So I have returned to work but it is far from business as usual. I was temporarily placed at a different location on a different schedule for about a month. I am currently at my normal location and on my regular schedule, but just about everything about where and how I work has changed. Office musical chairs and social distancing floor stickers anyone.
What struck me a few days in was my lack of movement. I was used to getting the majority of my 10,000 steps in at work. I’ve put on a few pounds during the Lockdown and being of a certain age I want all the help I can to lose the extra fluff.
I am a WW member and have been attending virtual meetings. I love having a weekly reset. After a meeting, I asked myself did I want more? Did I want to see what it was like to be as fit as I could be? Did I want to push myself and go a little further… see how deep the rabbit hole goes? At 54 surprisingly the answer is yes! So here is what I’m going to do.
HIIT Workouts: They are fat-scorching workout and give you a long-lasting calorie burn. HIIT workouts can be done just about anywhere and can be low impact. So no I won’t be running stairs or flipping tires anytime soon.
Protein: I’ll be adding more protein to my diet. Protein is necessary for muscle repair and recovery. So do I need or run out and buy protein powder? Not necessarily I eat a plant-based diet and can get my protein from legumes, nuts, and veggies.
Meal Timing: Eating around the same time every day is helpful no need to rigid about it. If you normally eat breakfast at 10 am during the week just try not to eat breakfast at 2 pm on the weekends. While we’re talking bout food, let’s not make ourselves crazy. Eat as well as you can afford to. These days we’re all on budgets. If organic isn’t on your budget that’s cool just make sure to clean your produce well vegetable wash or a quick soak in the sink with vinegar and warm water will do the trick.
Hydration: Increasing your water intake along with your activity is important. Your body will tell you how much you need. If I’m beginning to get dehydrated I have a hard time concentrating and my lips feel chapped. I don’t count the number of water bottles I drink, I don’t think there is a magic number. Just don’t let yourself get thirsty.
I’ve done the gallon of water a day thing…I didn’t get a lot done that week. Here is a water bottle that I really like and actually use.
Extras: I’ll increase my NEAT activity, apparently NEAT is very helpful. Neat stands for Non-Exercise Thermogenesis and it comes from daily activity. Taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Getting off the bus a stop or two early and walking to your destination. Taking the dog for an extra-long walk after dinner
Seems like a do-able list just requires a little planning on my part and maybe a Vision Board. What are your fitness plans for the next few months? Let me know in the comments below
