COVID-19 (also known as coronavirus) continues to spread round the world and WHO has advised countries to confine people to their homes which most have duly taken as an obligation rather a precaution because it is indeed an effective way to stop the virus from spreading further.
Social distancing which includes maintaining at least six feet of space from other people, staying at home, and avoiding crowded places, is seen as a very effective way to control the spread the virus, although most people may find it frustrating because boredom might set in at some point.
This might also be the perfect time to spend more time doing the things you love to do but don’t have time to do on a normal day. Spending more time at home means you have time to try so many things and that means eating more, drinking more, and sleeping more; all of which can lead to weight gain. However, it is very important that you keep your body fit and not go out of shape because it is healthy both to your body and state of mind.
Below is a list of our 10 most effective ways to avoid gaining weight at home during this mandatory social distancing period.
1. Have an active routine
It’s easy to eat, keep up with friends online, and stay in bed all day because you’ve got little or no work to do but this is very bad for your health. So many medical studies have proved that having a routine is beneficial to both your mental and physical health. You may not be able to leave the house, or go shopping, or visit a friend but you can create a new routine which is made around being at home and involves you being active.
2. Workout more
You burn out excess fat by working out, especially when you do it very early in the morning (preferably before breakfast). Thankfully, there are loads of home workout routines you can try out, and staying true to them will ensure that you do not gain too much weight during this period. In this case, you do not need a physical tutor as you can put yourself through series of available articles online about home workout or go on YouTube for some tutorial videos of which ones are best for you.
3. Eat healthily
Staying at home can make you eat so much that you won’t even realize you’re gaining so much weight until someone tells you, which is why you have to avoid the temptation of always having something in your mouth. Eat foods that contain lots of vitamins and protein. Make sure you stay away from foods with that contain excess fat because they’re not beneficial to the body. We have a very helpful article on 10 best healthy snacks for weight loss which you can check out.
4. Choose hobbies that will keep you on the move
You will be tempted to sit in the couch all day and watch movies but that might not be too healthy. Opt for hobbies that’ll keep you mobile and not stagnant in one spot for a very long time. You don’t have to necessarily be moving about all the time. Moving can also involves your hands and as long as there’s movement in any part of your body, the trick will be done.
5. Sleep healthily
It’s very important to sleep well. The body needs it to survive as much as it needs food and water. Due to the luxury of time people will get, some might spend more time sleeping which is very bad for the health. It is very easy to gain weight when you’re just eating and sleeping. On the other hand, not having enough sleep can also be dangerous to one’s health so one just has to come up with a way to find that balance.
6. Eat lots of fruits
The importance of fruits to the body cannot be underemphasized and since you’ll be eating more when you’re at home, it’s best to eat what will make you healthier. Watermelon, apple, orange, pineapple, bananas, and many more all have their own role to play in weight loss because they contain vitamins that are beneficial to the body.
7. Quench your thirst with water
So many people are of the habit of gulping down sweetened beverages and soft drinks anytime they are thirsty. However, it is very healthy to take water or even if you have to take a soft drink, let it be some diet soft drinks instead of the ones with sugar. You’ll add more weight drinking the latter and not just that, sugar can be very detrimental to your system when it gets too much so quenching your thirst with water is more than enough.
8. Consume 100% fruit juice
It might be time to opt for some home-made juice which medically is healthier than most of the fruit juices sold out there. Juices with added sugar are not healthy and for someone who’s trying to shed some weight, it might not be a great choice. If you feel like taking juice, take the one that’s 100% made of fruit.
9. Do not take too much alcohol
Alcohol intake is seen as part of socializing so to ask you to completely ditch the act if you’re already used to it might be far-fetched but make sure you do not take too much of it. Too much of alcohol might cause you to gain more weight and that’s not good for your health in any way.
10. Do not get used to kids’ meals
Kids’ meals are specially made for kids and they mostly come with much sugar than what adults should be taking. Tasting them a couple of times is not a crime but when it becomes an habit, it could lead to weight gain because of the presence of too much sugar.
