5 Weight Loss Tips for Busy Parents

As parents and kids adjust to the new normal, schedules are extra busy and time is super crunched. For parents, finding time to maintain weight loss or even just staying healthy will become even harder. We’ve come up with a list of five things for busy parents to do in order to lose weight during these hectic times!

Here are five weight loss tips for busy parents:

1. Set your own rules.

Your days might be regimented by the at-home balance of work, homeschooling, chores and exercise—organized chaos that soaks up your time, leaving little for yourself. That’s why setting your own plan and schedule for weight loss is important. According to Shape, the most success is rendered when you make lifestyle changes rather than “diet” changes. Establish specific goals, come up with a schedule—even including your weekly indulgence—and move through life knowing this one aspect is taken care of and planned.

2. Drink water.

It sounds so simple… too simple even, but it’s true! Drinking water is one of the simplest ways to lose and maintain weight. According to Medical News Today, “water is a natural appetite suppressant” and may help you remove waste from your body. Water is also essential for the body to burn fat. Therefore, drinking water is one of the best “busy schedule hacks” for weight loss. Fill up your largest reusable water bottle and take it on the go as you navigate at-home schooling, work, errands and everything else that comes your way!

3. Use the buddy system.

Nothing holds you to a schedule like the accountability from another person. Therefore, have a workout buddy, whether it’s a friend, a neighborhood walking partner, your kids or your coworker—find someone to hold you accountable. Want to skip a gym session? Your accountability partner will keep you in check. Want to skip on that walk at lunch break? They’ll keep you in check. Want to indulge in those chips rather than some carrots? Send them a text and receive some words of encouragement instead. Even if the support is just virtual through a phone call, text or video call, you can keep each other on track towards a healthier lifestyle. According to Essence, an accountability partner is like “your own personal cheerleader” who can also keep you in check throughout your journey.

4. Choose satisfying snacks.

While your increased water intake should limit those snack cravings, it is important that you reach for valuable snacks when the time comes. Opt for smart and satisfying snacks rather than something saturated with carbs. Nuts, seeds, veggies and turkey jerky provide you with healthy fats, fiber or protein to keep you full and satisfied. When things get busy, snack smartly and reach for a something that won’t set you back.

5. Meal prep.

We know, we know! This is the worst one to hear. It’s so obvious. Everyone says it. Every fitness Instagrammer does it and yet it’s so dreadful. Why is it so successful? Essentially, meal prep intervenes between you and a busy schedule. When we are rushing around and short on time, we tend to grab whatever is at arm’s length—regardless of its healthiness. When we have premade meals, it’s quick and easy to reach for that we know is healthy and properly portioned. According to Shape, meal prepping, as daunting as it sounds, doesn’t need to be hard and doesn’t need to consume your whole day. In other words, a few hours of work can save you from making bad choices in a rushed environment later on!