As I write this at home in quarantine, the day outside is gloomy and gray, promising rain. I feel fairly gloomy myself and on a roller coaster of emotion that I can’t quite stop in its tracks. Maybe it’s the coming storm, but, just as probable, it’s anxiety associated with continued isolation. I’m lonely and stressed.
It’s on days like this that I long for a comfy chair, a warm blanket, a good book, and my old dog. And food. All sorts of comforting foods. As magical as this sounds under the circumstances, too many days of this mean that I won’t fit in my jeans once I’m allowed to emerge from my home. And an educated guess says I won’t be the only one.
This is where stress resiliency comes into play.
Stress is a normal, everyday occurrence. As hard as we may try, we will never be rid of the myriad of stressors in our lives. Because of this, I don’t like to use the term “stress management.” To me, that term is inaccurate, as if we’re on a mission to exterminate stressors.
It’s impossible! Stress resiliency is instead how we weather a storm when we’re stuck in it. Do we stand strong in the face of adversity or do we fall apart?
Here’s what happens when we fall apart: Cortisol, our “stress” hormone, churns out body fat, especially in the abdomen where it’s most dangerous. This fat, visceral fat, builds up around organs and can lead to disease. When we are chronically stressed, weight gain is assured and almost impossible to shed. Therefore, your feelings of anxiety around weight gain only contribute to more weight gain, even if you are doing your best to be active and eat well.
What we need are outlets. Outlets mitigate stress, though they do not rid us of them entirely. Here are my tips on being more stress-resilient during the coming storm:
● Get outdoors as often as possible. This can be for exercise, but just as easily for playing with your dog, gardening, yard work, and even sunbathing (with sunscreen!). Vitamin D in sunlight boosts our moods and immune systems, making us happier and healthier. I’ve done my best since quarantine to get outside daily to go for an early morning jog or a walk. This was not a part of my gym-going routine, so the positive effect personally has been very noticeable. I don’t find the jog easy to accomplish, but I do find it satisfying and I enjoy seeing the sun come up.
● Schedule a movie night. Lack of time affects us all as a society. So, how about making a list of movies you’ve always wanted to see and schedule a movie night with your family? You could even set up a Zoom meeting with a friend and plan to view the same movie separately in your homes and compare notes. My husband and I are taking turns picking a movie for “date night” on Fridays. This is usually when we have our cheat meal of the week as well. We have fun together and stay better on track with our food since we have something to look forward to, even if we’re not going out.
â—Ź Read often. For anyone who knows me, this is a big duh. I read a little bit of everything, but I find fiction best at the moment as it allows us to escape
into our imaginations. Chances are, you’ve got a book backlog at home. If
you don’t, check with your local library to see if they provide Libby or
Overdrive, apps and online services that allow you to check out ebooks and audiobooks. If you don’t have a library card with your local branch, Houston libraries offer library ecards online that also connect with the Libby app.
● Write your heart out. Writing and journaling are fantastic outlets, especially if you have something to say that probably shouldn’t come out of your mouth. I have dubbed my journal the “Psycho Journal” for this reason. There is something cathartic with putting words on a page. I currently keep a journal, am writing articles (obviously) for TFCL, and started a fictional piece two days ago. I’m about 2,500 words in and still have no idea what it’s about, but that’s OK.
● Exercise daily. It’s more effective for treating depression than medications for
depression. How amazing is that? There are so many free resources available right now
since gyms are closed! Go for a walk, find a bodyweight exercise program to do at home
that does not require equipment, or spring clean your house. Certified Personal Trainers
and Health Coaches such as myself are available online now as well if you are not
motivated to be active on your own. The possibilities are endless!
Now that you are equipped with a variety of accessible stress resiliency options, come up with
your own. Go forth and conquer the fat gain!
Brittany Hall is the owner of Brittany Hall Certified Personal Training and Health Coaching LLC. She is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer (ACE-CPT), ACE Certified Health Coach (ACE-CHC), and ACE Mind Body Specialist, all earned with the American Council on Exercise (ACE). She also holds an advanced certification with the Cancer Exercise Training Institute (CETI) as a Cancer Exercise Specialist (CES). She was an attendee at the Active Lives: Transforming Our Patients and Ourselves conference presented by The Institute of Lifestyle Medicine at Harvard Medical School as well as the IDEA World Fitness Convention presented by the IDEA Health and Fitness Association. Her latest venture is as a POP Pilates instructor.
