With all the excitement and challenges of being a new mum, it is easy to neglect yourself and your own well-being. Here are some simple points for making sure you stay healthy and happy!

Leave the housework for 20mins a day and find some “me time”, you’ll be able to cope better in the long run, and looking after children means looking after you!!

Our nutrient needs drastically increase to meet the demands of a busy house hold, lack of sleep, and to cope with hormonal fluctuations. Breastfeeding mums need more nutrients and fluids.

Sometimes it’s difficult to fit in ‘me time’ or time for exercise, but there’s plenty of things you can do at home to keep fit, stay healthy and lose those excess kilos.

Ensure you don’t skip meals, eating 5-6 times per day will help keep your blood sugar levels and your energy levels even. Organise healthy snacks that are easy to grab in between meals, even if it’s a handful of nuts and a piece of fruit, cheese on toast or a smoothie. If you leave the house with the kids pack a snack for you as well, ‘tuna snackits’ and a piece of fruit are a great portable snack. I recommend that all my clients take a good quality multi vitamin daily; this is an excellent insurance against nutrient deficiencies.

Exercise doesn’t have to be structured, think of it as increased activity over the day, most mums are fairly active anyway so using a pedometer is a great way to find out just how active we are, aim for 10,000 steps a day, sometimes that’s achieved just by running around after children.

Firm up your muscles – rent a Pilates DVD, buy a Swiss ball, or try yoga, just 20 minutes 3-4 times per week is all it takes and this is a great way to tone up at home.

Baby press ups are a fun way of toning your chest and arms, lie on your back holding your child on your chest, push your arms out straight over your chest, then back down slowly, repeat 10-15 times.

Baby Squats – holding your baby at your chest standing up straight with your legs about 30-40 cm apart, keeping your chest up squat down slowly then come up slowly, repeat 10-20 times this is a great exercise for shaping your legs, butt and thighs, keep your tummy pulled in and it will even help tone your stomach and pelvic floor muscles.

Article kindly supplied by Real Nutrition www.realnutrition.co.nz