The COVID-19 outbreak could be seen as an excuse to break away from your usual training programme, neglect your diet and before you know it, you’ll lose your abs and stop feeling good about yourself. Here are five ways you can avoid putting on the pounds during this tough period.
-
Exercise indoors
You don’t need equipment to keep in shape. Pushups, crunches, sit ups, the plank – there are lots of exercises you can do without a gymnasium in the comfort of your own home. Check out this video below for some exercise ideas:
-
Sit less
The more you sit, the more you’re likely to gain weight, even if you get the recommended 150 minutes a week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Make sure you take ‘walking’ breaks if you’re working from home and just sat in front of the television or your laptop all day.
-
Limit Stress-Eating
Don’t let the stress of the coronavirus turn into overeating. Be mindful of your eating habits, especially when experiencing high-stress situations or simply boredom. With lots of snacks and desserts within reach, it can be easy to lose self-control.
-
Sleep more
A lack of sleep can cause an increase in the hormone ghrelin, which tells your brain that you’re hungry. It also causes a drop in leptin, the hormone responsible for signaling when you’re full. That dual reaction might be stronger in people who are dieting, which can sabotage weight-loss efforts, according to a new review of studies in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Bottom line: Make sure you get at least six hours of sleep a night
-
Use smaller plates
Larger bowls, packages, and servings can lead you to eat more than what’s appropriate, according to a 2011 study in the Journal of Consumer Research. To eat and drink less, try using smaller plates, bowls, and glasses, along with smaller serving dishes and utensils.
