Quarantine Weight Gain is Real: What Should You Do About It?

Published on: 25 March 2021 Last Updated on: 27 December 2024

There’s no denying that quarantine weight gain is real. A survey found that close to 36% of the 19,903 people surveyed in over 140 countries shared that they have gained weight while in lockdown. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people were committed to doing home workouts.

However, since most are not familiar with the training that would best suit them, many found it difficult to stick to a regimen. A considerable number of gym members haven’t been able to go back to gyms since the onset of the pandemic over a year ago.

Lockdown Weight Gain Is a Serious Matter-

Weight gain during the lockdown has signaled the waning motivation of individuals to work hard to keep their bodies healthy, and both mental and physical fatigue has become increasingly prevalent.

With increased levels of stress, gaining unnecessary weight only serves to put more strain on people’s health. This is why it’s necessary for people to take their health seriously. Obesity is a huge risk factor for COVID infection and complications.

Here are a few tips to start putting your health and wellness first:

Stick to an Exercise Routine:

It can be challenging, but you have to force yourself to stick to a workout routine. If you have fears of being exposed to the virus in a public environment, there are plenty of exercises that you can do at home.

In fact, you can download mobile apps to help you connect with other people so you can have a workout buddy to motivate you. You can also enroll in virtual workout classes if it helps you stay focused. If you prefer working out at home, you can use apps to help you craft a plan.

Start slow, and set aside at least 30 minutes a day, three to four times a week to focus on your workout.

If you prefer doing workouts with a personal trainer, you can ask your gym if they offer such a service.

If not, there are a number of personal trainers who advertise their services online. Some of them are willing to do online sessions. Try doing a variety of exercises, including yoga, bodyweight exercises, or running. Walking your dog for at least 30 minutes a day can help you lose weight, and dancing is also a great way to shed off some fat. You can watch YouTube videos of Zumba classes to get started. Not only will it help you lose weight, but it will also give your mental health a boost.

If you have any illnesses that may be exacerbated by exercise, consult your doctor. Ask for recommendations about what exercises would work best for your present condition. It’s okay if you need to start slowly; what’s important is that you make a change from leading a sedentary lifestyle.

Invest in Your Nutrition:

On top of your workout routines, you should also invest in your nutrition. Make sure that you are eating adequately and appropriately. Stick to a nutritional plan that best suits your health needs. It can be tempting to binge on comfort food because of the emotionally draining situation that we’re currently in, but your best bet would be to consume ample amounts of fruits and vegetables while cutting back on sugary food items and processed meals.

It might be a good time to develop your skills in the kitchen and get cooking. Making home-cooked meals is a great way to help you stick to your diet. In fact, a study has shown that individuals who consume home-cooked meals are less likely to gain weight.

Since you are in quarantine, use the time you have at your hands to experiment. Start meal planning so you can squash those cravings that you have late at night. Aside from food, you can also take supplements to help you lose weight. Choose healthy supplements that help you burn fat faster. You can learn more here.

Remember, you should aim for a balanced diet. It is unhealthy to follow crash diets that could affect your immune system. If you want to curb your eating routine by adopting methods such as intermittent fasting, be sure to ask your doctor first. While you may want to experiment in the kitchen, experimenting with new diets can be risky.

You need to be properly guided on how you should start and progress on a particular diet.

Follow a Routine:

Quarantine fatigue can cause you to lose focus. You can try to shake it off by following a routine. Ever since the pandemic disrupted our regular routines, many found it hard to cope, which resulted in behaviors that caused them to gain weight.

One way to combat this is to set up a new daily routine, which can help you maintain a sense of normalcy. You can start by setting a time for when to wake up, do chores, eat meals, work out, attend work or school, and sleep.

Once you get the hang of it, you can slowly incorporate meal planning to ensure that you are getting the right food in your system, helping you fight off obesity.

Getting the right amount of sleep can also help you strengthen your immune system. Aside from giving your body plenty of rest, following a sleep routine helps to fight off midnight cravings and prevent weight gain.

You have to make sure that you are getting quality, restful sleep so that your body is able to rest and recuperate. This way, you will be ready to take on a new day.

Endnote:

Now you have a deeper understanding of what quarantine weight is and how it can affect your risk for developing other chronic diseases. Try not to be too hard on yourself, as the last year has been difficult for everyone. Focus on formulating a new routine and sticking to it, and you’ll start seeing a difference in your physique in no time.

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What are Popular Mind and Body Exercises Available at a Gym?

There was a time when most gyms gave focus to the only the physical part of the body. All their energy and equipment was meant to help people chisel and tone their body and flaunt their curves to the world. They were unable to look beyond what was obvious – the body. In the process, they forgot the other side which was no less important – the mind. The scenario is changed now with gyms rectifying the mistakes or more health-conscious people now wanting to take care of the mental side as much as the physical one. The focus is now to look for holistic health or total health. Thank god there are a variety of classes to meet this specific requirement. So, gyms today are bound to have fitness equipment in the same as do they host mind & body classes. Such classes aim at giving mental stimulating or rejuvenating the gym-goers completely. What are those classes? They include – Pilates Pilates is now an important class at gyms that focus on physical and mental health at the same time. It helps improve balance, flexibility, and posture with the help of a unique method. It’s basically about body control and muscles conditioning and its benefits are too many to ignore. truBalance Gyms today have understood that only letting people tone their body is not enough. That’s why they have to include true balance in their regular classes – a unique Tai Chi inspired workout. These classes combine Pilates and Yoga to boost core stability and flexibility. The end result – a total heath. When a class brings the best from both the worlds – yoga and Pilates – then it should be joined right away. Yoga Yoga is now an integral part of body & mind classes conducted at gyms worldwide. It’s an ancient system of attaining holistic health. It has different poses and meditation techniques to help individuals not only improve the core, flexibility, and strength but also relax the body and stimulate the mind. For ages, yoga has been helping sages and commoners alike in the pursuit of total health. Read also: Bed Time Yoga to Sleep Well Tabata Gyms now understand the value of having classes that help impact the entire body. This is why they have included Tabata classes which is a great way to burn fat and shape the muscles. This high-intensity circuit class not only helps in muscle toning but also posh people to their limits. The best part, its benefits reach to every part of the body which makes it a popular presence at the gym. Spinning High-intensity interval training is now a key part of classes held at gyms worldwide. Such lasses are considered quite helpful for burning body fat and boosting the all-round fitness. In this, gyms can set foot-thumping music and can put on disco lights as well. In a way, these classes are meant to add a new dimension to classes. HIIT class A gym today won’t help if did not have HIIT classes. They should have classes that provide a full-body workout. More so, there should be classes to help people burn calories in big amount. Such a class should give people their own pace to maintain and impact the entire body. In overall, the time has come when you should look to be at a gym where an equal amount of focus to dedicated to both body and mind. That’s why it becomes important to be only at one of those gyms in Plymouth where classes are available to impact the entire body. So, be careful in choosing the right gym and add a new dimension in exercising.

3 Ways to Connect With Nature and Quiet Your Mind

Living near nature can help women live longer, with women in the greenest areas living as much as 12 percent longer than women who live in more built-up areas. You need to connect with nature to stay fit and healthy. Although male mortality rates do not show as much of a clear link, making time to connect with nature has many positive health benefits for both men and women. In fact, a range of studies have shown that regular contact with nature can improve everything from pain control to eyesight, as well as reduced stress levels and less anxiety. But, that's not to say that we all have to move to the countryside to take advantage of these health benefits. Simply making time to connect with whatever natural surroundings you live close to is enough to refresh your mind and improve your health and well-being. Here are three ways to connect with nature and quieten your mind. 1. Create Time Alone in Nature : It's great to experience the beauty of nature in the company of friends or family. But, when we're with other people, we tend to talk. This may be because we worry about what the people we're with think of us. Or we might just feel the need to fill the silence with chatter. However, the best way to connect with nature is by experiencing it alone. Being alone in nature allows us to focus on what we can hear, see and feel in these natural surroundings. Whether it's blades of grass between our fingers or the rush of water from a nearby river, you'll become much more aware of what's around you. So, if you go for a hike with friends, ask for an hour by yourself. Or head to the park or even out into your garden and emerge yourself in the sensory experience that nature offers. Other than hiking, traveling different beautiful locations is always a great way to behold the true beauty of nature and fall in love with it all over again and again. If you have the love for travel, you should consider traveling as much as you can and plan to visit some of the most naturally beautiful countries in the world. Some naturally beautiful places include the fjords of Norway, the Greek Islands, Islands of Maldives, Switzerland, Kashmir in India, Nepal and so on. 2. Find Your Special Spot : You'll find that as you spend more time in nature, especially alone, you'll start finding special places that you're drawn to. It could be a tree you like to lean against when you visit your local park, or the rocks you often sit on to watch the ocean waves crashing on the shore. Wherever you feel most connected to nature, take the time to really get to know it. Go there in the heat of summer and the midst of winter, know it by day and by night. Noticing the small changes in nature as well as the contrasts between seasons helps you put things in perspective as you become more aware of how you are a part of something bigger than yourself. 3. Sleep Outdoors : Since Americans spend around 93 percent of their time indoors, it's important to actively seek out ways to experience longer periods immersed in nature. There's no better way to get in touch with nature than by waking up to a stunning sunrise, the sounds of birdsong and the smell of fresh morning dew. It certainly beats your alarm clock! Make Time to Connect with Nature : Whether you live in an urban area or in the middle of the countryside, it's important for your mental and physical health to take time out to connect with nature. Do you feel that you spend enough time in nature? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below, or contact us for more information. Read Also : 5 Ways You Can Be Inhibiting Your Fitness Top 10 Muscle And Strength Building Exercise At Home Choosing A Diet Based On Your Personality Type

When Should You Turn to a Pharmacist Instead of a GP?

If you are suffering from a health condition and require intervention from your GP, it can be quite difficult to get a quick appointment even when you go to the nearest walk-in center. That’s why you may want to consider going to see a pharmacist instead to get an answer to your problem. Of course, you cannot go to your pharmacist in every situation, but here are the best times when you can and will still get the best medical service from them. When Should You Turn to a Pharmacist Instead of a GP: 1. When your symptoms are not really severe: If you are suffering from the flu or have some sort of infection, and already know what you’re suffering from, this may be a time to actually go to a pharmacist to see if they can recommend the best products. Although a pharmacist cannot diagnose your condition, they can help if you need advice on medications, and which ones would help the best ease your symptoms. They can also recommend products if you have allergies or are looking to avoid a certain medical ingredient. 2. When you need a specific health test: Another thing that you can get from your pharmacist, as well as your GP, are specific tests. It’s important to remember that pharmacists do undertake a 6-8-year program to get qualified, so you are in safe hands if you need a specific medical service. So, if you have diabetes and need a blood or blood sugar level test, blood pressure monitoring or even advice on home monitoring tests, speaking to a pharmacist is a great place to start. 3. Your GP’s waiting time is too long: Sometimes we just can’t wait to get an appointment. You can go to as many walk-in centres as you like, but the waiting times are too long and sometimes you can just get turned away. However, if you understand your symptoms or just want to know what you can get to cure them, you don’t just need to wait for months on end to hear back from a doctor. Instead, you can speak to a pharmacist who can give you advice on medications to ease any painful symptoms. Try speaking to a pharmacist as soon as you can, but also make an appointment with your GP. That way you can get the best of both worlds and get treatment as you wait to see your doctor. 4. You need a prescription update: Seeing a doctor time and time again to get another prescription request for creams, pills or injections can be time-consuming. Sometimes your every-day commitments give you precious little time to spend at the doctors, especially if you cannot get an appointment in the evening. That’s why you can either speak to a pharmacist about a repeat prescription, or you can use an online pharmacy, by Lawsat Pharm, to quickly request your treatment. This way you can make sure you do not miss taking your prescription. 5. You do not have a GP in the area: If you have not signed up for a GP in your area, as you may not be local, this may be the perfect time to see a pharmacist. You may have just moved there or are on holiday in the area. Either way, visit a local pharmacist to make sure you can get some treatment before you return home. Read Also: How To Choose The Right Online Pharmacy Testosterone Replacement Therapy What To Expect Early Symptoms And Signs Of Breast Cancer How Can Art Help Medical Students Become Better Doctors?

Quarantine Weight Gain is Real: What Should You Do About It?