For months we’ve been restricted in where we can go and who we can meet up with. It isn’t a prison, but sometimes it can feel that way. With canceled events and holidays and reduced social interaction, it can be difficult to maintain our health and wellness routines and instead fall into unhealthy habits. As quarantine restriction ease, it could be time to pay more attention to our wellbeing and find a way back to an optimal routine. 

Get your fill of fatty fish 

During quarantine, it’s been so easy to slip into unhealthy eating habits and get out of shape. The combination of snaking and lack of exercise has caused many people to gain weight quickly. Noticing this is the first step to changing it. One way to change it is to eat more fatty fish like salmon. It’s high in protein and loaded with Omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients. Eating your fill of fatty fish has excellent short and long term benefits. 

Mind your Circadian Rhythms 

Circadian Rhythms are the chemicals and hormones that regulate our sleep-wake cycles. There is more insulin and less melatonin in the morning, making us feel alert; in the evening, the opposite is true, making us sleepy. If these cycles are upset – because of late nights, for instance – we can start to crave unhealthy food, gain weight, and become frustrated or depressed. Make sure you sleep for eight hours through the night and pay attention to ‘when’ you eat and ‘what’ you eat. 

Support your metabolism 

Your metabolism is the key to regulating your weight and controlling your body’s fat reserves. The body is an intelligent and dynamic organism that will learn and adapt to its use. If you are in a regular routine of eating certain foods at certain times, your body will come to expect this. When the time comes, it will crave it, and it will use the calories from the food appropriately. Depending on the food, this could mean storing extra fat. Learn more about how to support your metabolism at kristenblakewellness.com.

Drink more water 

If you want to lose weight fast, there are some ways to do it without buying an expensive pair of running shoes and hitting the track. Simply drinking water has been shown to assist in weight loss. For this to be effective, however, you must know how much water to drink, and when. Studies have shown that drinking water can stimulate your metabolism by up to 30% and reduce your body’s calories. The best time to drink water is thirty minutes before eating – it can increase your weight loss by 44%. 

Keep your mental health in check

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, especially during quarantines and periods of social distancing. Making sure you get out for fresh air and talk to friends and loved ones can help keep your spirits up, even during tough times. Motivational quotes can also help to perk you up, reminding you that there’s still plenty to enjoy in life. You can check out some great quotes about love here. If you’re having difficulties with your mental health, make sure you reach out to someone and talk about how you’re feeling – it can help more than you realize.

Eat more fruit and vegetables 

It might sound like common sense to eat more fruit and vegetables to regulate your weight and maintain your health. It is common sense, and for a good reason. Fruit and vegetables – particularly the raw uncooked variety – are loaded with antioxidants to support your metabolism and prebiotics for your digestive health. In under a week of eating fresh produce on a daily basis, you will feel more energized, lighter, healthier, and more mentally attuned. The trick is to find the right balance.