Many of us are starting to cope with pandemic pounds that seem to have mysteriously accumulated over the last couple years. Even worse, for those of us living in stretchy pants and sweatshirts, making a transition back to regular work clothes and eating habits may be tough. If you're ready to move away from comfort goodies and streaming service binges and get back into a healthy routine, it's time to make a plan for post-pandemic health, fitness, and wellness with these tips from Femto Medicine.
Clean Out The Junk
If you're like many people who stockpiled all kinds of food as a form of pandemic preparedness, it's time to go through your pantry, freezer, and refrigerator, and pitch foods that have expired or are simply not healthy. Get rid of high-salt and high-fat items and sugar-laden treats. This is also a good time to prepare stockpiled foods that are still viable, using your creativity to incorporate items from your stash into healthier recipes. You’ll enjoy the boost to your budget, as well – challenge your family to eat only from your pantry for a week!
What Can I Make?
According to Cooking Light, you might be surprised at the healthy menu items you can make from your coronavirus stockpile. For example, if you purchased large quantities of frozen foods, canned vegetables, rice, and pasta, you can turn those ingredients into delicious meals. Legume quesadillas, spinach tortellini soup, and oven-baked sandwiches can all materialize from the bread mixes, frozen veggies, and canned beans you most likely have in your cupboard.
Transition To Healthy Snacks
We've all gotten into a less-than-healthy snacking routine during the pandemic. That can be tough to give up altogether, but you can compromise by moving from comfort snacks to healthy ones. According to the Centers for Disease Control, changes to diet should be gradual. Once you purge your system of empty calories and fatty, sweet snacks, you can transition into a healthier style of eating.
Increase Physical Activity
While you might not yet be comfortable going to a gym, there are plenty of ways to get your heart rate up. Walks around your neighborhood, regular day hikes, cycling, yoga, and even living room aerobics can all get you and your family started on a more physically fit path to wellness. Depending on how sedentary you’ve been over the past year or so, you may want to get a health check-up before embarking on a strenuous new exercise routine. And if you need some added motivation, invest in a new pair of running shoes, a pair of in-ear headphones, or even a top-rated water bottle.
Reach Out For Help
If you're finding it tough to get started moving out of your pandemic food bubble and into one of overall health and fitness, consider getting help from a nutrition, wellness, or fitness specialist. These professionals can help you craft an approach to healthier living that is unique to your specific goals. Look for health pros through online job platforms, read their reviews, and compare costs and availability before hiring someone. Chances are you can get expert advice via teleconference. Being accountable to someone other than yourself can also help you keep healthy resolutions.
We have all been entitled to pandemic passes around the way we've chosen to comfort ourselves during a difficult period in time. However, it's time to start getting back into a frame of mind that focuses on mental, physical, and emotional health and wellness. Get started on your journey today!
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