5 Tips for Busy Moms to Squeeze in Exercise

Whether you are chasing a toddler around your house, shuffling your school-aged children from school to after-school activities and sports practices and games, or taking care of your grandchildren, the roles every mother plays at any given time leave little to no time for themselves.

This is a guest post written by Tiffany.

I'll be the first to tell you that between chasing my little one around (now 15 months), working 4-6 hours every day from home, keeping my house somewhat organized and clean, and maintaining my relationship with Jim, it's hard! However, I do make time for fitness and I'm here to tell you - it's possible!

Check out these additional mom resources, also written by Tiffany!

• 5 Tips for Busy Moms to Squeeze in Exercise
• How to Occupy Children During Runs
• 7 Tips for Choosing the Right Jogging Stroller

Top 5 Tips for Busy Moms to Squeeze in Exercise

1. Take a deep breath and smile, you are not Superwoman.

Yep, that's right. You need to breathe. And smile. When you start to get overwhelmed and aren't sure how you are going to get anything done, let alone actually workout and spend some time on yourself, take a deep breath and smile. You will figure it out sooner and more efficiently if you are calm and less worked up.

2. Schedule your workout and fitness time and get into a routine.

Even if your schedule changes day to day, sit down for 2-3 minutes in the morning (maybe while your children are eating breakfast) and schedule your day. If you have an idea of what your day really "looks like" on paper, it's easier to find opportunities for fitting in some "you" time. We have a lot of free at-home fitness resources to choose (try this at-home full body workout or quick heart pounding interval workout). We even offer a Busy Body 4-Week Workout Plan!

RELATED: 5 Reasons Why You Need a Fitness Plan

3. Utilize breaks in your schedule to your advantage.

I was once told by a mom that she ran while her daughter was at gymnastics practice. I've held on to that because I've been there - I've taken my niece to ballet class only to sit there and watch through the miniature window. Why?!? They weren't doing anything overly special that day and it wasn't like I could see much anyway. Who needs to sit when you could go outside for 30-45 minutes and get your workout on?

4. Get help if it's available.

Before I had Bryce, I would workout with one of my friends that has two children. We would purposely drive to a facility 30 minutes away to workout so she could drop her children off with her mom for an hour and a half while we worked out. Some days, her and her neighbor would swap off watching the children. If you have this option - use it! If your gym has a daycare facility (like mine), you really eliminate some excuses.

5. Leave the "Mommy-Guilt" behind.

Don't let the "Mommy-Guilt" get you! This one might be the hardest for me, especially if I feel like Bryce hasn't gotten "enough" attention from me for the day, but it's important that you take care of you. After all, if you don't feel good, you won't be able to give your best to your little ones. Check that guilt at the door and go get your sweat on!

What's your best tip for the busy mom that still wants her time to exercise and keep fitness a priority in their life?

Good luck ladies! You can do this!

Tiffany

Deep Clean Your Wood Cutting Boards Naturally!

Making good food doesn't just rely on the recipe you use or your skill in the kitchen. It's also determined by how well you maintain the tools and surfaces that you have, regardless of how expensive they are! Let's talk about your wood cutting board today. When is the last time you deep cleaned it? Been a while? Let's do it tonight - it's so easy and you likely have the ingredients you need!

Check out our natural cleaning products list too, just in case you are in the mood to keep on cleaning after you finish cleaning your cutting board!

A few key pieces of information about wood cutting boards before we start:

1. NEVER, NEVER put them in the dishwasher! Although it seems like a good idea, wood is a porous substance and if soaking it full of water is a BAD idea!
2. On that same note, NEVER submerge your wood cutting board in water. It will dry out very quickly and will become dry and crack over time.
3. Although you can, it's not recommended that you cut meats on your wood cutting board because of the porous substance. BPA-free plastic or glass cutting boards are better for cutting meat (watch your knives though!)

Want to know what you need to deep clean your wood cutting board? A lemon and some coarse salt. 

Let's get started!

Wash your cutting board as you normally do - a little soap and a scrubber sponge or a brush. Rinse thoroughly.

Cut your lemon in half. Coat the wet board with coarse salt and squeeze the juice of 1/2 of the lemon onto your board. Let it sit for 1-2 minutes.

Take the other half of the lemon and begin to scrub the salt into the board using the cut side of the lemon, slightly squeezing the lemon to juice it as you scrub. Let the board sit for 1-2 additional minutes.

Rinse thoroughly. Stand the board upright to dry either on a towel or in your sink.

Want to restore the wood of your cutting board? Rub a little mineral oil into your board after it has dried. Mineral oil is odorless and tasteless.

Have scratches on your cutting board that drive you crazy? You can use a little bit of fine grit sandpaper to relieve the scratches. Be sure to wash and complete the steps afterward to remove the particles.

When's the last time you deep cleaned your cutting board?

Greek Yogurt vs. Traditional Yogurt - What's Your Better Choice?

Greek Yogurt vs. Traditional Yogurt - What's Your Better Choice?

If dairy is something you are including in your eat clean diet (yes, we consider organic dairy clean - in moderation), you need to know the difference between Greek yogurt and traditional yogurt. While there are recipes and situations that warrant the use of both, when in doubt, go Greek!

Here's the simple stats:

On average, Greek Yogurt has double the amount of protein than traditional yogurt. Think 20g vs 10g! The added protein will not only help rebuild your muscles and keep your body functioning at top capacity, but it keeps you feel fuller, longer.

Greek Yogurt typically also has half the carbs too! The taste is a little more on the tart side, but with the addition of berries, nuts and/or a small amount of honey, you can definitely trick your taste buds from noticing the difference!

Not sure what to look for when you go to the grocery store? Here are a few things to think about:

• We always try to buy organic dairy.
• NEVER buy flavored yogurts. They typically have added sugars and more ingredients than just fruit. If you can find one that ONLY has fruit, go for it, but we are yet to find one!
• 2% milk fat or 1% milk fat is a better choice than non-fat dairy products. Fat is a good thing if incorporated into your diet correctly! Non-fat varieties often have added sugars to compensate for a lack of milk fat.  

Have you incorporated Greek yogurt into your diet? What is your best suggestion for those who are yet to make the switch?

PS - We looked at the nutritional facts on FAGE Total 2% Greek Yogurt and Stonyfield Farms Organic Lowfat Plain Yogurt for the purposes of this article.