Are you among the many Americans who gained weight during the quarantine? Staying home made it challenging to stay on track with your health goals. If you spent any time on social media, then you probably saw memes about gaining weight in quarantine, humorously nicknamed the COVID-19 – similar to the “freshman 15” weight gain that happens to some students during their first year at university.
Many people found that during the pandemic their physical activity decreased, and staying home resulted in eating more each day. The combination of inactivity and more calories is the perfect storm for weight gain.
Losing the Quarantine Weight
Even if you put on a few pounds during quarantine, you don’t have to carry the extra weight around forevermore. Change your daily habits, and you will watch the weight start to melt away.
Here are a few things you can start doing right now to get rid of the extra pounds you picked up because of the Corona-virus pandemic:
- Make a Plan: Be specific in your weight loss strategy. Good intentions won’t get you very far if you aren’t implementing these changes on a daily basis. Make a plan for your meals, exercise routine, and other habits to support both physical and mental health. For example, you might choose meal-prep days twice a week so your fridge is filled with easy-to-grab meals when you are hungry. It can also be helpful to talk with a dietician or choose a specific diet program to follow, such as Keto or Paleo.
- Exercise Regularly: Both diet and exercise are important factors that will affect your weight loss. Exercising at home is a great way to boost your calorie burn, which is important for weight loss. Look for fun activities to move your body, such as dance parties in the kitchen or doing sports at home.
- Food Substitutions: As you are breaking unhealthy habits, find ways that you can substitute healthier options. For example, instead of reaching for a candy bar for an afternoon treat, have healthy trail mix packs on hand as a substitution to curb your craving.
Just because you are trying to lose weight doesn’t mean that you need to go hungry throughout the day. Nature’s Garden offers healthy solutions to match your weight loss goals. If you are following a Keto diet, try Nature's Garden Keto snack mix.
