Most mums find the days go by so quickly – and before you know it, the kids are in bed, the kitchen is clean, lunches and uniforms are ready for the next day, and you’re feeling too tired to do anything but shower and go to sleep!

Libby Butler who has lost 16kg through the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge says while she feels tired most days, she ALWAYS finds ways to fit exercise in when she can, even when she’s too tired to do anything.

“As a working mum, I totally understand how much effort it can take to exercise each day,” she says.

Here are her 6 top tips on how to introduce exercise to your day and exercise before bed – even when you don’t feel like it!

The best workouts to do when you’re too tired to exercise

1. Incidental exercise

Whether you’re at work or at home during the day, if you find you’re too tired early or late in the day, make incidental exercise your friend! 

• Squat to pick each item out of the washing basket to hang on the line. 
• Plank or donkey kicks while you’re on the floor, picking up toys.
• Use the kitchen bench for push ups while you wait for the microwave or kettle.
• Heel raises while taking a phone call.
• Chair kicks as you send faxes at work.
• Squats while you do some filing.
• Take the stairs instead of the lift.
• Walk over to speak with a colleague instead of emailing.

Slip it into your day and before you realise you’re exercising before you acknowledge that you’re tired.

2. Walking

A walk first thing in the morning or in the evening before or after dinner is a great way to fill your lungs with fresh air and re-energise to get you through everything that needs to be done.

Walking somewhere with a nice view can do wonders for your mental health and can help get you out of a slump. Organise a regular walk with a friend or a group – when I commit to meeting someone, it makes it difficult to “let down” the other person and cancel if I change my mind.

Make it a family event, and schedule it into your calendar so that you can all motivate each other to go – put the kids on their bikes or scooters (or in the pram) and try to keep up! Change your location each week to keep things interesting – organise family bush or beach walks.

3. The 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge exercise plans

I love how I can complete the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge exercise plans in the comfort of my lounge room, in front of the TV, still in my work clothes (I sometimes find this is the best way for me to avoid the excuses and just get it done!).

I know that, no matter how tired I am, I will always feel better after completing my exercise before bed. even if I only manage to get through one round – that’s more than I’d have done if I made excuses! 

4. The 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge App workouts

Utilise the tools you have in the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge. Workouts such as Tabata, DanceFit, Butt & Thighs and Core workouts take 10 minutes and under. You don’t even need to get changed – there’s one opportunity for excuses avoided – workout as you are, before you change your mind. Make your choice from the App, press play, and GO!

Surely we can all do 4 minutes to start with? You will feel much more energised after a quick workout. Crank up the Healthy Mummy playlist on Spotify, and have FUN!

5. Involve your children

Involving the kids in your exercise can make it seem like fun and not a task to check off your list.

My children LOVE to participate in my 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge workouts, but also enjoy getting active outdoors together! It’s a win-win and we all have fun together, no matter how tired I feel before we get started.

6. Group fitness classes

Join a group, organise to exercise with a friend. I find that this motivates me to exercise, even when I just don’t feel up to it. I make a commitment with others and I honour it so I don’t let them down.

Something invigorating like boxing or bootcamp, where you work with other people, will help relieve fatigue. The hardest part is getting yourself there – once the endorphins kick in, you won’t be feeling tired anymore!

Libby’s remarkable 16kg weight loss success story

Despite suffering from PCOS most of her life, Libby credits the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenges for helping her lose 16 kilograms and improving her overall sense of well being.

“Realising just how big I’d got was a shock. I was also depressed, unhappy, moody, tired, unmotivated, and my PCOS symptoms were getting worse and really getting me down,”she says.

“Nothing I had tried previously worked for me. The Healthy Mummy popped up in my Facebook newsfeed because a friend of mine had liked it, so I checked out the website and decided to take up the special offer they had available on the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge. 

“Being able to customise the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge Meal Plan has meant that I can change the program to suit me, my family, our preferences, our budget and my health needs.”

Libby says she wants to teach her children about healthy food and balance, so they understand why good food is so important.

“As a child, I had quite poor food habits – no fault of my parents. I had no idea about portion control – I used to buy things from the school tuck shop, and swap my healthy food in the school yard,” she adds.

“Now I plan, I prep, I bake and I make things for my family I never thought I would! I always ensure there are healthy options available for myself and my family, and we no longer buy take away or convenience foods.

“The Healthy Mummy  is deeply ingrained in my life now, and changed it for the better!”

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