It’s been just a little over a week since I’ve been following the directive to “self-quarantine,” and I’ve learned a lot this week… the good, the bad, and the obvious:
1.) I gained 5 lbs in 2 days
This is one of those obvious points, but I think it’s important people know how big of an effect a decrease in steps really makes. I had a really busy life before the quarantine and with teaching, lifting, and lacrosse practice, I was taking around 22,000 steps a day. When the quarantine hit, it coincided with my spring break, so I took two days to relax and be lazy and probably only hit 2,000 steps a day. My diet did not change that drastically, and sure, there could be other factors involved, but some of that weight 100% came from my decrease in steps.
2. Being creative with getting my workouts has been a lot of fun.
Since my workouts are tailored towards hypertrophy and I always go to the gym, I’ve been using the same equipment and doing many of the same movements for a long time. Consistency and getting better at movements in the gym is all a part of the process, but it can be bland when I sit back and look at what I’ve been doing. Now that I no longer have gym access, I’ve had to use resistance bands and some home weights to create a workout that meets my goals. The entire process has been challenging, but a lot of fun to come up with creative movements to get my workouts in!
3. It’s been a lot easier for my mind to go to a negative place than a positive one.
Now that my routine has crashed and burned, and the things I love to do I’m no longer able to do, I find my mind naturally wanting to be negative instead of positive. I noticed this very quickly becoming an issue for quality of life, so I’ve had to actively practice a positive mindset and make the best of the situation that we are in. I miss coaching and I miss being in the gym, but I had to learn that I can still reach my goals and have a positive impact given this unfortunate situation.
4. I have so many things I have been laying off…
During this time I’ve also realized how little time I’ve been spending on some of my hobbies. I used to love playing guitar and love music, but that has taken a back seat in life given how busy I was. It has been a lot of fun to pick up an old hobby, and spend some quality time with my guitar. Think about what hobbies you have been neglecting, and think about picking them back up!
5. Any movement is productive movement during this time.
You know that garage that needs to be cleaned and organized that you’ve been putting off? Time to clean it! Seriously though, any of those projects around the house or your spring cleaning that you’ve been waiting for the right time to do? Now is the time. Get yourself moving around and your body moving in different ways instead of moving from the couch, to the kitchen, and back (guilty) all day.
6. Slowing down in the mornings has been amazing.
I’m generally not a morning person, but since I no longer have to rush to get ready and get to work, I’ve been able to spend some time in the morning getting focused and preparing mentally for my day. This is something a lot of people have already built a habit of, and I will definitely carry this into my life post-quarantine. There is nothing quite like taking the morning slow, taking care of yourself, and really focusing up for the day ahead. I should have listened to all of you morning-person truthers!
7. Adjusting Expectations is Important
My previous plan has clearly been disrupted, and so have my goals (probably). I still have a goal to get to around <10% body fat by July 4. That plan had a lot of important data built in to the decision making, and getting solid workouts in consistently was a big part of that plan. Now, the goal doesn’t necessarily have to change for me, but surely the route I am taking to reach that goal has been shifted, so it seems fair to slightly adjust expectations on the goal itself so that you aren’t completely disappointed by things you cannot control!
8. Having A Support Team is Essential
Andrew and I are pretty good about keeping each other accountable, and during this time we’ve been pretty luck to have the accountability we do. Workouts are getting done. Muscle groups are not getting ignored. Nutrition has been on point. The things we can control during this time might be a little bit more challenging as it seems easier to be a little lazy, but having a support system is one thing you can add as an extra push to achieve your goals. If you feel like you don’t have any support, go ahead and contact us and check out our content on social media! We will continue to try and provide good information and support to all.
What are some of the things that you have learned since being quarantined??