Avoiding Weight Gain in Quarantine

Have you noticed yourself getting a little soft around the middle? Worried about how much weight you'll have gained when lockdown ends? What follows are my top 3 tips to avoid finishing lockdown on the chubby side.

#1 Use a Standing Desk For those of you still working from home, this will be a huge positive change. All the home workouts and mobility sessions in the world can't undo 7 - 9 hours of sitting, and the effects that has on your body. There is a direct link link between how active you are during the day, and how healthy your heart is, and how much body fat you have. This is called NEAT (non exercise activity thermogenesis). If you stand for more of your day, you'll feel better and can afford to eat more calories. Don't be fooled into thinking that you need to buy a standing desk. Sure that's ideal, but you can do something as simple as stacking your laptop on top of some thick books.

#2 Walk. Every. Day. Standing desks are great, but there's no getting away from the fact you're stuck inside, staring at a screen. Walking will boost your fat burn, while also giving you a much needed mental break from the stress of work or a claustrophobic household. Long walks are good, but I think it's better to split that distance into two or three smaller walks, to give you regular mental breaks.

#3 Shop Smart Next time you go shopping, remember this: What you buy, you will eat. For me personally, I know that I really struggle to moderate myself when it comes to chocolate. I can't just have two triangles from the Toblerone; I'm going to eat the whole bar, and then any other cocoa-related goods in the vicinity. This is why I never buy chocolate in my weekly shop. If it's not there, I can't eat it. So, set yourself up for success by buying food that's high in nutrients and lower in calories. If you want to buy some dessert-type food, just make sure it's not something that will send you into a binge.

Closing Thoughts You'll notice that none of my tips had anything to do with training. That's because it realistically has only a small effect on fat loss. The calories burned by a twenty minute running session can be immediately regained by eating a couple of doughnuts or a takeaway. The best success will be found by staying as active as you can throughout the day, and intentionally limiting the amount of crap available to you in your house. In Strength, Cill