Losing weight in Covid time – best practice
Quarantine- for some of us, it was a struggle, while others enjoyed the lockdown and found a piece of mind. But, the fact is that, a lot of us led an unhealthy life; we stopped training, and found comfort in food and movies. We gained weight and our sleeping patterns worsened without us even noticing it.
But, worry not. Even if you added a few pounds, there are still many ways to regain your shape and strip down that belly.
Exercise, exercise, exercise!
Weight gain is more likely to happen when you’re not physically active enough, like it might have happened to you during lockdown. That is why you should use your time off to your advantage. That means you need to get moving- hit the gym, start running or simply exercise at home. The first couple of days is probably going to be hard, but don’t give up!
Find an exercise plan to begin with. Whatever you decide to do, go slow and do not force yourself too much. This will only be counterproductive because it will cause pain in your muscles during the next few days, which will certainly stop you from further exercise. Instead, focus on small portions of exercises for each part of your body. Start with a warm-up, and then combine different kinds of push-ups, sit-ups, and squats. After you’re done with exercising, take some time to stretch your muscles. This will improve the effect of the exercise and prevent any possibility of muscle pain.
If you’re short on stamina and get tired pretty quick, there are still some tips you can consider. Try avoiding buses, metros or driving, and instead go by foot or bicycle anywhere you can. This will help you strengthen your body and improve your stamina. The more you walk and get physically active, the longer your exercises are going to be. Another thing you might want to take into consideration is to sync your diet plan so that your body has one to two hours to break down your meal, before you start exercising.
Eat healthy to cut down those lockdown pounds
It’s important to know what you should and shouldn’t eat. If you really want to get that summer body, you will have to make some sacrifices. That means strictly avoiding fast foods and greasy foods, snacks and sweets, as well as juices and sodas. You can, however, eat popcorn without additives and small amounts of dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is also good for memory and focus, which is why you shouldn’t avoid it entirely.
It’s a fact that you will have to change a big part of your diet and daily routine. But, it doesn’t mean you have to give up everything. A good diet is all about balance- your plate should have proteins, carbs, fibers, etc. Switch snacks to fruits, especially citrus fruits, like lime and grapefruit, which have proven to be efficient in melting down fat. Avoid too much salt and oil. Balance your plate with, for example, grilled chicken and grilled or roasted vegetables like zucchini, kale, broccoli, mushrooms, and spinach. Involve some fish in your meals too, because it is rich in OMEGA 3, known for reducing appetite.
Know what you can and can’t drink
As I’ve mentioned above, sodas and sugared drinks are a big no-no if you plan on cutting down some pounds. Along with that, avoid drinking too much coffee, and instead sip on some herbal tea. Also, avoid alcohol as much as you can. Moderate drinking is okay, but anything more than a glass will certainly affect your weight loss plan.
Another thing you might want to consider is juicing and consuming homemade healthy drinks. You can make them with a juicer, or without one. If you have a juicer, you can juice pretty much any combination of vegetables and fruits, like spinach and apples. If you, however, don’t have a juicer, you can make healthy iced tea, or cucumber water, which is also often used in diets. Furthermore, drink as much water as you can. Drinking lots of water can reduce appetite and make you feel full, and is also very healthy for your skin.
Have reasonable expectations and don’t give up
Before you start following a weight loss plan, set some goals, and be reasonable with yourself and your expectations. Calculate the amount of time you can dedicate to yourself, to food preparations and exercise. And, most importantly, don’t give up!
Results aren’t going to show after two days of exercising, but you are going to see them pretty soon. Look at this weight loss plan as something positive- a chance to give your body a healthy, energetic boost. Take it slow, stick to your rules and don’t stress and starve yourself.
