Local dietitian Aimee Boidin highlights six simple ways to lose COVID kilos
A June 2020 CSIRO survey showed that almost 40% of Australians said they felt like they had gained weight during the COVID-19 restrictions. Weight gain is a major health issue with physical, psychological and psycho-social effects.
Dietitian Aimee Boidin from Body Fusion attends Hunters Hill Medical Practice on a weekly basis. She recently wrote a blog about ways to lose those kilos on the Body Fusion website and has kindly authorised the use of her article here. If you prefer the information presented visually, please view our summary video.
1. Reduce temptation in your home environment:
For those who had gained COVID kilos, they reported an increase in junk food intake. To state the obvious, when the food isn’t there, you just can’t eat it. Stacking your home pantry and fridge with nutritious foods and a variety of different options is a better way to go.
2. Plan or diarise your work breaks:
When working from home, food consumption can be an easy distraction and product of boredom. Setting a phone alarm or dedicating proper morning, lunch and afternoon breaks draws a clear line of when it is and isn’t appropriate to eat and will stop you grazing all day. Decreasing incidental snaking decreases the chance of COVID kilos.
3. Manage stress:
We aren’t all superhero’s and its OK to admit you are struggling. Emotional eating is a consequence of seeking dopamine and serotonin rushes via food reward systems. Chocolate unfortunately won’t solve your problems (Although many will argue it does!), but a psychologist or stress management strategies might.
4. Continue to celebrate special events:
People’s top negative reported impact of COVID was its influence on special events. Yes its changed our lives, but perhaps we can become a little more savvy or problem solve other ways to celebrate. A birthday could still go ahead as a socially distanced picnic rather than a whole week of eating ice cream after dinner every night to compensate.
5. Move:
Exercise moves and shifts energy. Having a hard day? You can’t tell me a swim in the ocean, a thirty minute run or a game of tennis won’t help you feel better. From our experience in clinic, when our clients feel good, they make better food choices. With 40-50% of people reporting more screen time during the pandemic, I would say this is very relevant.
6. Get individualised nutrition advice:
If you need some help, Dietitian’s are always available to help guide you. Every human being is unique in their genetic makeup, physical activity levels, food preferences and lifestyle. If you need some structure or education without judgement – we get it. A Dietitian can help you start to work on behaviours that support not only the loss of your COVID kilos but also best health and longevity.
For more information about Aimee, her days in Hunters Hill and her contact details, please click here.
