How often do you worry about Lockdown related weight gains?

Has looking at yourself in the mirror to gauge your weight gain become your new normal? Are you constantly weighing yourself in your bathroom scales? Is lockdown weight gain one of your main worries during the pandemic?

If yes, then you are not alone in this quarantine weight gain struggle.

Quarantine weight gain is a global phenomenon. Men and women across the world have reported weight gain as a result of restrictions placed on their lifestyle by the COVID lockdown.

The reasons for lockdown weight gain are simple. 

• Comfort food

Stress eating is a major cause of weight gain. Health, economic and psychological concerns keep you on the edge and you turn to food for comfort, which is mostly junk food and snacks.

• Sedentary lifestyle

Gyms, parks and all avenues of outdoor and indoor exercise have been closed. You are sitting at home working or idling. You can have a 30 minute workout inside your home, but you lack the motivation to start.

• Lack of low level activity

Walking to your car, walking into your office, walking about your office for meetings etc., walking out of your office for breaks, and all the travel you used to do in the course of a working day have all be stopped. This may be low level activity, but it contributes towards the number of steps you take each day. Now you miss it all.

This combination of too much food and too little exercise leads to weight gain. If you are generally healthy and have no weigh or health issues, then you don’t have to worry about lockdown weight gain. Once lockdown eases and you get back to your normal routine, you will start losing your lockdown weight gain.

If you are already obese of overweight or have any chronic illness, then this additional weight gain could be dangerous. You will have to start managing your weight through your activities.

What you can do to prevent lockdown weight gain

If you do not have a weight problem, then relax and enjoy your time off. A little weight gain won’t hurt you. But, if you already have a weight problem, then you should tale proactive action to prevent lockdown weight gain. Here are a few steps to help you achieve this.

• Be positive

A positive mindset will help you focus on the brighter side. You will be able to identify opportunities in this situation and act upon them. Start working on the things you can control. This will lift your spirits and help you get on with life without falling into comfort eating habits.

• Eat healthy

Take away are allowed in restaurants, but stop using them. Cook a simple meal filled with healthy vegetables dishes. Opt for fruit and vegetable salads, but go easy on the salad dressing. Rice or chapatti with vegetable, lentils and salads will fill your stomach with a healthy mix of carbohydrates, proteins and vitamins and minerals.

• Doing Yoga 

One of the best forms of physical, mental and spiritual practice, Yoga is best suited for this lockdown period. “Practice of yoga takes care of all these mental issues. Yoga along with breathing and meditation can be considered as an all-round exercise which will take care of our body, mind and soul

• Shop wisely

Before you go out shopping, make a list of groceries and provisions you want to buy. Indulge with a few items of packaged food and snacks. Buy from the list and don’t shop impulsively. This will prevent you from filling your cupboards with comfort and junk food.

• Take a break

Being cooped up inside will increase your craving for food. Take short breaks periodically. Go to your balcony, walk in the terrace, look at nature and spend time outside your home, without forgetting your mask or compromising social distancing. This will divert your attention from food.

• Make a call

If you have a weight problem and fear your lockdown weight gain is going out of control, then call your dietician and ask for help. You can work together to set goals and achieve them through dedicated effort.

In conclusion, we can say that lockdown weight gain is not injurious to health if your general health is good. If you are healthy, then take heart and be grateful that you have the means to gain weight in these tough times. If you are already fighting obesity, then you must take definitive action to stop lockdown weight gain.