How To Stay Fit During The Corona Virus Lock Down

Article Summary

Stay positive, you’ll get through the situation

Make sure some type of fitness/exercise is part of your routine

Eating healthy foods should be a priority

What a crazy time we’re living in. In the span of less than a week, the world is starting to turn upside down. A bunch of countries are in some form of a lockdown. I hope that these lockdowns do what they’re intended to do and the virus dies out very soon.

Here in Israel, they’ve issued a partial lockdown for the country. No public place that has 10 or more people is open. Schools, malls, restaurants, movie theaters are all closed. But what's most affecting me, all gyms are closed too.

Now we have to think a bit more creatively on how to get our workouts in and eat right. It’s still possible given the situation, though it may not be ideal. But it's 100% doable.

Tip #1

Embrace the situation

Sadly this is going to be the situation for the next little while. You can be pissed off and frustrated about it, or you can learn to embrace it. Be positive. Be optimistic. If you have a crappy attitude for the next few weeks, then the next few weeks will be crap. But if you approach it with excitement, then you’re likely to get a lot more out of this.

Something that I often tell myself is that ‘you don’t control every action in life, but you control your REACTION’.

Go in with the right attitude.

Tip #2

Make time for fitness

Here’s something I’ve learned in my 4+ years of working out. Exercise won’t make time for you, you have to make time for it. It’s your job to make it a priority and work it into your schedule.

It’s a challenge, I know. Especially given the current situation, but exercise doesn’t have to be a 2-hour workout. It can be a video you found on Youtube, a workout from Instagram, or even just going on a long walk in your neighborhood.

Fitness has many faces.

What’s most important is that you make it part of your routine. Work it into your schedule.

If you know that you need to work from 8-5 at home, get up 30 minutes earlier and do a HIIT workout from Youtube. Do some light Yoga at the end of the day. Do something. Whatever it is that you can manage. Add it into your daily schedule and stick to it.

Personally, I’m trying to do more walking. I’m aiming to go on 2-3 30+ minute walks a day. These walks can actually do more for your fitness than you realize. And even more, it can be great for your mind.

Tip #3

Prioritize good eating habits

Realistically, this one will be the hardest. When we’re home all day it‘s hard to eat well. Whether it’s boredom, lack of routine, the kids, whatever, good eating habits are hard to maintain.

This is where good preparation comes in. If you’re somewhere with grocery shopping's still running (like we have in Israel), you should have no problem loading up on fruits, veggies, lean proteins and whatever other good healthy food options you need. Don’t be afraid to go overboard on buying a bit too much, since you’ll likely be home most of the day, and you can snack guilt free on all the vegetables that you want. (I’ve been snacking on a bunch of cherry tomatoes this morning).

Once you have the food stocked in your house, it’s about not giving into temptation. You may see those cookies or chips staring at you from the back of the pantry, but be strong! Instead of having “just one cookie” you can have as many apples or cucumbers or whatever that you want! I guarantee you that you won’t be hungry if you stuff your face on a bunch of carrots.

This is one I'm taking on for myself during the lockdown. I want to use this as a time to lose some weight, so I'm starting to track my calories and diet down. I'll be hungry at times, I'll want to snack on 'fun' foods sometimes. But it's about pushing through those moments and sticking to the plan.

NOW WHAT?!

There’s a lot going on here. You have a lot to adjust to. Family, work, everything. It’ll may take time until you’re in a solid routine.

While adjusting to everything else, make sure your health and fitness doesn’t get neglected. Health and fitness will improve everything else you have to balance and will help make you a stronger person for all of the other things that you have to be responsible for.