The COVID-19, the Quarantine 15 — whatever you call it, it’s no secret that the global pandemic of COVID-19 is causing many people to pack on the pounds. Whether it’s boredom, stress, or access to your fridge 24 hours per day, if you’re working from home, the reasons and excuses are abundant. Whether you’re looking to combat weight gain during quarantine, turn around some bad habits you’ve developed while in social isolation, or looking to drop coronavirus weight gain, personal trainer and yoga teacher, Jolene Cherry has some fantastic tips for you.
Below, Jolene Cherry discusses how you can keep your waistline trim while you’re stuck at home.
Have Healthy Snacks on Hand: When you’re working from home, you don’t necessarily have to wait until your lunch break to grab something. You don’t have to worry about spending unnecessary money on the vending machine because your stocked fridge is there. That’s why you must stock that fridge and pantry with healthy snacks. Things that will fill you up without busting your diet. Almonds, rice cakes, cut up fruit and vegetables, hummus, or protein bars are great options that you can quickly grab.
Meal Plan/Prep: When you’re unprepared and feeling out of a routine, it can be easy to reach for the takeout menu or order pizza. One way to avoid slipping into an unhealthy takeout habit is by planning and prepping your meals. Take some time to plan out a menu for the week that is healthy, nourishing, and filling for your family. You can plan to incorporate a takeout meal or two once or twice a week, make sure it’s a healthy choice. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and too busy or tired to cook, you should prep your meals for the week beforehand for easy, healthy grab-and-go options.
Get Your Workouts In: Just because the gyms may be closed doesn’t mean you have a free pass to turn into a couch potato. There are plenty of at-home workout options, even if you live in a small space. You can search YouTube or social networks for workouts or go on a jog outside or a walk with your family.
Choose Activity Before Lounging: With all the extra time at home, you may feel as if you have more time to binge-watch TV while binge eating Oreos. This is a bad habit that will lead to weight gain. When you’ve got extra time on your hands, or are feeling bored during quarantine, choose to be active to kill time. Go on a walk, go on a run, play tennis — anything that will get you active and out of the house. Once you’ve done the activity, you can reward yourself with an episode or two of your favorite show. Make it a habit to always choose the activity before you lounge and veg out.
In these uncertain times, sticking to a routine can feel almost impossible. But with a little bit of preparation and discipline, you should be able to create and stick to a new COVID-19 routine, incorporating healthy food choices and exercise to stave off that Quarantine-15.
About Jolene Cherry: Jolene Cherry is a certified and experienced yoga instructor and personal trainer based in Portland, Oregon. She has always been interested in fitness, meditation, and nutrition and decided to help others reach their desired levels of physical fitness. Her international training and experience, ranging from Hawaii to Thailand, along with her nurturing one-on-one sessions have helped propel her to a prominent personal trainer and yoga instructor in the Pacific Northwest.