As we all make our way out of quarantine, we find ourselves in one of two categories: either we come out in better shape or a little heavier than before. While there is no perfect way to come out of quarantine, we are often harder on ourselves than we should be. There is so much going on in the world right now and it takes its toll on everyone in a different way.
However, if you are looking for some healthy ways to lose quarantine weight, here are some tips for you!
Try to find a pattern in your daily and weekly life to target your weaknesses. Maybe you enjoy eating a little too much ice cream, or you indulged in the sweets you baked during quarantine. Whatever the case is, try to find your weak point so that you can address it directly! If you have to, keep track of what you eat in a week and review the list to see if there are any patterns in your diet that might be working against you. Recognizing and targeting your weaknesses will help you lose quarantine weight.
Whether this involves you simply hiding or throwing away the cravings you cannot resist, you have to make the decision that’s best for you! Putting the foods that tempt you out of sight is the first step to not thinking about them as frequently as you might be right now. The less you think about those types of food, the less you will want to eat them. Additionally, when you choose to finally eat those foods, it is because you actually want that specific thing instead of just eating whatever is right in front of you.
Sometimes we eat because we think it will make ourselves feel better when in actuality we are doing ourselves a disservice. There is a fine line between a “hearty” serving and eating until you feel physically ill. Know what your limitations are and cut yourself off before you become sick. This is a simple way to shift into portion control, and being aware of how much food you are consuming at once in order to lose quarantine weight.
You can still eat your favorite foods while losing weight! Some tricks to try to lose quarantine weight include controlling the amounts you eat. So instead of eating out of the bag or carton, scoop whatever you plan to eat onto a plate or into a bowl. When we start piling on the ice cream and pouring out the chips, seeing everything visually all together usually averts us to want to eat the whole container at once. Try measuring out two actual serving sizes of your favorite foods and start from there! Big results can come from small, mindful changes.
Simply being intentional and making the choice to reduce how often you go out to eat can have such a positive impact on your weight loss journey! Eating at home is usually a cleaner, less expensive, and healthier alternative to sodium-dense foods. Fast food is filled with so many artificial preservatives and other bad ingredients that will work against whatever progress we are trying to make. It’s not always easy, but know that making your own pasta instead of ordering from your favorite Italian restaurant is ultimately going to be better for your health, and your wallet!
This is certainly easier said than done. Not everyone owns a coffee maker or has room for one in their space. If you have the ability to make your own coffee or find a way that is more affordable and space-saving for you, go for it to lose quarantine weight! Drinking sugary drinks from Starbucks or your local coffee house will only work against the progress you are trying to make. Making your own coffee at home allows you to control the ingredients you use, as well as the cost and calories! To save hundreds of calories first thing in the morning, make the switch from to-go coffee to brewing it at home.
Whether this means you try to hit your step goal every hour or start taking the stairs, the possibilities are endless! What matters most is that you find a way to make yourself more physically active and stick with it to lose quarantine weight. Start walking your dog every day, or take the long way back to your desk at the office. Getting yourself moving is absolutely vital to your weight loss journey!
Make a plan and stick to it as best as you can! No matter if you are wanting to walk your dog every day, or hit the gym three times a week, there is no right or wrong way to approach this. The most important thing is that you are being intentional to get up, move your body, and do it consistently! Plus, the sooner you get into a routine, the quicker you will see results.
Granted, there are very few people that genuinely enjoy cardio workouts, but we all have to admit that they are great at helping you shed some pounds! Don’t go try to run a marathon during your first cardio workout in a while, but do push yourself and see what you are capable of. The more frequently you do cardio, the easier your workouts will become!
Weight training is the quickest and most effective way to lose weight and tone your body. Whether you stick to bodyweight exercises or head over to the weight section at the gym, you can never go wrong! There are so many different types of workouts you can do that the possibilities are endless. If you are not comfortable experimenting with weights on your own, consider paying for personal training sessions or watching some videos on YouTube!
There are so many different types of ways to track your progress! If you want to track what you are eating, you can easily do this in fitness or diet tracking apps. Most of these options are either free or very affordable. Simply writing your food down or keep track of your meals in a food diary is a great option as well. Some people are motivated by watching the number drop on the scale while others like to photograph their progress! Experiment and find a tracking method that works best for you and stick with it.
No matter how many bumps in the road you might encounter, always push forward! Don’t be hard on yourself if you are not seeing progress as quickly as you would like. You can lose your quarantine weight gain as long as you have a plan, and keep yourself motivated! If you need to, try to get a friend or significant other involved in your journey. The people you have on your team the more likely you are to reach and smash your goals!
“But don’t you go to Kent State? Shouldn’t you, like, be proud of that?” I didn’t say I wasn’t. I’m full…
Liberty University is full of its perks, but there are still some things that don’t compare to other Virginia universities.…
There are certain people at the University of Florida that you can't help but run into on a daily basis…
Scrolling through Instagram, double tapping your friends pic is an everyday thing. Sure you scroll through your feed and have…
Every student at San Diego State University knows they have a great lifestyle at one of the best universities. We've…
The cool winds of winter are creeping in, and you might be noticing your skin getting a little dry. Don't…
