Family may now be her first priority, but
Jillian is still passionate about having a fit lifestyle. These days, however,
finding an hour (or even a few minutes, for that matter) to focus on working
out and eating right is so challenging, even she has had to make some
sacrifices. “I used to tell moms that for the sake of their well-being they had
to put themselves first,” she says. “But I know now that’s not always
possible.”
What is possible is achieving balance. It
just requires some planning. So whatever you’re juggling in your life,
Jillian’s tips will help you keep those balls in the air or at least not worry
so much if you drop one or two.
1. Find The Middle Ground
Jillian admits that her idea of what her
life would be like after becoming a parent was pretty idealistic. “I figured
I’d continue doing my various jobs as always, and if Heidi and I wanted to go
out, we’d go out,” she says. “The reality is, I work, but not nearly as much or
as hard as I used to, and if we go out, it’s maybe once a week.” What’s
changed? After weighing the pros and cons “like, I could go to the gym or spend
two hours with my kids; or I could take that job in Miami, hut then I’ll lose a
weekend with my family” Jillian began negotiating with herself.
“Like,
I could go to the gym or spend two hours with my kids; or I could take that job
in Miami, hut then I’ll lose a weekend with my family”
“Now instead of taking a 90-minute yoga
class, I go for a 30-minute jog around the neighborhood. I still work out four
times a week, but it’s not as intense,” she says. “And rather than a weekend
trip to Vegas with our friends, we have dinner in town.” Making time for things
that help rejuvenate your spirit and replenish your energy is also key, says
Jillian. “You’re not doing anyone any favors by being exhausted and frazzled.”
2. Master Multitasking
Jillian always told her clients that if
they weren’t fully focused on exercise for example, if they read a magazine
while running on the treadmill they wouldn’t get good results. Well, things are
a bit different now. “To save time and fit in exercise, I’ve learned to do
several things at once myself,” says Jillian, who calls herself an M.O.M., or
master of multitasking. So if she has a conference call scheduled, she’ll jump
on the Stair Master at the same time. Or she’ll climb on her stationary bike
while answering all of her emails. “It’s not the best solution in the world,”
she concedes, “but sometimes you’ve got to make your work and workouts
coexist.”
“To
save time and fit in exercise, I’ve learned to do several things at once
myself,” says Jillian
3. Get Everyone In On The Action
Being active as a family is the best way to
inspire your children to have a healthy lifestyle and sneak in some exercise,
says Jillian. For her, that might mean bringing Lu and Phoenix along when she
and Heidi hike the trails near their home, or attaching a sidecar to one of
their bikes and going for a long ride along the ocean. “I’m not the only one
who’s discovered this: I’ve even gotten some videos from moms doing my DVD
while their toddlers hark out orders or help count off the reps,” says Jillian.
“Just be creative!”
4. Inject Energy Into The Everyday
When you absolutely can’t fit in a
30-minute sweat session, don’t discount the value of housework to raise your
heart rate. “Mopping, sweeping, and dusting can burn hundreds of calories an
hour when you do them using consistent, strenuous movement,” says Jillian. She
also suggests taking on those physical duties you might normally avoid, like
mowing the lawn or raking leaves. “Or simply stand up whenever you’re on the
phone,” says Jillian. “Thu burn one and a half times the calories when you’re
on your feet than when you’re sitting down, which means you could burn up to
300 more calories a day. Do that five days a week and it really adds up!”
“Mopping,
sweeping, and dusting can burn hundreds of calories an hour when you do them
using consistent, strenuous movement,” says Jillian
5. Be A Smart (Grocery) Shopper
While Jillian has learned to make some
compromises on her fitness regime, she remains a steadfast advocate for eating
well. “This is where I’m going to get a little self—righteous,” she says. “So
many people have said to me, ‘I can’t wait for you to have kids and find
yourself at the drive-through.’ Look, I’m far from being a perfect parent, but
I promise that will never happen. And, honestly, I don’t understand why it does
for so many.” Jillian’s recipe for sticking to a nutritionally sound diet is
making sure her pantry is filled with staples that don’t require a lot of
cooking time—including fresh produce, eggs, instant oatmeal, almond butter,
hummus, organic turkey slices, beans, grass-fed ground beef, and whole- grain
pasta. “The other night we were able to make a fast dinner of heirloom tomatoes
and goat cheese with mini hamburgers on Ezekiel buns,” she says. And snacking
is also a “do” for Jillian, who says she always has PopChips and salsa on hand.
“It’s not a matter of cutting foods from your diet,” she says. “It’s a matter
of making better choices.”
6. Give Yourself A Break
Of course, there are times when even
Jillian falls short of her expectations. “Just like everyone else, I have off
days when I literally can’t fit in any exercise,” she admits. Her sleep often
suffers as well— despite a 9:30 p.m. bedtime. “There are nights when I only get
five hours. It happens!” The bottom line: “Nobody’s perfect. Do your best, and if
life doesn’t go according to plan, don’t stress out,” says Jillian. “You’re
making a serious effort, and it’s okay to slip up every once in a while. Just
get back on track as soon as you can, and don’t let it happen too often!”
“Nobody’s
perfect. Do your best, and if life doesn’t go according to plan, don’t stress
out,” says Jillian.
