During these unprecedented times, unhealthy eating can be a coping mechanism for numerous Americans under financial and situational hardship due to COVID-19. The underlying fear of leaving your home can undoubtedly take a toll on the state of your mental health. If you lacked the motivation to get in the gym before, the inspiration meter is at its all time low now that we are experiencing a global pandemic. According to The Good Body, 27.5 percent of Americans are inactive and are less likely to meet any type of physical activity in their daily lives. Visualize the decline of physical activity of people who now work from home and sit at a desk for 5-8 hours a day, and what those eating habits might look like.
There is great news in the midst of wanting to jump on the fitness wave and feeling unmoved; you aren’t alone. Social media groups on weight loss are providing virtual support to people who need that extra motivation to get started. There are other various resources to get you active in the comfort of your own home. We are in the age where virtual fitness and online training is becoming the norm, and Americans are independently taking the steps towards jumping online and pulling workouts from Youtube and Instagram. Find those resources and alter your mindset to be able to achieve your weight loss goals and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Here are 3 ways to jumpstart your fitness journey during a pandemic and get you closer to a healthier you.
Create a workout and eating schedule.
In order to be consistent and see results, creating a schedule that is tailored to your normal daily routine is essential. Make it a mission to commit to some form of exercise every day, even if it’s just 30 minutes a day. The U.S Department of Health & Human Services revealed that only 5 percent of adults participate in 30 minutes of physical activity each day. Try to stick to a consistent time of the day to dedicate to your workouts and plan out your meals. If you are short on time, search for a Youtube video with a quick HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) routine and pace yourself. Prepare meals for the week on Sundays to avoid ordering fast food and decision fatigue on meal choices.
Hold yourself accountable by documenting your progress.
Record progress and take pictures on day one of starting your at home weight loss journey. Categorize the pictures and videos in a folder and label it “weight loss journey” in your photos on your cell phone. Refer back to this content as the days pass to see your body transform and the workouts get easier. Visualizing the process will help with accountability and overall motivation. Post yourself in action and share on social media to inspire your followers to get moving at home. Not only will posting on social media influence your peers, ultimately it will push you to keep going.
Look for social media support.
Fitness communities on social media consist of people with similar goals created for the sole purpose of circulating workout routines, tips, and inspiration. Joining social media groups such as Facebook groups are incredibly beneficial for a solid support system. There is always communication buzzing on fellow users’ transparency on their individual journeys. It’s empowering to share victories and milestones on the social media groups’ message board. Members within the group are there to uplift and lean on each other during these challenging times.
Although we are currently living in the midst of a pandemic, Americans are not letting new restrictions and fear of getting sick keep them from being active at home. By taking advantage of virtual resources, putting yourself on a schedule, and joining support groups it would be difficult to get off track. You aren’t alone in this mission to lose weight and jumpstart your fitness journey. There are multiple communities online that want to help keep you accountable, and together we will achieve our fitness goals.
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