If you’ve gone off to college, you’ve no doubt heard of the Freshman 15. Now that shelter-in-place orders have are in effect, a lot of us are worried about the Quarantine 15 – i.e., gaining weight from staying home during the pandemic.
It’s no secret that the key to keeping excess weight off is through a good diet and exercise; however, it can be hard to achieve when you’re stuck at home for weeks on end.
Here are some solutions you can try to ensure that you’re just as healthy at the end of this crisis as when it all began.
1. Portion out snacks
It can be easy to lose track of how much you’re eating if you’re binging through a series on Netflix. Before you know it, an entire bag of chips could disappear. To make sure you’re not over-snacking, try portioning out snacks into zip-lock type bags or small containers and stick to one snack serving. Binging the show is one thing – binging on snacks is another!
2. Make (and keep) a routine
When you don’t have a routine, laziness and unhealthy habits can easily set in. To combat this, set a daily routine including walks or at-home workouts. Following a schedule will give your life some regularity as well as ensuring you don’t end up sitting in front of a screen all day.
3. Participate in active challenges with friends
Whether it’s completing viral fitness challenges or comparing how many steps you take each day, having a friend to virtually participate with not only makes being active more fun and enjoyable, but also keeps you healthy while still at home.