Since the start of the year, the world has changed. Policies, social distancing, and more than a month of continuous lockdown have all contributed to a steady body weight loss that continues to this day. With few exceptions, people are staying indoors, and those going out for walks or to run errands are wearing masks and gloves to protect themselves from the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that the world is coming back to some semblance of order, it’s time for people to start getting back to their normal habits – including their weight regime. And while it’s great to want to slim down during these unprecedented times, it’s not exactly clear what is considered ‘normal’ during a pandemic.
Weighing The Options
When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. When life gives you COVID-19, you make…well, you make what you can of it. For many people, the pandemic has meant life-changing or even life-saving measures, and while it’s great to want to keep your body in good shape during these trying times, the focus should not be on weight loss but on staying healthy. However, if weight loss is a concern for you and you are not experiencing any health problems, then there are options available to help you achieve your desired weight. Let’s take a look at some of the popular diets that people are trying to emulate during these challenging times.
Sobering Up
One of the most popular fad diets this year has been ‘sober up’, which encourages people to get plenty of sleep and eat healthy foods while staying away from all alcohol and tobacco products. This is certainly a healthier option than many other fad diets, but it’s not exactly a diet that helps people lose weight. However, if you are trying to get back to your pre-pandemic weight and are serious about it, then it’s a great option. You won’t necessarily lose a lot of weight with this diet, but it will help you make the right choices and give you the fundamentals to continue a healthy lifestyle when the world heals back.
Vary Your Diet
If you are the type of person who constantly turns to food for comfort, then trying a new diet may be a bad idea. But if you are looking for a way to shed some extra weight without totally changing your eating habits, then it might be a good option for you. Instead of focusing on a specific diet, you should try and vary your diet as much as possible to ensure you are getting the nutrients you need. If you follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, for example, you may decide to have more beans or lentils than usual to ensure you are getting all the nutrients you need. Similarly, if you are a bit of a sweets lover, seeing as how most foods are now off-limits, you may decide to have an ice-cream sandwich or chocolate cake every now and then to keep your taste buds alive. Varying your diet is not only a great way to ensure you are getting all the nutrients you need, but it also gives you a bit of variety, which may make the process of losing weight less daunting.
Cut Out The Bad Stuff
While it would be wonderful to cut out all the bad foods from your diet and stick to only eating the healthy ones, sometimes we just can’t help ourselves. If you are absolutely determined to lose some weight during COVID-19, then avoiding all processed foods and sticking to only naturally-made products is a great way to start. There are a lot of healthy choices available, and while it may seem difficult to avoid all the bad foods now that they are widely available, you will feel great once you start incorporating them into your diet. You may notice that you are feeling better and have more energy, even while eating healthy foods. If avoiding foods makes you feel better and boosts your energy, then it may be the right decision for you.
Change Your Lifestyle
There are many ways in which your lifestyle may have changed since the start of the year. You may have stopped going to the movies, started working from home, or changed your daily routine in any number of ways. As your life has changed, so too has your weight. You may have found yourself struggling with more energy than usual, and while this may be wonderful in some cases, it can also be a problem if you’re not used to it. It would be a great idea to get some sleep apnea treatment or see a sleep physician to get an idea of what’s causing your weight loss and to start fixing it. Similarly, if you have an idea of what triggers your urge to eat, then you might consider speaking to a nutritionist or a dietician. They may be able to help you put a plan in place and give you the guidance you need to continue your healthy lifestyle once the pandemic is over.
Whether you’re planning to lose weight or not during the pandemic, there are many options available to help you meet your goals. Just remember to be smart about your choices and have realistic expectations. While it’s certainly positive to want to slim down during these difficult times, it’s not exactly clear what is considered ‘normal’ – and to be honest, it may be a lot more than you’d want to admit.