AKA how to not gain 19 lbs with COVID-19

First of all, let’s get one thing clear: It’s a perfectly natural response. It’s your Monkey Mind. You are anxious/worried/uncertain. In these times, we are not operating from our rational, thinking brain, but our primitive one. So,

Cut yourself some slack.

Having said that, let’s talk about some ways we can try to operate a little more consciously to avoid a collective weight gain that will, in turn, cause so many more chronic health issues down the road.

Don’t buy crap in the supermarket!
Seems simple enough, right? But when you’re in panic buying mode, this is what tends to happen. Again, here we are operating from the Monkey Mind. Take a moment. Breathe. Ask yourself, “If I felt safe in this moment, is this what I would choose?” No to the cheezies!
Get outside!
Vitamin D is necessary for just about every metabolic process in the body. Nearly everyone is deficient at the best of times, don’t let it get worse now, when you need it more than ever.
Move!
Get at least 30 min of exercise every day. Clinically proven to reduce appetite, it keeps you busy, and significantly reduces your desire to say, “just eff it!”, and head for the snack cupboard.
Get Busy.
The munchies are real at night time, aren’t they? Plan your “activities” at that time. We tend to have decent willpower during the day, so save the chores and to-do’s for the time when you might otherwise curl up with Netflix and carbs.
Breathe & Meditate.
Breathwork and Meditation help you to create that space between stimulus and response that allows you to make a better choice in the moment. Practice doesn’t make perfect but it certainly helps to broaden that space.
Nourish your Body and Mind.
Get plenty of clean nutrition. Spend time making all the yummy homemade healthy alternatives that we usually just don’t have time for. Slow roast your own veggies. Make your own activated almonds and nut butters. Make a batch of slow cooker bone broth, veggie soup, curry or chili. Adapt Grandma’s recipes. Teach your kids these traditions and life skills. All made with love. YUM!
At the same time, make sure you are feeding your mind with beautiful and healthy information as well. What a gift to have the time to read all these books you’ve been wanting to get to, and listen to all those podcasts you’ve stockpiled. Limit your media time, social and network.
Drink your water!
You already know this is vital. Just do it already. Commit to drinking at least 2 liters throughout the day, every day. More if you’re exercising heavily or live where it’s hot, like I do ;)
Sleep.
For the love of all things celestial, use this time to start creating good sleep habits! Get at least 8 hours during this time. Take all the naps. ENJOY the freedom to do so! There’s no reason to stay up watching TV or going down the YouTube Vortex. Go. To. Bed.
Self care.
Take the time to really care for yourself right now. We need this. Again, What A Gift! Get grounded in what really matters. Make your own heavenly body scrub. Pamper yourself at home. Take a lovely long bath. Give yourself a mani-pedi. Let your kids paint your nails. Are you numbing out with food to try and avoid looking inward? This time is a beautiful invitation to do so - feel all the feelings. Let them flow. Let Go.
Reach out.
To family, to close friends, to a coach, to me. Ask for help or just a virtual hug when you need it. This is vulnerability and it’s how we create true intimacy and deeper connection with each other, which is exactly what the world needs at this time. 💙 We heal in community.