Everything’s closed, gyms, parks, beaches, ski resorts, and sporting events. For over a month we all have been stuck inside.  I know I have watched a fair amount of TV and movies but one thing I have also done is stay healthy. Yes the gym is closed, but that’s no excuse to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It is said that if you want to get into shape, it’s 80% diet and 20% working out. 

Eating Right

My new year’s goal this year was to get in shape. I wanted to become stronger and gain muscle mass. I was going to the gym five times a week, eating four to five meals a day, and doing cardio daily. All of that came to a standstill when COVID-19 became present in the United States. Then when they announced gyms were closed, I felt something I have never experienced before, fear. I was afraid of backtracking all the hard work I’ve done. But this wasn’t going to stop me

Due to the amount of food being available, I had to limit how much food I was eating.  Instead of eating three chicken breasts a day I went to eat one. This was a very big shock for the first two weeks. I typically eat around 3,800 calories a day and now I’m eating 2,000 calories.

One thing I noticed that was difficult for me was limiting sugar intake. Sugar=fat.I have a very bad sweet tooth. When I get my hands on some candy, I wanna eat it all. This sounds fun at the moment but it’s not fun the next day. I wake up feeling bloated and full of regret. To limit the amount of sweets I eat, the first thing I did was buy small amounts of sweets.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s okay to eat sugary sweets  but it needs to be in moderation. Don’t be eating sweets every day. For instance, do a hard workout and reward yourself for the hard work.

As the weather gets nicer, and as we get warmer weather, it’s almost harvesting season for fruits. Fruit is my favorite substitute for sweets. First off its cold and cools you off on a hot day but it also is a good source of vitamins and minerals. My favorite fruits for summer include watermelon, peaches, and nectarines.  Although eating right may look hard at first, as you add healthier foods to your diet, it becomes easier over time to eat healthier. 

Routine

In order to be productive quarantine, tis essential be on a routine. It’s very tempting to stay up late at night and sleep late, but that leads to a less productive day. For instance, set a schedule for waking up, meals, being active, and sleeping. When getting ready for the morning, don’t stay in pajamas. Make sure to wear clothes that you would typically wear going out. This makes you less resilient to want to be lazy all day.

Also, make time for yourself. Do the things you enjoy to do such as watching a tv series, trying a new activity, or cooking. Personally I have discovered so many new recipes i never would have ever thought of making.It also important to make time for your friends. Although you can be face-face with your friends, you can still talk to them through video chatting.  In my opinion the best are Facetime, Google Hangout, and Zoom. Its very 

Working Out

Gyms are closed. So I guess I’m not going to workout. WRONG! Why stop? You can get better by doing in-home exercises, and the point of working out is to become better. Everyone’s situation is different for workout material. Some people have a couple of dumbbells and a barbell or some don’t have anything.

Depending on your situation you can still workout. The best thing I’ve found for working based on my own situation is youtube. There are so many videos about anything working out. Another good website is TheDailyHiit, DoYogaWithMe, and Nike. Anything is possible when you put your mind to it. 

Bettering Yourself 

The life we have now is very different from the life ago we had six months ago. Don’t let quarantine  get the best of you. Make quarantine work for you. Make yourself a schedule for daily routines, eat right, and workout will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. All of these will help you feel better and help quarantine move faster.

Tyler Katz is a content creator for Live Your Dream Board and is a lifelong Colorado resident who loves the outdoors and staying fit in the mountains.