COVID-19 Created a Perfect Storm for Weight Gain

As most people’s lives have been turned upside down, COVID-19 has created a perfect storm for individuals who already struggle with weight gain. Moreover, many people haven’t visited their doctor’s office since the coronavirus pandemic began. Although it is easier to gain five or ten pounds during the pandemic, it is entirely possible to lose the same amount of weight before the pandemic is over. Start by weighing yourself and taking responsibility for the number you see on the scale each day. Sudden periods of major weight gain can cause inflammatory changes in your body that can reduce your immune response. Anyone who is experiencing Pandemic Pounds or is now a member of the Quarantine 15, likely understands that stress can have a powerful effect on their appetite.

Listed below are tips for managing pandemic weight gain:

• Avoid Sugary Food & Drinks - It is important to carefully read food labels to make certain food products do not contain large amounts of refined sugars. This includes fancy coffee treats and alcoholic specialty drinks.
• Consume More Protein - High-protein menu plans are more satiating, so they can reduce hunger and help you manage appetite when compared to lower protein diets making it easier to restrict calories.
• Eat Fewer Carbohydrates - Low-carb menu plans have many health benefits besides losing weight. For example, triglycerides tend to drop drastically while good HDL cholesterol increases. Moreover, blood sugar and insulin levels stabilize.
• Exercise More Often - If you are trying to lose weight, exercise delivers important benefits but improving your nutrition should be your primary focus. However, creating a healthy menu plan should never be your only focus.
• Eat More Whole Foods - Whole food menu plans are based on consuming foods that are unprocessed and refined as little as possible. Whole food diets typically do not contain added salt, refined sugars, or animal fat.
• Get More Rest Every Day - You might assume the more hours you are awake, the more calories you can burn, so you should be losing weight if you are sleeping less. However, that is not how it works and skimping on sleep sets you up to make poor food choices.

Many people are suffering from pandemic weight gain, which makes it even more important to find ways to manage your anxieties by restoring balance to your stay-at-home world. Poor eating choices due to stress can increase belly fat and cause those pre-pandemic work clothes to feel like they shrunk. Since the COVID-19 Pandemic has left many people with time on their hands, it is important to practice basic self-care to help manage anxiety, stress, and hunger. Without a daily sense of purpose, it is too easy to spend time starring into your refrigerator in search of comfort foods that are not your friend. With the pandemic going into extra innings, the pandemic pounds you gained while quarantining at home are no laughing matter.  Seek the advice, guidance, and support of a weight loss professional at Metabolic Research Center for sustainable, personalized weight loss solutions.