COVID-19 has meant that we can’t go out to eat or go out to the gym as often (or perhaps, at all) compared to our usual routines pre-pandemic. Staying at home has led to more eating in, or in some cases more stress eating, than is normal for us.
The CDC recommends 150 minutes of activity a week, which seems like a lot, but thankfully you can spread it out however you’d like, with any activities you choose!
In these strange times, we’d like to offer you some ways you can keep up your health and activity levels without leaving your home.
Stretch it out
Doing some morning or evening stretches or yoga can help you both mentally and physically, allowing you to loosen up (literally) and provide some relief for both your mind and body.
At-home workouts
There are a myriad of workouts available to choose from, across a variety of media. If you belong to a gym, there’s a good chance they’re offering online classes or workout routines, (either live or previously taped) and if they’re not, there are a variety of options on youtube (for the visual learner), as well as quick WODs (Work Out of the Day) on Pinterest or even Instagram!
Take a hike
Or a walk, any path will do, as long as it gets you moving! A quick lunch break walk around your neighborhood, a sunset walk to the park, with the cooler weather (hopefully) here to stay, it makes getting outside and going for that walk much more enjoyable.
DIY a home gym
When COVID first really hit the U.S., it seemed near impossible to find any workout equipment at all, ranging from jump ropes and hand weights, to actual pieces of gym equipment. Now it seems a bit easier to find some of these (depending on your area of course). So now might be the time to pick out those weights, or that exercise bike!
The CDC recommends a combination of aerobic activity and muscle strengthening activity each week, some example activities that fall under aerobic activity include:
Walking fast
Doing water aerobics
Riding a bike on level ground or with few hills
Playing doubles tennis
Pushing a lawn mower
Jogging or running
Swimming laps
Riding a bike fast or on hills
Playing singles tennis
Playing basketball
While some examples of muscle strengthening activities are:
Lifting weights
Working with resistance bands
Doing exercises that use your body weight for resistance (e.g., push-ups, sit-ups)
Heavy gardening (e.g., digging, shoveling)
Some forms of yoga
If you don’t have weights for lifting, bodyweight exercises should do just fine!
No matter which activities you choose, let's finish 2020 strong, safe, happy and healthy!
