My triplet toddlers constantly remind me about the importance of a healthy lifestyle. One of them, Mia, happens to be a skinny little pipsqueak who can probably teach us a lot about weight-management. Here are a few lessons from my 2-year-old:
- There is no point in leisurely walking. Mia's motto is full-speed ahead. She often covers twice the distance of her brother and sister because of her constant back tracking as we all attempt to catch-up.
Take home message: Running burns approximately twice as many calories as walking. Not a runner, no problem. Alternating between 1-2 minute bursts of jogging and walking is a great way to challenge our cardiovascular systems and torch through calories.
- Variety is the spice of life. Mia eats a ton of different foods but always in moderation. Rather than demanding more and more mac and cheese, Mia is perfectly content eating her veggies or apples when her favorite food is gone.
Take home message: Rather than over-indulging in your main entree, be sure to eat your fruits and veggies first. Chances are, your overall caloric consumption will be lower if you have a soup/salad prior to dinner to help tame your hunger in a sensible way.
- There is no fun in sitting. Mia is constantly fidgeting. She rarely sits still, even while watching her favorite TV show.
Take home message: We already know that fidgeters burn more calories than non-fidgeters so why not make-up for eating that desert by "fidgeting" through prime-time tv. Pull out a jump rope, knock out some crunches and work on your flexibility (you know you need to).
- Sleep is crucial. Not enough sleep = intensified anger, inability to concentrate, low energy levels and a bad day for everyone in Mia's vicinity.
Take home message: Most "grown-ups" need 7-8 hours of sleep/day. We often suffer the same consequences from lack of sleep as our toddlers. Just think what a happier, calmer, and more productive place our world would be if we all prioritized sleep.
- Exercise is always better with friends! Mia turns every social interaction into an active game. Whether it be "ring around the rosy" or "hide-and-seek", spending time with her brother and sister is always more fun when an active game is involved.
Take home message: Exercise is more fun with friends! Making exercise a social experience can include playing a sport in a recreational league, battling through bootcamp relays, or chatting about the latest reality-tv show while struggling through resistance sets. Either way, having peers around often takes your mind off the fact your exercising.
- Breakfast is the best meal of the day. Mia is a terror until her belly is full. Eating breakfast first thing is a necessity in our house.
Take home message: NEVER SKIP BREAKFAST. By delaying or skipping breakfast, you are compromising your metabolism and increasing the likelihood of overeating. Think about the consequences of a toddler missing breakfast (bad temper tantrums, spacey and ravishingly hungry). We would never make our two-year-olds suffer these consequences so why would we?
There is a reason toddlers have so much energy. It has a lot to do with their eating patterns, activity levels and sleep. It is time we all take a good look at our lifestyles and maybe mimic some of our toddlers behaviors. Well, maybe minus the public temper tantrums.
