I am not a health expert. I am not a health coach. I am just sharing what has worked for me so far as I have raised my family. It’s not easy to stay in shape with seven kids. But I try to maintain my health so that I can be a good mom to them.

Don’t Yo-Yo, Establish Health Routines

I would describe myself as a very steady person. I don’t get usually get overly excited. I don’t often dip into the depths of despair. I like my days to look pretty much the same. So, what works for me has been establishing health routines. I used to exercise every other day for twenty minutes. Usually, running. In the winter I would do a fitness video. It’s not a lot but I have been very consistent. Rain or shine, sun or snow, my early morning fitness minutes get me recharged and ready for my day. On a good Saturday I might get a lot more time. On a crazy day I might only get ten minutes. But, for the vast majority of weeks out of the year this is what my routine looks like. During coronavirus I upped my frequency to daily exercise. I have found it helpful but not a game changer. My goal is twenty to thirty minutes 3-4 days a week.

Eat Nutritious Food

Again, I don’t follow a diet. I don’t count my carbs. I follow a health code in my church known as the Word of Wisdom. I don’t drink alcohol or coffee. I don’t smoke. And I eat lots of whole grains, fruits and veggies. I do not eat a lot of meat. I also take a daily multivitamin. To me, this is just common sense, no-excuse eating. In the summer my family almost becomes vegetarians. We eat a lot of garden produce. In the winter time we eat a little more meat. Not much junk food. I just don’t keep it around the house. Then it doesn’t tempt me. If I have received too many plates of cookies in a week (holidays, beware) I just start pitching them in the trash. That way I’m not tempted to overindulge. Carrots , crackers, cheese and apples are favorite snacks for me and my kids. This is how I keep my waistline down and my spirits up.

Get Outdoors

When my boys were little I tried to get them and me outside every day. I still make it a point to take breaks outside and to do healthy family activities like hiking, camping, biking and rafting. We rarely go to movies at the movie theater and we don’t play a lot of video games. Instead, we invest in outdoors sports and adventure experiences. We also like to garden and to visit places outdoors where we can pick our own fresh produce. These things have kept me and my family happy and healthy in a natural way.

What have been your most helpful health routines?