Day-to-day living now looks very different for every Australian, so it comes as no surprise that our eating patterns are a little out of whack too. It is important to acknowledge that it’s okay for environmental stressors to affect our eating habits. Similarly, it should be emphasised that foods do not carry moral value. While some foods may have more nutritional value, food is neither ‘good’ or ‘bad’. Whatever foods you are eating to survive these times, congratulate yourself on doing your best, and try not to assign guilt or shame to your diet, it serves no purpose.
In saying that, what we choose to eat during these trying times can be beneficial for our health and stress levels. Keeping some sense of routine and normalcy simply by maintaining the healthy diet you were following before lockdown is just one way of doing this.
Here are some of Be Fit Food’s top healthy habits to try while working from home;
Make a Schedule: time-block your day from breakfast through to dinner, allocating time for work tasks, exercise and meals. Not only will you work more efficiently, but allocating time to working on your health and weight loss goals will help to keep you accountable.
Prepare Healthy Snacks: carrot sticks and hummus, apple slices and peanut butter, protein balls and energy bars are all nutritious options to have in the pantry for when you want something small to tide you over to dinner.
Regular Physical Activity: if you had a consistent workout or exercise plan pre COVID-19, try your best to stick to your routine, or use this opportunity to try something new! Whether it’s a YouTube HIIT workout, home yoga or circuit training, the endorphins released during exercise will help to manage your stress levels.
Get Your 8 Hours of Sleep: studies suggest an association between sleep deprivation, weight gain and obesity, so all the more reason to hop into bed for an early night! You’ll also notice you have more energy, greater concentration and lower stress levels.
Practice Mindfulness: daily meditation can reduce stress, improve attention and help us be more mindful of our food choices. Whether it’s an app (we recommend Headspace or Calm), reading a book or walking outside in nature, take the time to be fully present in an activity you enjoy.
If you are a previous or current Be Fit Food customer, we hope to continue supporting you through this pandemic by providing a program that will help you feel more in-control and empowered with your health and diet.
The Be Fit Food Challenge is the perfect way to eat yourself better through these difficult months. Whether you are a new or returning BFF customer, if you are looking to kickstart or continue your weight loss journey, we encourage you to sign up and participate in our Winter Challenge. The program provides you with 4 weeks of nutritionally balanced, frozen meals and snacks specifically designed by Doctors and Dietitians for rapid weight loss. No need for hand sanitiser, gloves or face masks while doing your weekly grocery shop- just sign up for the challenge and you’ll receive two fortnightly deliveries to your door!
With pre-prepared meals more appealing than ever, we hope this challenge can reduce the stress many households are feeling as they juggle full-time work with home-schooling, and provide you with additional time to spend on more pressing demands.
Isolation does not need to hijack the hard work, effort and time you have already dedicated to your health and weight loss journey. The Winter Challenge is a fantastic opportunity for you to maintain the results you have worked so hard to achieve with the support of the BFF community, including consultations with BFF dietitians and access to an exclusive Facebook group.
Once you’ve signed up for the Winter Challenge, you will also receive a free 4-week exercise program and yoga mat to support all aspects of your health and wellbeing. With a healthy diet and regular exercise, everything feels just a bit more manageable, and your body will thank you for it! The 14-day program should leave you feeling better than ever, with many of our customers noticing higher energy levels, improved sleep, better gut health and weight loss.
In a time defined by uncertainty, we hope this challenge provides you with some routine amongst the chaos, and inspiration to persevere with your health and weight loss goals. If you would like to learn more and sign up for the 14-Day Winter Challenge, please visit https://befitfood.com.au/pages/challenge-yourself for more information.
References
Harber VJ, Sutton JR. Endorphins and Exercise. Sports Medicine. 2012;34(1):154-171.
Patel SR, Hu FB. Short Sleep Duration and Weight Gain: A Systematic Review. Obesity. 2012;16(3):643-653.
Davis DM, Hayes JA. What Are The Benefits of Mindfulness? A Practice Review of Psychotherapy-Related Research. Psychotherapy. 2011;48(2):198-208.
