48% of Brits have found that they’ve gained weight during lockdown, and are now donning ‘Corona Curves’. And after staying at home, a boom on baking, and stress eating at the forefront of our minds, it should come as no surprise.
With the government’s push on losing weight to protect the NHS, complete with anxiety inducing posters and adverts, a lot of us may be feeling guilty about how our bodies have coped during the pandemic.
Yet, how can you make positive changes to your health and wellbeing in a time of uncertainty? And how can you embrace your new look even if you want to eat healthier? Let me explain …
Things will ‘workout’
This year, we saw a large decrease in the amount of exercise we did due to the pandemic. Allotted one workout-per-day, a lot of us found ourselves sitting inside when we would have been going out, commuting to and from work, and, of course, seeing our loved ones. This lack of a social life affected not only our mental habits but also our exercise routine.
Although we’d stopped moving, we spent more time baking and cooking than ever before, indulging in the meals we barely had time to make before. While this was good for our mental health, it wasn’t so great for our physical health.
While indulging in hearty home cooked meals is never something to feel guilty about, do you feel dissatisfied with your body after scrolling through social media? With restrictions constantly shifting, a good way to stay mentally calm is by working out as it releases a range of endorphins that helps keep your mind sane and your body healthy.
While you might not see a sudden change in your body, by working out you’re allowing it to get stronger and healthier, which will allow you to feel happier. But whatever you decide to eat, remember that exercise should never be a punishment for enjoying food.
Eat your 5-a-day
As previously mentioned, we learned to love cooking in lockdown. Spending more time than ever before in our kitchens; we baked banana bread, whipped coffee, and occasionally hid the odd takeaway boxes in our bins so people didn’t get suspicious. But, in the process, we learned to love food in a whole new light.
Because of our new hobbies and habits, our bodies may be changing as a result. But, if you’re unhappy with how you look, dieting can be hard in these uncertain times.
Nutritionist Priya Tew suggests that you “focus on what you can add to, rather than remove from your diet. Instead of dieting and making yourself feel negative, plan something like eating an extra portion of fruit every day so you’ve got something positive to aim for. If you don’t manage to do it, it’s not the end of the world.”
By focusing on what you can add and making positive choices, you’re not limiting yourself from enjoying any comforting favourites that you might be craving, but are still allowing your body to get all the nutrients it needs. Looking at the positives of your diet and eating habits rather than the negatives, you’ll be helping to shift the way you mentally process eating.
Buy new clothes
The worst part about gaining weight is putting on your old clothes. Whether it’s squeezing into your favourite jeans or realising that you can’t button up your favourite dress, realizing your clothes no longer fit you can be a hard moment.
Whether you plan for this body to be temporary or permanent, retire your old clothes and buy some new ones that make you feel empowered. Although dressing well might not be on the top of your list while you WFH, wearing clothes that make you feel like your best self have several known benefits both in and out of the office.
Although you might be trained into thinking that ‘you don’t fit into your clothes’, re-shift your focus and realise that your clothes do not fit on you. Your body isn’t made to be a certain size or weight, our outfits are made to fit around that. Although you might have to hang up your favourite shirt for a while, know that there’s another future fave out there that’s dying to be put on.
The takeaway
Ultimately, we are in incredibly uncertain times and our eating and healthy habits will have changed as a result. Your body, regardless of its shape or size, has helped you get this far in life. It sustains you, keeps you alive, and helps you as you sit at home, waiting for our lives to begin again. While it might look slightly different in lockdown, that doesn’t make it any less valid, important, or beautiful than it was before.
Take some time away from instagram, unfollow anyone on social media who may be making you feel rubbish about your body, and just focus on being you.
If you’re struggling with your mental health and have found yourself skipping meals, purging, or are showing any signs of disordered eating, please contact your GP who may refer you to a specialist if necessary. Alternatively, speak to our wellbeing coordinators at WellBe who can connect you with specialist therapists or counsellors for more guidance.
Written by Alison Irlam
WellBe is spearheading the way to a brighter future for corporate wellness. Our innovative portal is scientifically designed and tailored to each individual employee to improve their wellbeing. We specialise in a range of services from coaching and therapists, to meditation and reading materials. Our aim is to reduce workplace stress that costs UK businesses £42 billion per year. Get in touch with us by visiting our site wellbe.global for more information.
