Stay Active

Get Moving ... 

Being active doesn't always mean dripping sweat. Yes, it's important to get a few good workouts in throughout the week, but if you are not used to working out, there are small changes you can make now to ease you into it.

Be Aware

Get a pedometer - even most cheap ones work perfectly fine. The recommended amount of physical activity is 10,000 steps per day or 140 min of exercise per week. Being aware of how many steps you take throughout the day can help you set realistic goals to increase your activity.

Stand, Don't Sit

For those of us that have a desk job, sitting is the enemy. Simply standing up while you are doing your work can make a huge difference.

Walk, Walk, Walk

Going for walks is challenging during the winter, but that doesn't mean you have to stop walking all together. Walking in place or around the house/office is a great way to stay active throughout the day. When you're at the store, do a couple laps around the perimeter before you start your shopping. At home watching tv, do the side step. You may feel awkward at first, but once you get over that, you will be amazed at how many steps you can take while just watching a half hour tv show. Speaking of tv, here is a great little commercial break workout that you can do to keep you moving: 

None of these things are meant to replace a regular workout routine, but all too often we jump into a hardcore exercise program, lose momentum, and just stop all together. Incorporating some of these small habits into your every day life can help keep you moving toward a healthier you!

Sound The Alarm!

Everyone has probably heard that you should eat small meals throughout the day. Well, for me, unless I actually think about it, I either eat more often or not nearly as much as I should. 

The biggest difference since I got pregnant is spacing out my meals and snacks. I eat breakfast and set my alarm for 2 hrs later so I can check my blood sugar. If you make a conscious effort to eat every two hours (meal, snack, meal, snack, etc) it will make such a difference. 

Try to limit carbs to under 45 per meal and 15-20 per snack (If you are smaller, you may need less). Doing this will keep blood sugars stable and keep your metabolism going throughout the day. 

I'm telling you, it's hard to get into the habit at first if you're not used to it, but it has made such a difference, I can't even explain. Forget about the grazing or just going to the fridge when you're hungry - set your alarms! Breakfast, 2 hours later: snack, 2 hours later: lunch, etc. 

It's ok if you don't get it right away, just try over the next couple days to get into a little routine!