Blog Layout
Changing habits
Maggie Hollowed • 9 April 2021
In a recent number of polls carried out by market research companies and social media, it has been established that over 40% of people have gained weight during the pandemic.
This does not come as a surprise, as routines have been disrupted and for some it has been a time of anxiety and stress.
- Working & Schooling from home
- Home cooking 3 meals a day
- A more sedentary lifestyle and exercising less.
- Snacking more and drinking alcohol
- Lack of motivation
- Late nights and sleeping patterns disturbed
I don’t think anyone should beat themselves up about this. It has been a challenging time.
Focusing too much on weight gain will only make one more anxious or distressed.
If you are one of these people struggling with weight gain, now is probably a good time to start focusing on small changes. With the promise of lockdown being lifted, brighter days ahead, we should try and control the bad habits we have developed and look at ways to improve our lifestyle.
Remember even though we cannot control the lockdown, we can control our eating and activity.
There is no magic pill or quick fix solution to losing weight but there is a simple calculation – calories in vs calories out. This is the aim for anyone trying to lose weight. Eat fewer calories and become more active.
Even if you increase your exercise levels but continue to eat more calories, you will not lose weight. We all know that eating too many calories can lead to weight gain, obesity and health issues. In addition, eating too few calories can lead to nutrient deficiencies and eating disorders.
A healthy balanced nutritional diet is the key going forward.
If you want to lose weight. Have a little chat with yourself. Set yourself some realistic goals.
Make those changes.
Your desire to change must be greater than your desire to stay the same!
When opportunity knocks – open that door!
To Spring into action is to become suddenly very active and energetic.
We are heading towards the light at the end of the tunnel. Fingers crossed, if plans go accordingly, lockdown is due to be lifted by the end of June. Some sort of normality will return to our lives. We will be able to return to classes in person and not just virtually.
Valentine’s Day is almost here. A day for professing your love or desire for someone else.
After the last 9 months we have had and with current lockdown rules, I do not blame anyone for trying to make the most of their Christmas. It is of course the season to be jolly.
This week I was asked to present at an event over a virtual platform. I was well prepared and had everything planned.
I remember our first day of lockdown, 17 March 2020. Classes were cancelled and students were asking how they could participate in classes from home. After a couple of weeks of testing different platforms we managed to deliver our classes through social media. I t was not an easy transition and was only achieved after much trial and error with the help and support from students. People found it strange at first, going from a live group class environment to a virtual class from home, watching from their PC, lap top, tablet or phone. Fast forward 5 months and exercising from home has become part of our daily routine. In addition to that we have all become a lot more ‘Tech Savvy!’. We are now quick to link our lap tops to the TV, or screen mirror our phones or tablets. We are quick to set up, organise the furniture, angle the camera and adjust the sound. We have come along way. Looking forward to the next 5 months and who can predict what will happen? One thing for certain is the importance of keeping active – both physically and mentally. We must make the most of the Summer days and weeks we have left. Enjoy some long walks, exercise in the great outdoors or simply dance in the sun, wind or rain – our virtual classes will continue to be here for you – we are only a touch of a button away.
Find the balance, find the time to have fun, quality time with friends & family, time to invest in your health, fitness and mental wellbeing, time to relax & unwind. Balance is key. Look after yourself because it is ‘U’ that matters.
‘What is my goal? Why do I want to achieve it?’ ‘What do I have to do to achieve it’? ‘Is it realistic?’ ‘How will it fit into my lifestyle – work, family?’ ‘What changes will I have to make?’ ‘What barriers prevent me from achieving my objectives?’ ‘If I am going to achieve the things I want to achieve and I am willing to make some changes, then what time scale am I going to set myself’
Focus On Positive Communication According to a recent report from the Mental Health Foundation, changing the way we talk and think about ourselves may help us to feel happier in our own skin. When we continuously speak about our bodies in a negative way, “I feel fat today”, “I look old”, “I do not have the body to wear that”, it can lead to us feeling worse about ourselves and leave us with poor body image. Instead, if we try to focus on the more positive things about our body, and what it does for us, this may help to support and improve our body image, ’I am strong’, ‘I am healthy’, ‘I am pretty good for my age’! Another good approach to building body image is to focus on activity and healthy eating habits for the benefits they provide, instead of just focusing on dieting, losing weight or building muscle. Be kind to yourself!
