Life in your 20s was good. You lived your life, worked hard, let your hair down a bit, and although work was a bit stressful, you felt like you had some balance. You never had a perfect relationship with food, but that didn’t matter because you were living your best life! And even if you weren’t on top of your health 100 percent, or you had an unhealthy weekend, you could live with it, because you didn’t have a miniature person relying on you bringing your A-game.
Fast forward a few years, and a few kids, and you now find yourself juggling
the longed-for motherhood,
the work that keeps you sane,
the school run (in the rain),
the relentless laundry (piled up in the lounge, patiently waiting to be folded and put away),
the bank-breaking food shop,
the endless ‘what shall we have for dinner?’ (argh why didn’t you meal plan this week?),
the cooking of said dinner,
the punishing bedtime ‘routine’ (which feels like less of a routine these days, and more of a ‘just go to bed!’)
…and then you do it all again tomorrow!
It’s already a lot. And now you’re a bit older, a bit more sleep deprived (you shouldn’t have stayed up binge-watching Selling Sunset again, but it was your only ‘me time’!), a dress size or two bigger (which shouldn’t matter, but it does to you), and staring down the barrel of a slippery slope towards perimenopause. (Ssh, it’s just around the corner and it might hear you and come for you early!)
You’re in your prime, apparently.
Except, you’re not. The health niggles are still there because you never quite got around to doing anything about them before, and then the kids came along, and you got too busy.
Sound familiar? It’s quite a specific scenario, but one that is so COMMON for modern-day mums in their 30s and 40s. As a mum of three young daughters, juggling home and work, knocking on the door of a big birthday this year – I see you, I know you, I am you.
I know the true value of meal planning and weekly food shopping (online so I can keep an eye on what I spend and not veer off track with unnecessary extras, AND get my Netflix fix). It helps keep me sane through the week when hubby asks what we are having for dinner. He’ll happily cook it, but it’s not his forte to think up what it is. And we have to play to our strengths; divide and conquer!
I know the personal benefits of eating foods that nourish my body, and limiting those that don’t. I don’t want to tell my brain I can’t have something, because then it will want it! So I still enjoy chocolate, wine, gin, the occasional dessert, etc. But they don’t take over my thoughts. I know that if my body is supported by 80 percent of my food, it can cope with the 20 percent that I enjoy, but that’s less beneficial.
I know that by ensuring my gut and microbiome are balanced and happy, then the rest of my body follows suit. A history of antibiotics, tummy bugs, and food poisoning had thrown things out of whack, and it takes time and patience to get the gut back on track. But supporting my gut health has been key to balancing everything else.
This week (9th to 15th May 2022) is Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK, and the Mental Health Foundation is tackling loneliness. So I just wanted to add that…
Being a new mum with a tiny baby can be lonely.
Being a mum at home all day with your toddler can be lonely.
Being a mum working from home can be lonely.
Being a mum struggling with the huge to-do list in your head can be lonely.
Being a mum battling with your health (or your child’s health) can be lonely.
But you’re not alone. There are so many other mums in the same boat. But even though it might be common, it doesn’t mean that you can’t take the next step to feel less lonely and to feel healthier. Reach out.
If you need some support as a mum to improve your health, or your child’s health, or just to help get more organised with personalised meal planning and healthy recipes to keep your sanity in check, then get in touch for a free 15-minute discovery call where we can discuss your needs and how I can help.
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