I've found that many people have the best of intentions when it comes to fitting exercise into their day but for many reasons, it easily gets bounced off of our "to do lists." Why?

One reason is because many of us feel guilty giving ourselves any type of self care. We'll only take care of ourselves once everyone else is cared for and by that time we've lost our motivation because we're exhausted, frustrated, spent and depleted. 

Many things happen in our lives that cause us to change directions or that lead us down another path whether we have anticipated them or not.  So, I call them "unintended consequences" or a "paradox".  Along the way, we seek some short-term inspiration to keep us on the "yellow brick road".

It took me a long time to come into myself. You could say that The BadAssMama went through a relatively long ugly duckling phase. While my enormous eyes, long neck and distinct cheekbones work well on a grown-woman's face, they were a little overwhelming on an awkward 14-year-old. Add in Coke-bottle-Sally-Jesse-Raphael style glasses and a good 40 excess pounds, and you've got the makings of a lifetime of self esteem issues.

One of the most important reasons for parents to get themselves feeling, looking and living their best is for the sake of their kids.

Did you know that in 2010, about 50% of all kids were overweight! At this point 1/3rd of their diets consist of nothing but junk food. Add to that "portion distortion", fast/takeout food and inactivity and you've got a recipe for unhealthy kids. 

The first suggestion I give moms (who handle 90% of food tasks) is to set a good example. There simply is no better way to get the message across to kids. 

Can you travel and avoid gaining weight? 

There are many ways to come home feeling great but it begins with a plan. You know the saying "if you fail to plan then plan to fail" that's so true with regards to preventing weight gain while traveling.

The first step is to bring healthy snacks for the flight. What's available in the airport may not be especially health conscious. If you'll be traveling in the car, same idea applies. Whatever you have is probably healthier than what you'd find at a rest stop.

The first time I saw a therapist I was 18 years old. I had been in the passenger seat in two car crashes my senior year of high school and another the first few weeks of college.

I started having anxiety attacks every time I got into a car, couldn't sleep a wink at night and was having trouble keeping up with classes. Thankfully, I was able to get counseling through the college.

Recently, a client asked me "I'm planning a formal party and I'm overwhelmed with details. I want everything to be perfect and I want to look perfect too. What's the best and quickest way to look great for a black tie event?" 

For those who know me, words like "quick" aren't usually found with words like "permanent" and the word "perfect" creates unnecessary stress but I gave her a few ideas anyway. Here's what I suggested:

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Health care reforms are reaching new heights. New insurance plans are now being required to cover women's preventative care with no added costs. Kathleen Sebelius, Health and Human Services Secretary, made the announcement stating that there will be "historic new guidelines that will help women get the care they need to stay healthy."

Stress, sleep deprivation, fatigue, frustration and that feeling of being overwhelmed. Shall I go on?

We're working moms! We have responsibilities at home and the office. We've become pretty accustomed to trying to manage the load and then maybe, just maybe we find time for ourselves.

Self-care simply means to take care of you, even when you are taking care of others.

What's Your Self-Care Strategy?