Chances are, you’ve gained a bit of weight and a few bad habits during the pandemic. Join the club. For those of us who have let a bit of weight become quite a bit, a noticeable amount, a spare tire, or a double-digit increase, it’s time to face the facts: Your life may be on the line. Weight gain is hard on the heart. The good news is your pandemic weight gain is different than long-term weight gain. The weight you’ve gained during the past 18 months or so is more a consequence of circumstances than lifelong habits or metabolic shifts. With the right moves, it will come off faster — and is more likely to stay off. You just need a little discipline in diet, effort in exercise, and to prioritize mind over matter. Let’s do this.
|
|
You've gained weight and accrued bad habits over the past year. Who hasn't? Let the turnaround begin.
Two Moves to Do If You’ve Been Super Sedentary Lately
1. The Pinwheel
Hunching over your computer all day creates tension in your neck, shoulders, and upper back. Over time, it leads to loss of mobility. The pinwheel helps release some of that tension. Start out slow and let your arms circle faster as things loosen up.
How to: Stand with your feet hip-width apart. Keeping your arms straight, raise both of them slowly in front of your body, then overhead, then back behind your body. Lower them to the ground to make a complete circle. Repeat 10 times, then reverse the circles for 10. Next, “divide” your arms and have one side circle forward while the other circles backward, 10 times in each direction. This move wakes up your peripheral nervous system, which research shows primes your brain and body to work together for maximum exercise benefits.
2. The Crawl
In functional fitness, everyday moves like crawling or carrying jugs are incorporated into intense workouts. The method is being used by everyone from military training camps to rehab centers for elderly patients, because research shows it provides major fitness bang-for-buck without incurring injury.
How to: Get down on all fours. Drop to your elbows while lifting your knees off the floor and putting your weight on your toes. Begin shifting your weight from side to side as you crawl, military-style, from one side of the room to another (you’ll want a padded or carpeted floor for this. Crawl 20 seconds, then rest. Work your way up to 60 seconds.
Here are a few more moves to get yourself moving again the right way.
|
|
 |
|
Want to Raise a Critical Thinker? Ask Questions. A Lot of Questions.
Making a big purchase? Figuring out a problem? Say the questions you have aloud near your kid, recommends Dr. Shannon McHugh, a practicing clinical psychologist. If you’re, say, buying a new TV and considering two options, ask about the quality of the television, the price point, the payment plans. Doing this within ear shot of the kids helps teach them how to interrogate both the information on offer and their own motivations — a crucial skill.
These expert tips can help you teach a child how to think critically.
|
|
|
|
Have a question? Comment? Want to tell us a no-good terrible story? Or a helpful parenting tip? We want to hear from you (and yes, we may publish your response in an article or forthcoming newsletter).
Send your thoughts to [email protected].
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
