The major shift in schedule and routine that we’re facing with the coronavirus pandemic affects our bodies and minds in different ways. There’s no true “best way” to cope with a situation like this, but there are healthy steps we can take. Many people are talking about the COVID 15, comparing it to the freshman 15 weight gain.
Although gaining weight is normal and it’s nothing to get angry with yourself about, especially during strange times, there are routines you can try to fall into to live healthier. We’ve listed some tips for avoiding weight gain during COVID-19. These aren’t hard and fast ways to lose, and they focus on making smart choices to lead to a healthy body and a healthy mind. Check them out!
Cut Out Alcohol
Alcohol affects our bodies in more ways than one. It not only dries out our skin, but the calories that we consume on our third glass of wine or fourth beer affect our weight as well. More and more people are turning to alcohol to cope with being stuck at home, but this isn’t the healthiest way to pass the time, and it can lead to physical and mental health concerns. Try your best to cut out alcohol or at least limit your drinks each day and week—this is a healthy step forward.
Strive for Daily Movement
Counteract moments of over-eating, or the urge to eat more, by moving your body. Though your local gym is likely closed, and you may not feel at ease running outside, there are tons of options for staying active throughout the day. Even stress-cleaning your house can count as movement! You don’t always have to complete an intricate workout, but the moments where you’re moving are the moments where you’re burning calories. Not to mention, it helps to ease the stress, anxiety, and depression that so many people are dealing with right now.
Strive for a New Routine
One of the main reasons that people are eating more and eating often is because the routines that kept them busy have now disappeared. Help yourself curb cravings by getting back into a new routine. This new schedule should even include meal times and activities to keep yourself busy. When you have free time, boredom often strikes in the form of food cravings. When you get into a new routine, you’ll focus on tasks at hand and not on the ice cream in the freezer.
Be Mindful
A healthy body is more than just staying active and keeping busy. It’s also about how you view the food you eat and how you look at your body. Probably one of the most important tips for avoiding weight gain during COVD-19 is to make sure that you’re viewing your body in a healthy way. If you’re nit-picking an increase of a few pounds, show yourself a bit more love for getting through this weird time. But you can also be mindful of how you view food. Make sure your portions are correct, and be mindful of what you’re putting into your body and how often you’re doing so. When our mind is in a healthy and aware position, we’re more likely to make smart decisions for our health in general.
