Just think about the comments that came out of our mouths just a couple weeks ago…
“Oh, sorry I didn’t make it. I fell asleep.”
“No, I’m going to stay in tonight.”
“I overslept and missed class this morning.”
“That’s too early… won’t make it.”
“No, wasn’t in the mood.”
“Stayed in because I wanted to just be alone.”
And now all we can think about is being around others and getting out of our homes to socialize!
I don’t know anyone who has not been affected by COVID-19. From the schoolteacher to the sous chef, executive assistants to doctors, pretty much everyone has been emotionally, financially and physically affected by this new way of living. Being a personal trainer living in Los Angeles, my own life drastically changed almost overnight.
I found myself not knowing how to adjust at first.
Did you ever think you’d miss the sound of your alarm going off? My interaction with my clients was my source of fuel. How can I navigate changing from life “on the go” to staying inside pretty much at all time? Facetime, phone calls and group chats are now my sources of “human” contact—as well as the source of pure happiness.
So what steps did I take to quickly adjust to #socialdistancing?
I chose not to panic,
but instead to further educate myself on the issue. I listened to the local news and reached out to family members to gain better ideas of how to cope. I took the approach of sharing positivity—reflecting on the small changes I had made and realizing they were impacting my new life positively. Here are some of those small changes.
- Get some natural sunlight to recharge
- Practice “morning mindfulness” through meditation, prayer and/or journaling
- Make a schedule for the day
- Stay hydrated—I set a timer every 30 minutes to drink some water
- Eat fruits and vegetables
- Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day—walk, run, home workout, etc.
These changes have all worked for me. They might work for you too, but you might consider some other shakeups.
- Read that book you’ve been putting off
- Add audio books to your rotation
- Study or further your education
- Write out your goals and make a game plan
- Listen to music
- Call or Facetime with friends and family more frequently
I knew I was not going to compromise my healthy and active lifestyle during this #stayhome pandemic. Many people have fled to the grocery stores (including myself) because of the unknown of how long we will have to #stayinside. Well, after many days of that your snack choices can become less healthy or repetitive. I know it is a stressful time, but you do not have to compromise your healthy choices. I’m so happy that my favorite ONE Bar flavors are so rich and true to taste! The food you put into your body always plays a role in your physical and emotional wellness, and today it’s more important than ever to take care of ourselves!
For workouts, I’m in the same boat as millions of other people. All the gyms are closed (including my apartment gym); home workouts and maybe an outdoor run are my only options. I have workouts on two platforms, www.centr.com and www.sweatfactor.com, so people all over the world can work out with me in their living rooms or home gyms. Check out these sites to get in workouts with me and other top trainers in the fitness industry. Many platforms (including Centr and Sweatfactor) are offering extended free access!
If you can’t get online with me, here is a 25- to 30-minute body weight workout for you to try at home.
Warm Up (40 seconds each)
- Jumping jacks
- Butt kicks
- Reverse lunges w/reach
- Plank walkouts
Workout (repeat 3x)
40:20 one minute rest between sets
- Eccentric pushups temp 3:1 with mountain climbers x4
- Single leg glute bridge
- Lunge around the world (front lunge-reverse lunge-lateral lunge)
- Quick feet up-downs (or high knees/quick march on the spot)
Core 1x 40:20
- Bicycles
- Reverse crunch
- Alt. leg lowers
- Plyo bunny hops
Cool-down/stretch
(hold stretches 30+ seconds each)
- Seated 3-5 deep breaths with overhead reach
- Cat/cow
- Downdog with alt. calf stretch
- Butterfly stretch
- Figure 4 stretch
Of course, remember to use best health practices like washing your hands regularly, avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth, and regularly cleaning and disinfecting high traffic areas in your home. Stay healthy and active and we’ll get through this together!
