Self-care is one of the first things to go when you have a tiny human to look after 24/7; when you’re exhausted or when it seems like every minute of your day is accounted for.
But as these mums prove the secret to maintaining your own health, is to make it a part of your daily routine. Keep reading to find out these three Aussies totally do-able morning routines. And grab your pens, these top tips are worth taking note of!
- Brooke Turner – Brooke is an accredited Nutritionist, Sport Scientist, Trainer, and Mother. Brooke believes in striving for a balanced approach to healthy, active living ? for long term physical and mental well-being and results. @balancefitnessandnutrition
The morning is a chance to take back some ?me? time before I tackle Mum and work mode so I am a huge fan of setting it up for a success. I always set my alarm for 5 am to get up and train ? be it a HIIT session in my home gym or a run on the treadmill before the kids wake up. On the weekends, I like to get the whole family up and out relatively early, ideally on the water if the weather’s good. We?ve recently picked up a Red Paddle Co paddleboard which has been good fun for everyone to get active on, I?ve found it especially good for building balance in my own body and mind.
Nutrition-wise, I like to make sure I?m hydrating and nourishing my body for the day ahead; lemon water (I have a rule that I need to have 750ml of water every morning before any coffee!) and my staple green smoothie ? avocado, spinach, coconut yoghurt, True vegan protein powder, raspberries and mango.
For me starting the day with movement and getting my hydration status up really helps to keep my mind clear, energy levels up and a positive mindset. I encourage many of my Mum clients to wake before their kids too if they can ? obviously if you have a newborn, baby 12 months or younger or one that isn?t great at sleeping this might not be for you, but if your little ones have a consistent sleep time then take advantage of that, get to bed a little earlier to get up and take some time for you!
- Lizzie Bland – Lizzie is not only a Mama to baby Rafferty, but a former professional ballet dancer, founder of fitness studio Lean Bean and Victoria’s Secret trainer. @leanbeanfitnessau
Wake up around 5 am (my alarm clock is now a baby) but I?ve always woken up early as I go to sleep super early – around 8:30 pm if I can!
I down a pint of water and brush my teeth. I don’t drink anything near bedtime because I was constantly running to the bathroom through the night so in the morning I?m pretty dehydrated.
Brush my teeth and wash my face with cold water, I do this before breakfast because it instantly freshens me up if I don?t have time for a shower yet. When it comes to skincare, I have three asks – it?s got to be quick, easy and natural. With this in mind, I reach for my trusty bottle of RosehipPLUS Rosehip Oil every morning, slather it on my face and run, this is my all-rounder moisturiser.
At around 6:30am I?ll have porridge with blueberries and peanut butter or some avo on toast (with saut?ed spinach if I can). I?ll usually have a second breakfast around 10am when I’ve got a break, as I need so much more energy than I did pre-baby!
Chores. I utilise the time my partner is at home so I can do laundry, dishwasher, clean the bathroom etc. I?m the kind of person that needs a tidy house and a made bed to function so I always try and make time for it. I know what you?re thinking – since when did 28-year-olds get so boring?!
Phone time. I charge my phone downstairs so I kinda forget about it in the morning. It?s normally a good hour before I get a chance to check messages and post on the @leanbeanfitnessau insta. I?ll then FaceTime our family in the UK before they go to bed.
Get out the house. I?ll normally go for a dog walk with the baby and head to a cafe with friends if I?m not teaching, but if I?m teaching a class or private session, I?ll head to Bondi – usually with a baby on my hip and get to work! Being out of the house is essential for anyone with kids for your mental health – Raf can?t talk and even though I love him more than life, it can get very boring. I?ll do a Lean Bean baby Mumma?s class for exercise if I?m in Bondi but if I?m at home in Paddington I usually do a Bean Online workout in the living room or head to the park for a power walk.
- Libby Babet – Celebrity wellness expert and Biggest Loser trainer, Libby Babet, entered the health & fitness world after discovering she had chronic hypertension (blood pressure three times the normal level). Libby reversed these numbers with a lifestyle overhaul and is now a mum to little Izzy, author, presenter, and founder of The Upbeat Bondi, Chief Bar & Beauty Food. @libbybabet
Consciously choosing my first thought in the morning is something I’m really big on. I try to always remember that whatever I say after the words “I AM” is powerful, which is something I learned from World Champion surfer, Layne Beachley. This means words like ‘tired, busy, rushed, overwhelmed’ are no longer allowed to come after the words “I am” for me. These days I consciously choose to put something positive after those two words, reinforcing thoughts like, “I AM healthy and happy” or, “I AM fit and strong” or, “I AM energised to lead this workout” or, “I am grateful for my career/daughter/husband/lifestyle”, or “I AM going to prioritise my work effectively today”. It’s a small thing, but it has a huge impact on your day and the way you communicate with yourself and others.
My alarm goes off at 4:30 am and I’m typically teaching at my studio, The Upbeat, from just after 5am until around 8am or 9am. This means I need a ‘pre-breakfast’ before I teach and it’s literally always one of my own collagen-based snack products, Chief Bar or Beauty Food. They’re really light on the digestive system so I can workout at whatever level I need to within 30 minutes of eating them, and are also super satisfying because of the quality protein and healthy fats, so the bar fends off hunger until I’m ready for breakfast. This is literally the only snack food I would eat first thing in the morning because I know exactly what’s in it and that it will set my mood, hormones and metabolism up well for the day!
Post-teaching, breakfast is always my biggest meal of the day, I’ll have a few eggs and sourdough on grainy bread with some avocado and olive oil, plus veggies like spinach or broccoli and mushroom. Or if I have my toddler with me, I’ll throw loads of frozen veggies, berries, coconut milk and nuts into my Vitamin and blitz up an awesome smoothie. Lunch is pretty much always a colourful salad with some kind of whole carb like sweet potato or rice in it, and dinner is so random but almost always veggie-based, as it’s quick and easy.
I’m a big believer in creating a movement culture and an outdoorsy theme for my life, so I try and check myself if I’m indoors or sitting down for too long – I don’t really do hardcore exercise and I don’t want anyone else to think that’s the only way to get it done! I walk and hike a lot, surf in summer, and in the gym I train multi-directionally with free weights and my own body weight, and dance around to the beat for cardio in my studio!