Since it came to be just a mere handful of months ago, COVID-19 has threatened our health in so many different ways. Aside from its obvious and most pressing threats, those who have been hunkering down in safety at home also face a more unconventional yet no less threatening side effect—that is, possible and considerable weight gain. Now, unhealthy weight gain has been known to weaken the immune system and increase an individual’s risk for contracting diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and more. This has, in turn, only made countless people at even greater risk of COVID-19, which is still very much at large, despite the restrictions lifting.
Indeed, if you’re one of the many people who packed on the pounds during isolation, it remains extremely important to take control of your health and take serious action toward wellness. Thankfully, there are actionable, science-backed ways of losing weight effectively, and it will serve you and your family very well to get started tout de suite. Let us count the ways.
Get on your feet.
When it comes to weight loss, no doubt, one of the first things that come to mind is exercise. It’s been found that roughly 30 minutes of vigorous exercise per day will be effective in helping you drop the pounds—with bonus points if you up the frequency and intensity, as well as tweak your diet.
Of course, not all exercises are created equal, with some more well-known to burn more calories than others. Running, for instance, is, by and large, among the best calorie-burning exercises you can do. Best of all, both adults and kids can take up running, which makes it a truly wonderful way to instill the virtues of physical fitness in your kids. You can even consider taking it up a notch with barefoot running, which is easy enough to start training for through the popular book Barefoot Running Step By Step.
Get cooking.
It’s also important to note that regular physical activity is only a small part of weight loss. In fact, weight loss actually starts in the kitchen, with a whopping 80 percent attributed to a healthy diet and adequate nutrition. It goes without saying that if you want to lose some serious weight, you have to take stock of what you’re eating, as well as your eating habits, and start making drastic changes accordingly.
In quarantine, you may have found yourself binge-eating because of the stress of the pandemic, as well as consuming only what was available in your pantry in the spirit of social distancing. As you ease out lockdown, however, it’s more than prudent to start shifting the family diet to cleaner, fresher, and healthier eats. Dried grains, for instance, can be great pantry staples because they’re healthy, but also quite easy to make delicious yet healthy recipes out of, such as a wild rice salad or vegetable couscous, to name a few.
Get expert motivation.
And speaking of recipes, no doubt one of the biggest challenges of eating better for weight loss is thinking of delicious meals that are also healthy. For this reason, a nutritionist or dietitian can help you craft healthy yet inventive meal plans. If you want to find someone for the short-term, look to online job boards to connect virtually with freelance dietitians who can help you create a meal plan specific to your needs and lifestyle. Ditto with other fitness professionals, too, such as yoga instructors or fitness trainers, if you also need help in developing a solid fitness plan.
Suffice it to say, there’s a reason why it’s called a ‘weight loss journey,’ and that is because it needs sufficient preparation and decisive action, as well as some guidance here and there. But as long as you honor the age-old and unstoppable combination of a healthy diet and regular exercise, then you can be sure that you’re on the right track to re-join the world in this new normal as your fittest and healthiest self.
