By: Sandi Clexton on April 25, 2020
For those of us who are fortunate enough to avoid contracting this virus, what if we used this time as a wake-up-call? Being home so much has made me realize some bad habits effecting my own weight. One of those bad habits which would surprise most people, is repetitive exercise (no matter how great the workout). And even changing up the exercises doesn’t always do the trick if the modality is the same (i.e. dumbbells, Pilates reformer, etc.)
Most of us would agree that staying motivated to exercise can be an ongoing challenge. We tend to be most compliant with exercise if we’re doing programs we enjoy. For me, although I can design programs for my own workouts, I enjoy going to studios for experiences such as hot yoga. Now that the studio I attend is closed during the pandemic, like most of us I’m forced to come up with a substitution. So out come the weights along with my yoga mat & candles.
Covid-19 has been the answer to my wellness because it forced me to take inventory of what was missing. I simply haven’t been doing enough strength training and cardio (the key ingredients besides dietary intake to weight management).
This may seem so obvious, but even trainers struggle. So my positive twist on these safer-at-home orders is that it has led me back to my early days of strength training in high school. I also have had more time to reflect, which has reminded me of my Women’s Core Fitness mantra: The Magic Pill = Cardio, Muscle, Diet. My yoga should compliment this, not be the repetitive habit that keeps me from progressing. This is a strange epiphany. Pre Covid, I was too busy running around town to realize this. I encourage others while being home bound, to also dig deep and discover habits which appear on the surface to be great for you, can actually work against your overall wellness. Best of luck!