Health

Hey New Mom! 7 Simple Ways to Keep Your Energy Up

If that venti Americano never seems to get the job done, read on. These tips work just as well as that full night's sleep you're not going to get any time soon

by Leslie Goldman

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Eat every 3 to 4 hours "Many moms make the mistake of skipping meals or snacks altogether," says Chicago-based certified health counselor Beth Aldrich, author of "Real Moms Love to Eat: How to Conduct a Love Affair with Food, Lose Weight and Feel Fabulous." But when you forget to eat, your body enters Starvation Mode, holding on to calories and storing them as fat for future energy.

Mom energy advice: Keep your metabolism ramped up all day long by eating something every three to four hours. Aldrich tells her mom clients to reach for snacks like apple slices slathered with a single-serving pouch of almond butter; chopped celery and carrots dipped in hummus; or high-fiber crackers topped with low-fat cheddar cheese slices. She also recommends no-cook oatmeal: Soak steel cut oats in a glass jar of water overnight (just enough water to cover the oats by 1/4 inch). "When you wake up, the oats are 'cooked,'" she says. "Just add cinnamon, Stevia, and nuts or raisins and you have an on-the-go complex carbohydrate snack. Your body will store the energy as glycogen and call upon it when needed throughout the day for a pick-me-up."

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Older comments

9 hours of sleep a night really? most people dont get that even if they dont have kids

by kfloyd01 Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 08:37PM Report as inappropriate

I'm not a mom, but these are some great tips for people who have super busy schedules!

by ACClique Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 10:54AM Report as inappropriate

I really like this article and I am sure it will be one that I come back to. So many times as a mom I will take a 5 hour energy shot and then question myself on why I feel drained. The answer is that I need fuel all day! Thank you for the reminder!

by allison_rodriguez Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 11:24AM Report as inappropriate

Thanks for sharing. My friend just had twins! Will share what I've read with her

by EricaC123 Sunday, January 6, 2013 at 07:03AM Report as inappropriate

great tips, not sure that eating organic really makes that much of a difference though

by sportimonki13 Sunday, December 30, 2012 at 08:11PM Report as inappropriate

that sounds like good advice!

by LittleBunny Sunday, December 30, 2012 at 06:57PM Report as inappropriate

Yeah, not going to spend the extra $$$ on organic foods.

by kimihavens Thursday, November 15, 2012 at 12:25PM Report as inappropriate

Irrelevant, but that woman looks like she's wearing some sort of helmet with a furry black nose piece!

by schien Thursday, November 8, 2012 at 12:45AM Report as inappropriate

I knew some of these things but found the others very helpful! Getting ready for a new baby is scary but this advice makes sense :]

by Lamexicana1 Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at 08:44PM Report as inappropriate

I think a lot of these things would be beneficial to people without kids also!

by Chris213 Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at 07:26AM Report as inappropriate