After spending months holed up at home, many of us have put on a few pounds. And that’s nothing to be ashamed of! It’s completely okay to let your healthy habits slip a little when you’re navigating significant changes to your daily routine. But now that lockdown restrictions are lifting and people are feeling okay about venturing back out into the world, it’s time to kick back into gear! Here are some effective ways to shed those self-isolation pounds and reclaim your wellness.
Try Different Forms of Exercise
Jogging isn’t the only exercise that will help you meet your weight loss goals. In fact, running is not the most efficient way to lose weight! If you’re looking to maximize your payoff for the amount of time you invest in exercise, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) may be a better choice.
Many people find that pairing a fitness tracker or smartwatch with their workout routine can keep them motivated while measuring their progress. These types of devices can measure the steps you take, heart rate, calories burned, blood sugar levels, and much more. For example, the Apple Watch Series 6 can measure your workouts whether you’re dancing, swimming, running, or doing yoga, and it has a bright always-on display. While the Fitbit Inspire HR can track your sleep, has a sleek design, and allows you to see incoming text messages.
Adopt a Nutrition Plan
Remember to support all of the work you’re doing at the gym with a healthy diet. To make the most of your workouts, aim to eat a balanced diet complete with whole grains, vegetables, lean meat, and healthy fats. If you have the budget for it, you may even want to hire a personal dietitian who can help you develop a healthy meal plan catered to your tastes and preferences. You can easily find a great freelance dietician for a short-term contract or for something longer! While you’re at it, consider hiring a few other freelancers—like a personal trainer or yoga instructor—to support your weight-loss journey.
Cut Sugars and Refined Carbs
If you’re looking to lose weight, try to limit your consumption of sugars and refined carbs. Besides being high in empty calories, sugar-filled foods promote inflammation, mess with your hormones, and result in an afternoon crash that is less than conducive to exercise. Look for other ways to satisfy your sweet tooth! Camille Styles recommends eating a piece of dark chocolate, snacking on fresh fruit, or reaching for a couple of dried dates.
Drink More Water
Water is another helpful weight loss tool. Keeping your body hydrated will boost your metabolism and help your body flush out waste. Staying hydrated will also support your workouts by regulating your body temperature, lubricating your joints, and reducing muscle cramps. Plus, drinking water can suppress your appetite and encourage you to forgo unhealthy beverages like fruit juice and soda. Remember, you can always add a slice of lemon to make your water taste a little more interesting!
Go to Bed Early
When it comes to losing weight or improving your health in general, most people overlook the importance of sleep. But the truth is that sleep plays an incredibly important role in our overall mental and physical wellbeing. Time and time again, sleep deprivation has been linked to an increased risk of weight gain. There are a couple of reasons for this. One, getting too little sleep will leave you feeling fatigued and less motivated to exercise during the day. Sleeplessness also messes with the hormones in your body that control your hunger response, causing you to feel hungrier when you sleep poorly. Get to bed early, and give yourself plenty of time to sleep before you have to get up for work!
From gym closures to stress-snacking, the coronavirus lockdown likely threw a wrench in your healthy routine. But now that you have a better handle on things, it’s time to take your health back! Get back on the wagon, hit the gym, go to bed early, watch what you eat, and you’ll start feeling like your normal self again before you know it.
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Gabriel Patel
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