To all those frequently flustered by SOPs infringing on their fitness flings, this guide will revolutionise your days to come.
Self-quarantining, social distancing, and suspended gym memberships; unsurprisingly, these alliterations will weigh down most burpee fanatics to barf – or better yet, burp – considering their size-zero fitness formulas have been flung into a lull. But rest assured, for we’ve got some home cooked alternatives ready for you.
Intermittent fasting
Before you purge into panic mode, the answer is no: no, we’re not taking you back to your Ramazan routine. Intermittent fasting manifests itself in several methods that can range from the following:
- The Warrior diet
- Eat-stop-eat
- The 16/8 method
- The 5:2 method
- Alternate-day fasting (ADF)
Irrespective of which method you’re following, you’re ultimately capping your eating window and reducing caloric intake.
Brisk Walking With Weights
Call up Agony Aunt, for we’ve heard enough of your excuses: “I have weak knees… my running shoes are worn out… I have breathing issues… my mask does not cooperate with running… ” Now, brace yourself for some blissful news: you don’t have to run, java into jumping jacks or plank your sweat out! You just have to walk – at whatever pace you find comforting – but the trick is to wear ankle weights. And for those assuming weights make you bulky, well, weight training actually speeds your weight loss.
Yoga
For those booming brisk walking as a bore, try yoga – be it aerial or hot yoga. Studies may reveal that, “People with high or low blood pressure are advised to try an easier form and to limit the amount of time they spend in the heat,” but hot yoga remains safe for all caution seekers. The plus side also involves a significant calorie burn: sixty minutes of yoga burns approximately 200-600 calories, depending on the body mass, of course.
Outdoor Cycling
Karachi’s Phase VIII dwellers have already become pros. Outdoor cycling can be a great wheel for you to inhale a breath of fresh air while dusting off your daily workout. Better yet, have your dogs – instead of security guards — follow you around.
Group Classes
If cycling, walking, yogi-posing or fasting fail to motivate you, try a group class. Be it Pilates, barre exercise, weight training anything with friends — or even similarly interested strangers — is fun. A study has even analysed the effect of group fitness on exercisers and found significant results.
Detox
We’re not encouraging an eat fruit all day dilemma, rather recommending that you reduce alcohol consumption, lower sugar and salt intake, drink more water, and devour foods rich in antioxidants and prebiotics. Take inspiration from the food graphic above.
Home cooking is a home-run
Try healthy diet focusing on protein rich meals, lower on carbs considering activity levels tend to be lower during Covid. Surprised to hear how healthy eating doesn’t revolve around Kareena Kapoor inspired KETO or the Killer Kardashian Atkins diet? Just try being mindful of what you stuff into that stomach and steer clear of those Ben & Jerry binge sessions before the television.
Hydrate
Jump on that hydration bandwagon, but don’t dive for those sports drinks! While these “born in the lab” liquids may contain essential vitamins, they’re overloaded with high- fructose corn syrup and glucose. Instead, religiously fulfil the 2 litre daily water recommendation and beam as your metabolism blossoms.
Record your progress
Come on, who doesn’t fashion a gaudy grin at the sight of progress! Use the health apps on your phones and challenge yourself to walk a few more steps on a daily, eat an extra portion of fruit or resist that sugar cookie seducing you by your bedside.
