Whether you’re going through an enforced lockdown or having to report to work while navigating the dangers of a pandemic, the end result is stress on your physical and mental state. Just looking at the social media of friends of family, one can definitely see signs of stress-eating as a coping mechanism. Add to that missing your regular gym classes or walks in the park and the end result is additional inches of body fat and a slugging-feeling body to boot.
With some discipline and mindfulness, you can take this opportunity to work your way to health through these easy steps.
Healthy Eating
If your favorite donut or pizza shop is temporarily closed for business because of a lockdown, look at the bright side. You’re already one step closer to your goal.
Here are some healthy hacks for fat loss:
- Keep tinned and preserved food in storage for emergencies, but eat fresh on the daily. Purchase or procure real food like vegetables, fruits, and meat whenever you can. A lot of people are now turning to urban homesteading. If you can’t grow your own greens, find out where you can get your fresh foods in your immediate vicinity.
- Leave out processed food out of your grocery cart. You can’t scarf down something that’s not present in your home no matter your midnight cravings.
- Follow YouTube bloggers who prepare healthy meals that you are partial to. Avoid videos about desserts and sweets.
- Keep a journal and take photos of your healthy meals. Distressing as they are, we are in the middle of history unfolding and keeping a daily diary will be something that you can look back on someday.
Not only will these improve your eating habits, these tips also double as healthy hacks for fat loss.
Movement
Coming from a day of hard work (while trying not to catch anything) or having to stay at home for days on end, it’s easy to just Netflix and chill, literally. The body’s natural response to stress is usually a surplus of sleeping or eating, or both.
To keep your health and your immune system up, make sure you are doing healthy movement everyday. And yes, this means some form of exercise. Instead of passively gaining weight, you can take this opportunity to build the body you’ve always wanted.
Here are some tips to get you moving:
- If you like dancing, build a library of your favorite zumba or dance routines on YouTube done to your favorite songs. It’s a great way to keep motivated when you enjoy the instructor and love the songs your bopping to.
- There is a plethora of free exercise videos on YouTube. Take your pick from gentle tai chi, heart-pounding cardio, or stretchy yoga. Mix it up every other day to keep it exciting.
- If you prefer using an app, find a free exercise app on the App or Play Store. Even better, they have tracking features that will let you see your progress.
- If you are blessed with a lawn or a backyard, take advantage of the warm weather by doing some gardening. Plant greens that can be harvested fast and/or regrow food from scraps. Not only will you be moving your body, you’ll also be getting sunshine and healthy greens for your meals.
Now, if your goal is weight loss, here’s something interesting. Most health experts believe that weight loss is a combination of exercise and diet. However, exercise is often said to be 20% responsible for a person’s weight loss.
Cardiovascular exercises like jogging, aerobics, and biking are excellent for circulation, heart health, and increasing lung capacity. Strength-training exercises are excellent for protecting bones and disease prevention. Once you lose weight, you still want to maintain a long, healthy lifestyle.
Hydrating
Did you know that stress and water are directly linked?
When you are undergoing stress, your heart rate goes up and you breathe more heavily. This results in the body losing more fluid. To add to that, people often forget to eat and drink when they are heavily distracted by anxiety triggers. Keeping this in mind, make sure to stay hydrated during these stressful times.
If you’re in a space where you feel a hunger pain, drink some hot water with lemon first. In many cases, people eat with the assumption that they’re hungry. In reality, the body is craving more water. If you love the fizzy, carbonated sensation, pour some carbonated water on ice.
When the body remains hydrated, you’ll give your body the foundation it needs to work efficiently. Plus, juice, lattes, and other sugar-filled drinks are loaded with calories. Decrease your intake of liquid calories by drinking lots of water instead.