STAYING FIT IN STRESSFUL TIMES

Many people have been stuck indoors for months due to the COVID-19 Virus that came to our country from China in late February of 2020.  State by state we have witnessed closures of businesses and people told to shelter at home until the virus is under control.  During this time many have remained at home with their children, spouses, extended family or alone.  Some people have become ill with the COVID-19 Virus and some have lost their lives.  Many of us cannot remember anything like this ever happening in the United States since the Spanish Flu.  The COVID-19 Virus has struck countries all over the world and shut down travel, industry and business.  As we sat home watching the statistics go up around the world many people became anxious and frightened as the numbers climbed. 

Now that the cases of COVID-19 are going down and many countries have opened for business there are still some who worried about getting back out in public and returning to their lives.  The stress of dealing with all this pain and loss has caused many people to pack on the pounds as they sat home in sweat pants and feared the worst.  We are a strong country and we can make this transition back to life with a few simple precautions.  Wear a mask when in public, social distance from others not in your household and wash hands frequently. 

Many states have reopened the gyms and parks along with walking trails and tracks as well as schools and sporting events.  It is time to safely move back to our lives and one of the best ways to do that is to get back to exercise and eating healthy.  I praise those who have been able to workout at home and take walks and bike rides with their families during this time.  If you have weights and cardio equipment at home and feel more comfortable working out at home you can continue doing that.  those who want to go back to the gym can wipe down equipment before and after use, social distance and wear a mask when you cannot social distance.  Strive for an hour of strenuous exercise and thirty minutes of strength training. 

Eating meals that are high in nutrients and full of vegetables, fruits, 100% whole grains and lean protein will help you lose weight easily and keep it off.  In my book, “Healthy Meals in Minutes”. you will find a list of healthy foods to buy and great ways to make your favorite meals healthy without sacrificing on flavor.  Try to choose organic fruits and vegetables to avoid the pesticides and herbicides on conventional produce.  Eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables and make your plate colorful.  This is a great way to insure you and your family are getting all the nutrients you need from your food.