While much of the focus around isolation has been around how much people are eating, one dietitian believes it is possible to emerge from the coronavirus lockdown healthier and slimmer.
Susie Burrell, from Sydney, said after three weeks working from home and grazing on chocolate and wine, it’s normal to feel a little ‘irritated’ with the current state of affairs, and a little cushion-y around the middle.
But, the dietitian said, it is possible to improve your health and well-being during this enforced self isolation and social distancing – provided you know how.
Writing on her website, Susie outlined five simple things to do now while you’re at home all the time, and explained how they will set you up with good health for the long run following the pandemic.
Dietitian Susie Burrell (pictured), from Sydney, shared how it’s possible to lose weight and get healthier while in isolation
1. Clean out your kitchen
The first thing you absolutely must prioritise is a big kitchen clear out.
‘The truth be known, many of us have enough food in the fridge and pantry to last weeks, if not months,’ Susie said.
So, you should go through it all, getting rid of anything that its past its best or sell-by date.
‘A good clean out will force you to take stock (pardon the pun) of what you have, what new recipes you can prepare using these ingredients and is a chance to really re-organise to you have yourself an Insta-worthy fridge and pantry at the end of it,’ Susie said.
Once it’s empty and clear, try to only fill it with healthy and nutritious staples for your food prep.
If you don’t keep junk food in the house, you can’t eat it.
She said the first thing you absolutely must do is a big pantry clear out so you can take stock of what you have and set some new goals (stock image)
2. Spend some time thinking about what’s important to you
The second thing you need to do is take a time out.
If the coronavirus pandemic has been good for one thing, it’s given many the opportunity to stop and take stock of their lives and what they do day in day out without even thinking about it.
‘This is an opportune moment to dedicate some time to really considering what your current life entails and what changes you need to make to reach the goals you have for yourself,’ Susie said.
You could even write them down as that might mean you’re more focused.
Set aside some time to write a new food plan down, and take the time to add in new meals for the sake of your repertoire and new ingredients (stock image)
3. Start a new food plan
Set aside some time to write a new food plan down, and take the time to add in new meals for the sake of your repertoire and new ingredients.
Be detailed with your food plan, scheduling in what you plan to eat not only for breakfast, lunch and dinner but also snacks.
Then, try to stick to it and watch the kilos drop off.
4. Get in touch with your hunger again
We all routinely go through life thinking about breakfast, lunch and dinner, but when were you actually last hungry?
‘Chances are you can’t remember because the reality is that very few of us eat because we are hungry,’ Susie said.
With the extra time, take the opportunity to concentrate on your feelings of hunger – and only eat when you get them.
She added that you’ll be surprised at how much better food tastes when you really want it.
5. Make healthy eating fun
The fifth and final tip Susie has for men and women stuck in isolation is that you make healthy eating fun.
To do this, she recommends seeking out new recipe books and looking online.
Try not to get too stuck in a rut with what you cook week in week out, as this will only breed contempt and make you more likely to overeat in snacks and other meals.