With most of the country still under strict regulations because of the coronavirus pandemic, many have stopped going to the gym. But just because you are in practicing responsible social isolation or in self-quarantine does not mean you need to fall out of shape. Now more than ever, it is important we all do our best to keep our bodies and immune systems strong. Here are a few things you can do to stay fit during the coronavirus.
Meal Prep
Whether you are on a weight loss diet, or just have a busy lifestyle, meal-prepping is a great habit to get into. Whether you do it once or twice a week, you can easily prepare all of your dinners (or other meals) in a matter of a couple of hours (or less).
By setting some time aside every, say, Sunday, you can prepare an entire week’s worth of lunch. You will no longer need to spend your lunch hour deciding where to eat, not will you waste time driving to the restaurant, or have to worry about eating the wrong foods. Meal prepping is fast, convenient, saves money, time, and can be an easy way to stay healthier.
If you are interested in eating premade food but don’t want to do the meal prepping yourself, there are plenty of delivery services out there that will deliver delicious, healthy food right to your door. In all but a few cases, though, it is usually cheaper to do the meal prepping yourself.
Exercise
Just because most gyms are closed does not mean you must or should stop exercising. If you want to keep things simple, throw on some running shoes and simply go for a daily jog. But, if you are deeper into personal fitness, fear not, there are still many bodyweight exercises you can do without the weights and equipment you’d typically get at the gym. Here are a few of the best bodyweight exercises:
- Pushups: Pushups are classic upper-body exercises that have stuck around for a reason. They work your chest, shoulders, arms, and core. Just remember when doing pushups that reps matter, but proper form matters more.
- Sit-Ups: Sit-ups or crunches are a great way to strengthen your abs and core muscles as well as the muscles in your lower back.
- Air Squats: Air squats work your glutes, quads, and other leg muscles. After you are warmed up, you can add a jump to your air squats to increase their intensity.
Get Outside
Walking to the local convenience store instead of driving, or just going for a stroll around the neighborhood. Whatever your reason, getting a daily dose of fresh, outdoor air is essential to staying fit and healthy during the coronavirus.
Meditate
If you’ve been curious about meditation, now is the time to start. Meditating can improve your energy, calm your mind, and help you get better control over your thoughts and emotions. In the beginning, you should look into some kind of formal instruction. You can get instruction from mediation books or guided apps like the Waking Up Meditation App or the Calm Meditation App.
Stretch
Whether you do yoga poses or your own personal mix, stretching is incredibly good for the body and even helps prevent injury. One thing to remember when it comes to stretching is that it is best to stretch warm. That means before you stretch, you should do something to loosen your body up. This should preferably be a low-impact exercise like the elliptical or a slow jog or even running in place for 5-10 minutes. You can begin stretching afterward.