Happy New Year everyone. So here we are January 2023, a new year, a new chapter and a blank page in your 2023 book. January is the time when you will see every fitness influencer sharing their latest detox diets and the latest diet trend. Busy mums can feel very overwhelmed as to where to start; what program to do, what exercise is best, and what is achievable. Oh, the list is endless! As a health and fitness coach for women and an expert in Pre and Postnatal fitness, it is my job to share with you the real truth and what is achievable. There is no one size fits all and as mothers, we need special care and attention especially if we have not long had a baby. Please do not get sucked into the January diet trends.

January may not be the right time for you to invest time in your health and fitness goals, you may want to start in February and that’s perfectly ok too! Before deciding on what you would like to achieve I encourage you to think about what is REALISTIC for you and your lifestyle. Here are my top tips before deciding where to start.

1. Assess where you are. How much time do you have to invest in a fitness program? What is your current fitness level? How are your pelvic floor and core? Once you have answered these questions then build on this.

2. What exercise do you enjoy? There is no point signing up to the couch to 5km if you hate running. You may love walking, simply increasing the time you go out for a walk by 10-15 minutes and then building on this. Or you may want to focus on strength but hate the thought of entering a gym. That’s ok, you do not have to sign up for an expensive gym membership to get the results you want. Invest in a good pair of adjustable dumbbells and a mat, this is a great start!

3. What support do you need? As busy mums, we are short on time and often need support from family, friends or other childcare in order for us to make time for exercise. If you do not have support from family, this is ok too. Have you thought about getting up 15-20 minutes before your children to do an express workout? Super quick yet effective. Before you start on your health and fitness journey make sure the support network around you understands so they are able to support you where they can. Getting the family involved in fitness makes it more fun and competitive too!

4. Celebrate the small wins and don’t sweat the small stuff. Now you have decided the time and exercise you are going to do make sure you celebrate the small wins. This could be sticking to your plan for one week, and recognising the progress you are making will help with consistency. As busy mums things do not always go to plan, do not worry if you skip a workout. Focus on completing the next planned workout, remember it is about consistency.

I have created the perfect health and fitness app for mums. FIT MAMA Powered By Mari Carmen Fitness, is NOT just another FITNESS app. As a mum of two (soon to be three) I understand the daily challenges we face as busy mums. Lack of time is our biggest problem, which is why I have designed FIT MAMA Powered By Mari Carmen Fitness to give you the tools you need all in one place to succeed on your journey throughout motherhood. Whatever stage of motherhood you are at, this app has the tools you need. On the app, you will find the FIT IN 30 challenge. I do not believe in January fitness fads, they are not the answer for us busy mums, which is why I have created this challenge. The FIT IN 30 challenge is available on the app all year round, you can start the challenge at a time that suits you and complete it at your own pace. The challenge is 30 days long and consists of a range of workouts from strength, cardio, pilates, barre and yoga, there really is something for everyone. The workouts are designed for time-poor busy mums, the majority of the workouts within the challenge can be completed in less than 30 minutes. The challenge is free when you sign up for the app, available to download on the App Store and Google Play now.