Stay-At-Home Moms: Get Organized to Manage Your Weight

Being organized is one of the most important things someone can do to help manage his or her weight. Here are some practical suggestions you can put to use immediately.

1. Keep a time log

What's one of the biggest obstacles to starting and maintaining regular exercise? Lack of time. While it may seem like you don't have enough time to exercise, the truth of the matter is that we make time for what we want to do. There are 1440 minutes in a day. You only need to carve out 30 - 60 to sculpt the body you want.

Grab a pencil and paper and write down what you do in a day and what time you do it. You can either do it from memory or write it as it happens. Then take a few minutes to add up where all your time goes. This is an eye-opening experience for most people because they really don't know where the time goes.

2. Develop a system for all your household work

Laundry System

Finding and using a system that can work for you will help to save you a lot of time. If it takes you a lot of time to do you laundry, then figure out a way to cut down on the time you spend doing it. For instance, you can sort your laundry as you use the clothes instead of doing it on laundry day.

When it's time to fold the clothes, designate one basket for each person in the house instead of piling the clothes together. Then you can give each person their basket or you can just save yourself the time of sorting through the pile again later.

Cooking System

If you find that cooking takes too much of your time, consider reducing the number of times per week you cook, while increasing the amount you cook at once. For instance, on Sunday, you can cook enough food to last through Wednesday. You can freeze what you don't use for another day. You will have a lot more time to exercise, sleep, or relax if you only have to cook and clean the kitchen two nights per week instead of five or six.

Grocery Shopping System

Never go to the grocery store without a list. You will save a lot more time and money that way because you will be less likely to buy on impulse and you'll go straight for what you need. If you don't want to take the time to make a list, find a grocery list template online and print out several copies.

Try making fewer trips and buying more food in one trip. This will free up a few more Saturday (or whatever day you shop) mornings in your month. Don't forget to eat before you go so you won't be as tempted to buy junk food.

3. Schedule exercise

Once you have carved out more time in your day using the methods described here, you will have found some slots for workouts. Make sure to schedule your workout just like you would schedule any other daily or weekly task. If you don't, before you realize it your day will be over and you never got to exercise.

These tips will help you carve the body that you love, and find other ways to add activities into your day.