5 Tips for Dealing with Pandemic Weight Gain!

As we all have had our ups and downs during this pandemic that feels like a never-ending scourge,  often the way we make ourselves feel better is to
take a break from working out and/or engage in choosing our favorite foods and treats to make ourselves feel a bit better. We consider it an award, but overall, the results of watching lots of movies and television shows along with splurging on our meals only result in gaining weight.   Here is a great piece from  Joyce Muriel Lee Olegario about how to get back on track with your lifestyle.

5 Tips for Dealing with Pandemic Weight Gain

By Joyce Muriel Lee Olegario

Like many who’ve endured sickness, stress, and abrupt changes to their daily routines in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be worried about the weight you’ve gained over the
past couple of years. The virus itself may have exacerbated your health problems, and the initial restrictions on mobility may have thrown you off your exercise regimen. As a result, you may also be feeling extra self-conscious about your appearance and demoralized about being farther than you want to be from the peak of health. What’s the best way to deal with your pandemic weight gain without being too harsh on yourself?

Take comfort in the fact that you’re not alone in this problem and that many people like you are looking for ways to boost their health, wellbeing, and self-esteem. Here are five tips for addressing the big changes that may have happened to your body in a healthy and self-affirming way.

Make a Viable Plan to Get Your Health Back on Track

There are two things that you should do before anything else:
(1) assess your current health condition, and
(2) make a plan for a full physical, mental, and emotional recovery.

Above all, your plan for getting back into shape should be sustainable and not overly punishing to your body. Avoid things that may throw your eating habits off-balance, like crash diets, and things that may put your body through more physical strain than it can handle, such as intensive and quickly-paced exercise that could potentially injure you.

You must be extra patient with yourself and commit to taking it a step at a time. Try to see your efforts to become healthy again as an ongoing journey and not a race. Set reasonable goals
for your recovery and go about them at a gradual pace. Eventually, you’ll be able to build the motivation and self-discipline that you need to get back into shape.

Dress to Look Good and to Feel Good About Yourself

Fashion can be a testy topic for people who’ve gained weight during the pandemic. It’s understandable for you to be anxious about wearing certain types of clothing again for fear that
they won’t flatter you. One way to work around that is to change up your wardrobe so that it features more clothing items that make you look good and feel good about your appearance.

There’s no need to spend a huge amount of money to repopulate your closet. Consider buying control top tights and other pieces of quality shapewear to sculpt your body shape and
achieve a better fit for your clothes.

But if you want to do a bigger revamp of your wardrobe to boost your morale and start anew, invest in a few adaptable pieces and sell or donate the clothes you don’t feel like wearing again.

Establish a Routine that Will Improve Your Physical, Mental, and Emotional Health

A lot of people gained weight during the pandemic because of significant changes to their daily regimen. This may have also been the case for you, as the work-from-home setup of the New
Normal may have made it harder for you to exercise or eat nutritious food.

But if you want to make your way back to a healthy lifestyle, you must be able to craft a daily routine that supports that. Some of the things that you should remember to do are the following:

• Make time to exercise and move your body throughout the day. Get your body used to being active again, and try to build even more strength and endurance as the weeks go by.

• Choose healthier options when you eat. Consume plenty of fresh, nutrient-rich foods like healthy fats and proteins, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables. At the same time, don’t
  starve yourself or deprive yourself of good things to eat, as this may only have an adverse effect on your health.
• Get enough rest. Bad sleep can affect your appetite in unfavorable ways, such as making you more susceptible to stress-eating. Always make sure that you’re getting enough shut-eye
  every night, and that you aren’t overworking yourself.

Visit Your Doctor to Help You Work Through Your Health Situation

Although it’s scary to think about, your weight gain could also be indicative of an underlying health condition that you need additional treatment for. Some examples of conditions that
affect body weight are thyroid illnesses, metabolic diseases like diabetes, and mental health conditions like anxiety or depression.

In cases like these, you may need a diagnosis, a prescription for medication, and professional advice from doctors and other clinical experts. The latter will be in a good position to tell
you how to address the more complicated factors behind your weight gain. You’ll also be able to get closure on other health problems that may have been bothering you alongside your
weight, and you’ll learn about the best methods to sustain your recovery beyond your own personal efforts.

Accept, Forgive, and Encourage Yourself

Lastly, don’t be too harsh on yourself about the significant changes you may have gone through during the COVID-19 crisis, including changes to your body. Try not to fault yourself for
not having the perfect response to such a big shake-up in your lifestyle. The pandemic was a momentous occurrence in everyone’s lives, and it will definitely take a lot of time for people to
fully heal from the many physical and emotional wounds they may have endured—yourself included.

Your weight gain should be seen for what it is: something that’s happened to your body and that must be addressed with holistically healthy habits. It is not a personal or moral failure
on your part, and it is not a cause for someone to speak ill of you or treat you unkindly. Take this opportunity to affirm yourself and accept your vulnerabilities, all while celebrating the
improvements you’re making to your life.

Final Words

It may not be easy to make such big changes to your lifestyle after gaining weight during the pandemic. But again, you’ve been through a lot and you’ve done the best you could given
the circumstances. Don’t hold yourself to unrealistic standards or pressure yourself into doing things that will put further strain on your body and mind.

When it comes to getting back into shape and becoming comfortable with yourself again, balance is key. Here’s to striking that personal balance and getting closer to the version of
yourself that you want to be.

Author:  Joyce Muriel Lee Olegario

You can find out more about Joyce on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyce-muriel-lee-olegario-2ab943153/

LA-Story.com would like to thank Joyce Muriel Lee Olegario for her very stimulating and helpful article about how to regain control of your life by taking control of your health
and looking forward to what your health and your life can be!