During quarantine many of us feel the pressure to get fitter and to improve ourselves in one way or other. Social media also bombards us with celebrity trainers around the world for workout inspiration. And for that Fatima Zahra Mallick gives to our readers for perfect health and fitness routine.
But is it really such a sin if we end up gaining weight or not working out in quarantine?
We are living through unprecedented times and people are under a lot of pressure to practise social distancing. Is weight gain during lockdown really our greatest priority? are we really that superficial as people?
Being an Integrative nutrition health coach and a body activist, I have a wider definition of wellness than simply the number on the scale. For me, wellness is any activity that leaves you feeling empowered, calmer, and somehow, a bit happier than before..
If you stress about your health and weight gain, and you direct that anxiety towards counting calories and stressing about the scale, you’ll just create a toxic environment for yourself.So how do we create an atmosphere of wellness and self-care in quarantine? Here are my top tips.
1 Exercise doesn’t have to feel like a punishment. My top tip would really be to move your body in whatever way feels good to you, not like a chore. For example; don’t sign up for an online HIIT class if you hate burpees and cardio. Opt for gentler yoga or pilates instead. You might not lose weight immediately but you’re more likely to stick to your regime and create a habit of movement that feels easy yet challenging verus downright brutal.
2 We have all been ordering in and eating a lot in quarantine. I’d like you to know that that’s normal and natural. Given the stress of a global pandemic combined with the personal impact on our social lives, many of us feel that food is perhaps the only outlet. If you need to eat that extra piece of chocolate, go head! You can always start working on a eating plan when you are emotionally ready for it. Also, healthy eating doesn’t have to be boring, expensive, or restrictive. It could be as simple as drinking more water/ eating more greens/ reducing the amount of oil that is used in food at home. You could even switch to brown atta or bread if you’re currently addicted to white carbs. Small changes are much more important than large sweeping steps that you are likely to unfollow in a couple of weeks.
3 Finally, be patient. If this period has taught us anything, it’s to slow down and take each day as it comes. Be kind to yourself and realize that we are all in this together. There is no rush to drop 20 pounds in the next two months or to go vegan right now. The only thing that’s important is to check in with yourself daily and to realize that it’s okay if on some days you just want to lie in and do nothing. It’s also completely fine if you want to seek out a therapist or health coach during this period. Slow and steady wins the race.As a fitness entrepreneur, I have a lot of online challenges going on. But it’s against our policy to make clients or anyone feel guilty about gaining weight or not working out in quarantine. If you ever want to sign up for any sort of physical transformation challenge, remember that the decision has to come from a place of self love and self care versus a feeling of not being good enough. Wellness is any activity that makes you feel fullfiled physically, mentally and emotionally. From a fitness perspective, it’s about any exercise or eating plan that helps you feel better in mind and body instead of making you more anxious worried insecure.
