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The Quarantine Diet

Slackpacker
Posts: 20 Member
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.'
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.'
18
Replies
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Thanks for sharing.
Great job.
1 -
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!1
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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.3
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What’s the trick? I’m trying to lose weight but still can’t....0
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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.5 -
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.1
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