and what you do for your fitness are so important. Being a healthy mom will spill into so many different aspects of your life, as well as benefit your children. Here are some of the top ways your fitness helps with this.
Fills Your Cup
In order to bring the best you to the people around you, especially your children, you must first be there for yourself. You've probably heard the saying, "You can't pour from an empty cup." Well, it's very accurate. Don't be that empty cup. You have to learn to fill your own cup first in order to pour it onto the little ones that need you. It doesn't matter what your health and fitness preferences are, either. It could be running, Zumba, tea and meditation in the morning, Le-Vel Thrive (any Thrive review will attest to its benefits) or simply adding a vegetable to every meal. Whatever you decide, make sure it's something sustainable, enjoyable, and something just for you.
Releases Helpful Hormones
Exercise releases endorphins and dopamine over time. Dopamine is nicknamed "the happiness hormone," which is a pretty self-explanatory name. Endorphins are chemicals in your brain that secrete in response to stress. Normally, stress is thought of in the context of mental stress when life gets challenging. Your body doesn't know the difference between different kinds of stress, however. To your body stress is just stress. So physical stress, like working out, tells the body it needs "help" so it releases endorphins to help make you feel better. This, in turn, helps with any mental stress you may have, like the stress that comes with being a mom. This endorphin and dopamine reward is another perfect example of ways to fill up your cup.
Increases Longevity
No matter what age you are when you become a mom, kids are always a handful. The energy of a child is seemingly boundless. In some miraculous way, youthful energy seems to never run out, but it can also be very inspiring. This is another reason why fitness is so important to being a healthy mother. We definitely want to have the energy to keep up with our kids, and we most certainly want to be as healthy and alert as possible as we age and staying active plays a major role in attaining those things. Think of the possibility of any grandchildren that may come along, as well! The more physically active you are, the better quality of life you will have, not just in the present, but also in the future.
The amount of things you have to juggle as a mom seems almost insurmountable. You give and give constantly, so it can be hard to think about your own personal health. There are so many people that love you, though, and not only want you to be around for a long time but also want you to be happy and take care of yourself in the present. Doing so is not selfish. It's necessary.
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Guest Writer
Carol Evenson is an entrepreneur and professional consultant specializing in C-level training and business growth. She currently works with organizations across the globe assisting CEOs with their expansion strategies. Carol also works as a real estate agent when she has the time.
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