The Quarantine Diet

Slackpacker · April 2020

So...apparently, quarantine agrees with me. In the last 2 (or is it 3?) weeks, I've lost 4.8 pounds.

What Hasn't Changed

What I eat - Still within my calorie limits. Still eating copious amounts of chocolate. Tightened my belt a little bit to avoid frequent shopping trips, but otherwise, most eating habits have remained the same.

What Has Changed

Working from home! This is a big one. As long as I work my 40 hours a week, I am no longer on a rigid schedule.
I don't need to eat on a schedule.
I don't need to take breaks on a schedule.
I don't have a commute interfering with my day.

Exercise. This time last year, I was cranking out 3-4 hours and 40-50 miles a week. Granted, it was on an e-bike, but still. That was all active time. Somehow, I gained ten pounds with all the increased exercise.
Now, I'm averaging about an hour and a half a week, but broken up into more frequent, shorter exercise stints. Apparently, I don't need to 'go hard' like an athlete. I can do what suits me.

Lesson Learned

I think it's important to pay attention to one's biorhythm. I'm a free spirit that can't stand rigid schedules and will never, ever fit in anywhere no matter how hard I try. Once I applied that non-conformist principle to eating and exercise, the pounds started dropping. I just hope I can keep this up after quarantine has been lifted and things return to 'normal.'

swiftyoung · April 2020

Thanks for sharing.

Great job.

Jthanmyfitnesspal · April 2020

It's nice to hear someone else's experience. I've been working a bit too close to my refrigerator, if you know what I mean!

steveko89 · April 2020

Similarly, I'm enjoying the situation more than I ought given the circumstances. I had a work trip the last week of February and started staying in more 3/1, started working from home 3/18. I'm down ~3 lbs for the month of March (vanity weight, trying to get down to 10% bf for once). I've been basically keeping to the same schedule but going without a commute is nice; as is getting to see our 16 month-old throughout the day. Diet adherence is better, I'm not strapped for time on workouts, and now the weather has been nicer we've been taking daily walks through the subdivision.

oehlheyjoana4325 · April 2020

What’s the trick? I’m trying to lose weight but still can’t....

paperpudding · April 2020

There is no trick.

Lockdown and other coronavirus changes will affect people in different ways - some might excercise more because they are not stuck in traffic commutes/office jobs for hours, other might find they eat more at home and not being able to go to the gym impacts on them.

I am still working but my job is now more on my feet than before - will see if that changes anything weight wise.

If you are having problems, I suggest starting your own thread and be willing to open your diary and people can suggest where any issues might be.

survivor0423 · April 2020

I am finding it hard to get off th couch and have gained 5 pounds in the last month. I had so much energy yesterday and really knocked things out, housework and exercise but today I have barely moved.

The Quarantine Diet

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