Could having a baby be bad for your health? We all know that
eating right and keeping active makes for a healthier pregnancy,
increases the chance to have a healthy baby, and makes it faster and
easier to shed the baby weight and get back in shape after your child is
born.
A recent study, conducted at University of Minnesota, found that mothers of infants and young children ate more calories, more sugar and more fatty foods and weigh more than women without children. Fathers, as well as mothers, are less active than adults who don't have kids. The study of 1,520 adults in their 20s and 30s concludes that early childhood years are a "very high-risk time period" for parents when they need diet advice and ways to exercise that take into account the demands of young parenthood.
The study found that fathers still eat about the same amount as men without children, but get about a third less physical activity each week than men who don't have kids. This study didn't take into account how many of these parents are single or who have just had babies and haven't yet shed the extra pregnancy pounds.
If you're a young parent, struggling to juggle the demands of family life and need ways to get healthier and lose weight, here are some useful tips:
A recent study, conducted at University of Minnesota, found that mothers of infants and young children ate more calories, more sugar and more fatty foods and weigh more than women without children. Fathers, as well as mothers, are less active than adults who don't have kids. The study of 1,520 adults in their 20s and 30s concludes that early childhood years are a "very high-risk time period" for parents when they need diet advice and ways to exercise that take into account the demands of young parenthood.
The study found that fathers still eat about the same amount as men without children, but get about a third less physical activity each week than men who don't have kids. This study didn't take into account how many of these parents are single or who have just had babies and haven't yet shed the extra pregnancy pounds.
If you're a young parent, struggling to juggle the demands of family life and need ways to get healthier and lose weight, here are some useful tips:
- Get out every day. Put little ones in the stroller or wagon and go for a brisk walk or jog for half an hour. You'll lighten your mood, feel less anxious, help your metabolism, sleep better and lose weight.
- If there is one word for new parenthood, that word is exhaustion. Grab all the sleep you can - even brief naps during the day, if possible - while your baby learns how to sleep at night like the rest of us.
- Eliminate the pop (or soda), even the diet ones, and drink more water - at least 8 glasses a day. If you hate the taste of water, flavour it with a slice of lemon, lime, orange or grapefruit or a splash of fruit juice.
- Stop eating bad food. Fast food and convenience foods may be quick, but they're loaded with salt, sugar, fat and calories, not to mention the chemical additives and preservatives. They're also expensive. What you need is what you'll eat more of on a well-designed, healthy diet -- more healthy (the bright-coloured) fruits and vegetables, lean meat, fish, skinless chicken and turkey, and healthy grains.
- Rid your shelves of junky foods including sugary cereals, packaged cookies and snacks, chips, pretzels, crackers, ice cream, hot chocolate - anything that has sugar, salt, lots of calories, or chemicals. Eliminate all these temptations, and stock up on healthy snacks - such as yogurt, apples, cottage cheese, nuts (but not roasted nuts), and make your own low-fat, low-sugar treats (get the kids to help).
- If you want your children to grow up healthy, avoid illness, and never struggle with weight loss and fitness, you have to not merely talk about it, you have to live that way yourself. Choose a good, sensible and nutritious eating plan that you all can enjoy. Get out as a family and play - learn to swim, go hiking, fly kites, explore your city or town, play team sports. Lead by example.
- Pool tasks and resources with other parents. Keep all the kids while another parent does all the food shop for both families, for example.
- You need 'me time' to maintain your sanity. Schedule in at least a few hours a week - get a sitter, send the kids to a neighbour's, whatever you need to do, and plan some relaxing - it could just be reading or surfing the net. Or get out with friends for a few hours.
- Whether or not you have a partner, schedule date night, once a week. Plan something fun - to reconnect with your lover, or to get out with friends and maybe meet someone new.
Don't let parenthood be your excuse for not being in shape! Find more tips, including how to lose 10 pounds
fast the healthy way with a smart eating plan that works for busy moms
and helps shed pounds and keep them off for life. Here's how to get
started today with your smart and practical weight loss and fitness plan.
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