A Guide to Losing Weight and Getting Fit After Months of COVID-19 Self-Isolation
Guest Post by Gabriel Patel
Even if you had a good health and fitness routine in place long before COVID-19 hit, the pandemic has probably forced you into making some adjustments to how you eat, exercise, and spend your free time. And now that we’re several months into the pandemic, you may be looking for some ways to lose that Quarantine 15 and get back on track to reaching your 2020 fitness goals. For some tips on losing weight and getting back in shape as you ride out the rest of the pandemic, read on!
Fresh produce from friends and family.
Eat Nutritious Foods
According to a recent poll, about 76 percent of Americans have packed on as many as 16 pounds during the coronavirus quarantine — while 63 percent of respondents are now working on improving their diets and getting back in shape. And if you share the same weight loss goals as your fellow Americans, there are plenty of healthy recipes that can be prepared at home with just a few pantry staples such as dried pasta, beans, and frozen vegetables. A few examples of these healthy recipes include:
● Spinach tortellini soup.
● Legume quesadillas.
● Canned soups paired with homemade sandwiches.
In addition to preparing these healthy meals at home, make sure you’re consuming a variety of other nutritious foods that have been shown to promote weight loss. Some of the best foods for losing weight, according to Healthline, include whole eggs, leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, salmon, and boiled potatoes. If you’re in need of a healthy snack, whip up some homemade trail mix, energy bars, hummus, or sweet potato fries.
Exercise at Home
To lose some weight after the COVID-19 quarantine, you’ll also want to start a home workout program — especially if fitness centers haven’t reopened in your area or you’re not yet comfortable returning to the gym. Some of the best workouts for weight loss include cardio, strength training, and compound exercises — and you can find a plethora of free online fitness classes to help you get started from home.
Manage Stress
Losing weight in the age of COVID-19 isn’t all about diet and exercise — and you’ll need to focus on managing your stress levels if you’d like to shed some pounds and keep the weight off for the long-term. Stress leads to increased snacking and other unhealthy eating habits — and reducing the amount of stress in your life could help you to manage your weight as well. Things like at-home yoga practices, daily meditations, quality sleep, and physical activity can all help to keep your stress levels in check now and in the future.
Get Personalized Meal Plans and Fitness Advice
As you work toward your goals of losing weight and getting in shape after several months of self-isolation, you may choose to use online job boards to search for freelance nutritionists, physical trainers, and yoga instructors — as these fitness experts can offer personalized advice and guidance to help you slim down from home. You could hire a nutritionist, for instance, if you’d like to create healthy meal plans that will improve your eating habits and support your post-quarantine weight loss goals. Additionally, an online physical fitness trainer or yoga teacher could help to build a home-based workout routine for your particular fitness level.
The Bottom Line
After so many months of self-isolation, it’s time to switch up your routine and get back on track to reaching your health and wellness goals. Make sure you’re eating a variety of nutritious foods, exercising regularly at home, and finding ways to manage the stress in your life — as these strategies will help you to lose your Quarantine 15 and keep these pesky pounds off for good.
