My daughter isn’t yet a year old and she has enlightened me to a whole new understanding of the words tired and love. I also have a new appreciation for ‘time’.
It's 4.55am ahhhhh she can’t be awake already, my alarm for work is due to go off in 5 minutes! I go and get Aviana up and feed her. I then put her on the bathroom floor or on hubby in bed if he’s awake while I race to shower and get ready for my first client.
Hi, I’m Zemma Hope from Bambini Wellness and I suffer from #MUMLIFE sleep deprivation. But, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve found some #MUMLIFEHACKS that have helped me have the energy to run my own PT business, the household, hubby's company books n have my daughter full time, so let me tell you about my day and my little tips.
As a Mum of one of ‘those babies’ it’s not uncommon to get up multiple times (generally 5-6) in the night before my early morning start. After a quick shower I get Aviana into her highchair to play for a minute while I make coffee and breakfast for Matt and myself. (Note: My coffee is black mixed Collagen powder & MCT oil. Matts I make black with Keto Switch™ Chocolate for a delicious mocha treat, this is a great way to start the day and I can't wait until I am. to breastfeeding to have this delicious coffee!).
Miss A needs to be fed and sometimes so do I. So, I sit down and feed her first meal while I take turns between feeding her and myself single handed and hold the express pump with the other so bubbaliscious will have a bottle while I am training clients. I then scoop up lil miss Aviana and setup all her play stations in the gym, making sure she has her food and snacks ready to go and greet my first client at 6am. I then head out to my gym and get it ready for my first PT clients.
I then have back to back clients until its bubs sleep time. Then I have more sessions or office work for hubbys business, my own business or housework and food prep. Phew… life doesn’t stop around this house.
Aviana only has two 40 minute sleeps each day, so I do not really get time to rest. Welcome to my life for the past 8 months.
As a health professional who is very aware of the importance that sleep has for balancing hormones, assisting in recovery and preventing weight gain I try to get to bed early. However, just as I finally start to quieten my mind, Avi would have her first wake up. So, up I get and by the time I get her back to sleep I would come back to the bedroom and my loving husbands snoring would make me want to smother him with a pillow (not to end him just to wake him 😊). If it wasn’t the two people I love most in the world keeping me awake I would certainly have lost it a long time ago!!
As any business owner will know it’s very hard to switch off and relax, heck it’s hard for anyone waking in the middle of the night to get back to sleep. Just as I was almost back to sleep bubs would wake for a second time……. yep I felt as though I was going to die! Notice I’m talking in past tense because I found some solutions.
At this time I was working out daily and waking up sore. Recovery wasn’t happening.
I’ve always been conscious of what I put in my body plus I was still breastfeeding. I eat and prepare diverse healthy meals for me and my family and when it comes to supplements I don’t want anything artificial.
Despite being offered two contracts to represent different supplement brands, I turned them down as they didn’t fit into my wholesome healthy philosophy. I knew my body wouldn’t last much longer living this way with no sleep and needed to find something to help.
Then a friend of mine finally launched one of the cleanest supplement brands in Australia (Switch Nutrition™) so I enquired about his products. I explained my situation and he mentioned Adrenal Switch™. He said it would help regulate cortisol (stress hormone) which is often the main reason we can’t get to sleep, stay asleep or get back to sleep. I said… you had me at SLEEP!!
He explained the other negative effects of excessive cortisol like hormone disruption, thyroid dysfunction, body fat gain, muscle loss and increased inflammation and insulin resistance. None of this sounded great but really, I just wanted sleep! 😊
The combination of standardised Ashwagandha extract, highly bio-available Magnesium, Zinc, B6 and L-Theanine lets you sleep and wake feeling amazing! He added L-Leucine and L-Glycine to assist with muscle recovery as well which is awesome in my line of work and who doesn’t want better recovery.
I have Adrenal Switch™ straight after dinner, it curbs the sweet cravings (especially the NEW Chocolate and theres even a slated Caramel OMG!!!) and enables me to relax and recover after my manic days running two businesses, bubs, the household plus working out.
Adrenal Switch™ also contains zero nasties, is sugar free and allows me to have a restful sleep, waking up feeling amazing and able to function so much better! I still get up for Avi but I go right back to a deep sleep straight after. As a side note, Bubs sleeps through the night and has 2 x 90 minute sleeps during the day now.
I am feeling invincible and can honestly say, Adrenal Switch™ gave me the ability to restore my body. I am able to be more productive during the day, it gives me even more energy for my clients, Avi and myself as I am waking feeling refreshed.
One other benefit, I noticed an increase in my milk production, which was awesome as it counteracted the effect of me stepping up my training where previously my milk production starting to lesson.
Now I have also given my miracle in a tub aka ‘Adrenal Switch™’ to hubby who also suffers from sweet cravings after dinner and it has certainly made a significant difference for him. Matt now hits that deep sleep (trust me I know….snoring) so much faster. He was a very light sleeper before, probably also due to the stress of owning and running a fairly large construction company with many staff. I have noticed a significant difference with his stress levels and ability to function throughout the day as well. He has more energy and is in a better mood generally.
I want you to know I’m not paid to say these things, I simply want to spread the word to all those Mums, Dads or anyone not getting enough sleep who will benefit. Do something your future self will thank you for.
I have also created an amazing recipe with this MAGIC POWDER that not only satisfies my sweet cravings at night, it also helps me have a more restful sleep! Check out the recipe below, for more amazing recipes check out my website which has literally hundreds of quick and easy healthy recipes!!!
INGREDIENTS
1 cup Almonds
1/2 cup Shredded Coconut
2 tbsp Cacao Nibs
4 Medjool Dates
2 tbsp Cacao Powder
4 scoops Adrenal Switch - Chocolate
2 tbsp Coconut Oil
2 tbsp Peanut Butter
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/4 tsp Sea Salt
Almond Meal or Desiccated Coconut (to coat balls in)
METHOD
Process Almonds, Coconut, Nibs and Dates until finely chopped. Add remaining ingredients and process until mixture begins to clump together (if it is too dry add a little almond milk or water).Roll into balls and coat in Almond Meal or Desiccated Coconut.Refridgerate and enjoy!
Before you go… Let me tell you quickly about one other little secret called Intermittent Feasting (IF).
I find it speeds up my clients morning routine and provides them with extra energy and time (oh precious time) to get stuff done. As I am still breastfeeding and this is my number one priority I noticed if I fast it affects my milk, I don’t fast for the 16 hours they recommend, however I find even 10 – 12 hours restored my energy and insulin sensitivity while still managing to keep my breast milk production. My husband nd many clients use Keto Switch™ to control their appetite and boost their metabolism while fasting and it’s amazing for this.
I hope this article has been helpful and I wish I had know about Adrenal Switch™ and Keto Switch™ sooner. So many of my clients, friends and family members have benefitted from these products and I want you to also.
Get 10% off your first order using code MISSZ10 upon checkout via the Switch Nutrition website. Trust me, you will never look back!
Live, Laugh, Love
Zemma Hope aka Miss Z
Switch Nutrition™ Disclaimer: The above article is merely a guide and opinion. It is in no way a recommendation or a treatment protocol for any health conditions or diseases. You should always consult with a qualified health care provider before changing your supplement, training or nutritional strategy. Supplementation should only be attempted by pregnant or breastfeeding women, anyone on prescription medication or children under the age of 15 when advised and monitored by your qualified health care provider.