I was asked by several people in the past month about my schedule (how I fit things in, food and just a day in the life example). I’m fortunate to be a stay at home mom, but that doesn’t come without activities, obligations, appointments and of course, home upkeep. So here it is. I’m not a nutritionist but this is a normal type day food-wise and I try to eat clean but I’m human.
6:00 am – wake up and get 1st cup of coffee.
6:00 am – 6:15 am – make my 7 year old, Carleigh’s, lunch (Parker only goes to preschool 2x a week).
6:15 am – 6:30 am – 15 minutes of social media work.
6:30 am – wake Carleigh (Parker is up within 20 minutes usually).
6:45 am – 7:20 am – get breakfast for kids served, check backpack, make sure Carleigh gets dressed (I lay her clothes out the night before), brushes her teeth and hair and is prepared for her day (spelling words was what we did this morning).
7:20 am – see Carleigh off to school (I carpool with a friend). This is good because looking presentable by this time is typically not possible.
7:22 am – second cup of coffee and get Parker busy playing iPad or watching a show while I put on my running clothes.
7:30 – 8:30 am – miscellaneous, sometimes I play with Parker before the gym (Paw Patrol and Blaze earlier this week at this time) and some days like today I’m hustling to get sheets off the bed and in the washer.
8:30 am – grab a Muscle Milk non dairy organic vanilla protein ready to drink shake and head with Parker to grocery store.
8:35 am -9:00 am -Tom Thumb grocery run for miscellaneous items.
9:30 am-11:00 am – gym (6 mile run, 20 min weights, stretching).
Post gym snack (what I’ve coined as my Reece’s protein shake) – 2 tbsns powdered pb, 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, 1 /2 cup ice, 1 scoop choc protein powder blended and a large glass of water with Crystal Light lemonade mixed in.
11:30 am – 2:30 pm Parker playdate with preschool friend (included a trip to neighborhood park) – I did catch up on some social media when I could and folded laundry and put it away while they played, as well.
Lunch for me was a 2 glasses of water with Crystal Light, turkey sandwich (3 slices Oscar Meyer deli turkey, 2 pieces of Nature’s Own whole wheat bread, 1/2 baked sweet potato that I premade the night before).
2:45 pm – head to pick up Carleigh and carpool kids from elementary school. I go in my post workout glow in my workout clothes and wear my sweaty clothes with confidence and oversized sunglasses and a visor!
3:10 – 3:30 pm – get kids snacks, drinks, talk about day and get them situated with homework.
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm – catch up on social media replies and blog while kids are allowed technology (iPad or TV).
Afternoon snack for me – 1 glass Crystal Light water, 2 oz. baby carrots and 3/4 oz. almonds. 
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm – send kids upstairs to “play,” actually engage in interaction with one another, not technology. During this time I prep their food and begin prepping Dustin’s and my food. We should eat the same things but I’m a short order cook and cook different things for each of them and Dustin and me. Once that’s done, I go upstairs and play with them or watch them play or sweep and tidy up the house. (or talk on the phone). AND FINALLY SHOWER!!!
5:30 pm – kids eat dinner.
Predinner snack fail for me – 1.5 handfulls of Cool Ranch Doritos
6:30 pm – Dustin and I eat dinner. We had 2 glasses water (mine with Crystal Light), grilled skilled barbecue chicken, grilled vegetables and scalloped potatoes.
6:45 pm – Dustin cleans up after dinner and Carleigh reads for 20 min to me.
7:00/7:05 pm – 7:15 pm – Kids tumble practice for 10 minutes upstairs.
7:15 pm – bath/bed routine begins.
7:30 pm – kids in bed.
7:30 pm – 8:00 pm – finish up any computer work.
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm – QT with Dustin (Can you say Netflix???!!)
Before bed snack – 2 glasses of Crystal Light water and two mini Hershey bars.
So there you have it – my day. My schedule in a nutshell. I definitely do not follow the eat like a king for breakfast, prince for lunch and pauper for dinner rule! I don’t use My Fitness Pal either, but did for the sake of this post, and here’s how my numbers stacked up.
Breakfast 200 cal
Sugar Free French Vanilla Coffee Creamer x 2
8 0z coffee x 2
Muscle Milk Organic Vanilla RTD Shake
Lunch 357 cal
Bread 2 slices
Turkey Breast 3 slices
Sweet potato 1/2
Crystal Light packet
Dinner 555 cal
Grilled vegetables
Grilled barbecue chicken
Scalloped potato (2 servings)
Crystal Light
Snacks 714 cal
Powdered PB 2 tbsn
Choc Protein 1 scoop
Silk Unsweetened Almond Milk 1 cup
Unsalted Almonds 3/4 oz
2 oz baby carrots
2 Mini Hershey bars
1.5 servings Cool Ranch Doritos
Crystal Light
I didn’t factor in my exercise either … 6 miles at 9:25 min pace but this is a relatively normal day for me exercise and food wise, though I usually have at least 30% of my calories from protein (but I had two servings of scalloped potatoes so I didn’t have my usual post dinner prebed protein shake). Ok, it wasn’t normal in that we NEVER eat scalloped potatoes. I’m going to be honest. But we were craving something other than whole wheat pasta, sweet potatoes or quinoa and man, were they good!!! So calorie wise, I don’t think I was that off, but I think my macros (though I don’t track them) are not what they would typically be because they are usually a little closer to 40 %carb/30% protein/30% fat and I just eat that way without monitoring them. My calorie total for the day was 1,826. And all food entries are estimates not scale input.
If you notice, I have a pretty bad crush on Crystal Light (I know it’s awful for you) and eat a little “junk,” but for the most part, I eat pretty clean. I try to always drink 1-2 glasses of water (sadly, most often with Crystal Light), before meals to help fill my stomach up. On days I run longer, I eat more. And, I do not shy away from carbs. I can’t!!! I will shake if I don’t have them. But I typically do not eat too many refined carbs … today was rare in that instance.
I get asked a lot how I fit in so much working out and honestly, it’s not even a question about it. I think other aspects of my life suffer more than that because I place such an importance on it. Some days, the dishes pile up in the sink and the laundry gets fluffed an extra cycle in the dryer but I get my 1-1.5 hours in of running and/or gym time. And as my hubby says, he’d rather a messy house and happy family so I’d rather pick QT with them over cleaning, though it’s a balance, for sure!
If you’re wondering, how do I get started? Maybe you don’t love running but are trying to fit in making it to the gym with small kids and looking presentable to and from errands … here’s what I do. I make ME a priority first, and screw the rest. I go to Central Market and DSW sweaty. I go do volunteer work at the school in my gym clothes. Other moms look at me with what I am going to pretend is not disdain. Here’s the difference, I got my hour workout in (or am about to), and they didn’t. What does wearing Ann Taylor to the school mean for my health and well being? NADA. NOTHING. And nothing for yours, either. Oh, and gym clothes. Stop buying Walmart and get yourself something cute. It doesn’t have to be Lululemon, though you know I’m a fan, but make sure when you’re working out, you feel good about yourself. Muffin top, non compressive capris and sports bra spillage is not making me want to do an extra 10 push-ups. How about you? And how to actually get started? Get inspired by someone or something (maybe the old you, Instagram motivation, Pinterest boards), and take it week by week. Start with a 3x a week plan depending on your goals (whether they be losing weight, gaining muscle or training for a race) … and build from there. Oh, and don’t be afraid to ask for help!!!
So there you have it! Please feel free to give me suggestions (if you are a nutritionist or time management expert)! How does my schedule and day compare to yours???
XOXO,
Jess
Your best blog post yet!! Love it!!
Thanks! I’ve been asked so many times and figured I would just lay it out there. Amazing how fast the days go by!
Great blog!
i enjoy reading day in a life type post. thanks for sharing.
I love reading these types of posts. It’s a routine that looks totally doable. And love that muscle milk!
Girl! I love it! I never look at the moms who come in gym clothes bad at our school. All of the teachers are jealous we can’t be out there working out/playing tennis or whatever. It is socially acceptable and love that you embrace it. I also love that you shared your wonderful diet. Thanks for your honesty.
You run a very well oiled machine. I love the structure especially since you have tiny humans. They always put kinks into things.
Girl, no shame on the workout clothes. I’m actually jealous of the moms who show up at my school after working out, since I have to wake up at 4:15 in order to get it in before going to work. And I am with you on the carbs- I can’t live without ’em! I’ve tried switching to more whole grains and little to no refined carbs, and I can definitely tell a difference in the way I feel. There’s just something refreshing about eating whole foods that are GOOD for you (with, of course, a handful of chips, chocolate or whatever else I may be craving that day!).
I love “a day in the life of” posts – it’s always interesting to see what others are up to.
And I can completely relate with how some other things may fall by the wayside when you make fitness such a priority because I’m the exact same way. If I’m not active enough during the day, my mood suffers and I affect those around me. I’d rather be happy, sweaty, and sore with a chair full of laundry yet to be folded and a carpet that has yet to be vacuumed, ha.