Many people have picked up weight during the Coronavirus lockdown. Everyone is out of sync. No one is moving around as much. Gyms were closed for a period of time.
Most people are leery of going back to the gym. Those who work at home have easy access to junk food. And, if you’re under stress, you tend to eat more. All of that considered, the Coronavirus lockdown is an ideal time to get in the best shape of your life!
First, you have to set up your home environment for optimal health.
Go through your kitchen pantry and start throwing out the junk food. Yes, this will be harder if you have kids in the house, but you know it’s what you have to do.
Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food, recommends not to eat anything with a label on it. That’s a huge challenge, but mass-produced, processed food can be very toxic to your health. Much of it is malnourishing and incites food cravings. It must be replaced with more fresh produce.
Buy a huge fruit bowl and stock it up with whatever fruits you prefer. The key is to get the bad food out of sight and keep the good food within eyesight at all times.
Second, commit to a certain amount of cardio five days per week. This will greatly help getting the pounds off.
Yes, we’re going into the winter, and it’s going to get freezing cold in certain parts of the country, but you must get your cardio in. It doesn’t matter what type of cardio—walking, elliptical, jogging, cycling—it’s all good. What matters is the commitment to do it that forms the habit. Once that habit is in place, and it becomes part of your routine, you can expand on it and take on more exercise.
Lastly, admit that you may need help.
Oftentimes we want to do it all ourselves, but having another set of eyes looking in on your situation reveals your blind spots. Hire a life coach or personal trainer to assess your situation and give you some direction.
Yes, it costs, but being overweight can be much more costly. The potential health complications due to excess weight can be life-threatening.
The Coronavirus has boxed all of us in, but that gives us the opportunity to look deeper inside and turn our lives around. Those who have stronger immune systems and no pre-existing conditions are in a much better position to fight the virus and come out on top. One pre-existing condition you can control is excess weight. It just takes a few simple steps to put you on the right track.
