Weight Loss And Being A Good Mother – Can You Do Both?
Losing weight requires a certain amount of focus on ourselves.
We need to make time for exercise, put thought into our diet, nurture ourselves so that we aren’t constantly seeking comfort in food.
But for some people, perhaps especially for mothers, this can feel selfish. It can seem wrong to prioritize our needs when we have a family to worry about.
But you don’t have to see it this way – America’s First Lady sure doesn’t.
In fact, according to Michelle Obama, focusing on your own health and happiness isn’t selfish at all – it’s practical.
By investing in herself, by focusing on ‘self-preservation tools’, she’s able to perform at her best for her family.
Even better, she says she can be there for her family not just out of obligation, but out of love.
She consciously models for her daughters the idea of investing in herself, not only in others.
I don’t have kids, but I do have a husband, family, friends and businesses, and I definitely have more to give each of them when I take care of myself.
What about you?
- Do you feel a conflict between your desire to lose weight and your desire to be a good parent?
- Are you conscious of what you’re modelling for your kids?
- Do you need to focus more on your own ‘self-preservation’?
I struggle with this a lot! I am mom to three kids (two with special needs) and my attention is demanded 24/7… I am really having a hard time finding a balance and the time to make the changes necessary for my weight loss goals to become a reality.
I do have a hard time with this. I homeschool my boys and time is on short availability for myself. I recently realized they were seeing me do things for everyone else and not myself- I don’t want them to expect this of their future spouses! I also have been getting sick more and having a hard time recovering. I now carve out time in the afternoon for me to exercise most days of the week. I have explained to them, they are 8yo so I can:-), that I am exercising to keep me healthy and strong and that they can read, play in the yard, whatever, until I am finished. One hour out of 24 is not too much to ask for myself.
For mothers who worry it’s selfish to make time for exercise these are two good reminders:
1. You’ll have more energy and feel less stressed, so you’ll have more to give.
2. You’ll set a great example for the kids. 🙂