Though quarantines may have loosened in most parts of the world, COVID-19 continues to be a burden for billions of people. Wearing masks, maintaining proper and careful hygiene, as well as distancing yourself from others are all great ways to stay safe during this time. However, staying at home and distancing yourself from others will likely take its toll on your body. Many people have already put on “COVID-19 weight” from a combination of stress-eating and a lack of exercise. To make matters worse, it may not be safe to start visiting your local gym yet. Fortunately, we have 3 tips to help you stay in shape and stay safe while social distancing!
Take Stock of What Your Body Needs
It’s not necessarily a good idea to try to go right back into high-intensity workouts after being sedentary for the past year. You could end up causing an injury or feeling overwhelmed by the drastic change. So, take inventory of the changes in your body. Have you gained weight? Are you feeling pain in your knees or other joints? Do you need to seek medical treatment or the advice of your physician prior to engaging in exercise? These are all important questions to ask before you even think about returning to your exercise regimen. If you find that your body is in need of some help that exercise can’t provide, consider contacting the experts at the ThriveMD clinic as soon as possible.
Start With Low-Impact Cardio
If you find that you are ready for a workout, there’s still no need to dive in headfirst. Instead, start off slow with some low-intensity, low-impact cardio. The great thing about cardio is that you can do it just about anywhere. You can walk up and down the stairs of your home or apartment building. You can take a 30-minute jog around your neighborhood. Or, if you want to get the feeling of working out with a personal trainer, you can look to Youtube to find thousands of free, low-impact workout videos. No matter which path you choose, starting slow will help you stay in the habit of exercising for the long-term!
Make Use of Household Items
If you’re like most people, you probably have a few heavy items or boxes lying around your home. While they may just be taking up space now, they could be a vital element to your next workout! For example, let’s say you want to do standing lunges. While you can do them with or without holding anything, the added weight will help you get the most out of your workout. So, look for similarly weighted items around your house to hold in each hand. Two jugs or buckets of water are perfect, as you can add or take out water as needed!
The Bottom Line
Working out during the COVID-19 crisis is all about making the best out of a bad situation. You may not have access to a gym or a personal trainer, but that doesn’t mean you should let your health suffer. Fortunately, if you follow the tips above, you’ll be back in shape in no time!