Re-entry anxiety is about feeling worried or stressed about leaving lockdown life and being ‘out there’ again.
At the start, many people were feeling stressed about staying at home all the time. And it’s not just about being cooped up at home and being bored. Worries about one’s job and livelihood are all too real and valid concerns.
However, now that social distancing rules are easing up, many people are worried about leaving the safety of their homes.
What To Do About Re-Entry Anxiety
Accept That Post-Pandemic Anxiety is OK
Don’t think that your stress is unfounded. It is.
We all know that COVID-19 (coronavirus) still exists. It’s not yet completely eliminated. So that anxiety you feel about going out and leaving the safety of your home is a valid concern.
Accept that things have changed and things won’t be the same as before – at least not for a while yet – and that’s OK!
Continue Practicing Safe Hygiene
The fear is real but there’s comfort in the fact that you can PREVENT contacting the illness by following the same guidelines as before.
Maintain a safe distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
Avoid touching your face.
Wash your hands frequently. Use soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand rub.
Define Your Own ‘New Normal’
Don’t let post-lockdown fear prevent you from living your life. Don’t isolate yourself because of fear. Instead, stay involved with activities that you enjoy!
True, there may be some ‘modifications’ needed but so what? You should still live your life to the fullest.
For example, say you used to eat out with your group of girlfriends at least once a week. Post-pandemic, you can still eat out… but make it a one-on-one affair.
You might just surprise yourself at how much more you get to know your friend now that there’s just the two of you. 🙂
Reflect On How Social Distancing Has Changed You
Another way to ease your re-entry stress is to reflect on the POSITIVE effects lockdown life has had on you and how to move forward with those reflections.
BFF Member Zia says she’s fallen in love with home-cooking again.
“We were always so busy! Dinner was always a rushed affair. Quick cook or takeout, quick eat, and that’s it. During the lockdown, I found myself more and more in the kitchen… and loving it! It really made me and my husband ask ourselves… WHY were we not doing this before?!? We find so much pleasure in cooking and eating well that we vow to continue prioritizing it.”
=== BeFinallyFit is not just about physical health but mental health too. With articles such as the above, we hope to help not just our members but anyone who seeks assistance, clarity, or just a sounding board during these trying times. However, details and recommendations about this pandemic may have changed since publication. For the most updated information on COVID-19, please check out resources such as the WHO.
As we continue to spend more hours at home, here are a few tips to survive lockdown boredom.
Lockdown boredom is REAL, y’all!
As the coronavirus continues to dominate our lives, we find ourselves spending more time indoors than we ever thought we would. And as expected, boredom starts to set in.
However, let’s clarify one thing first…
Boredom is NOT the absence of things to do.
You may think that you’re bored because you have nothing to do at home but that’s not really the case.
According to John Eastwood, an associate professor at the department of psychology at York University (YU) in Toronto, Canada, boredom is that “uncomfortable feeling of wanting but being unable to engage in satisfying activity“.
Boredom is the absence of ‘wanting to do anything’.
Eastwood should know; he has been studying boredom for almost 20 years and manages the YU’s Boredom Lab. “The bored person knows there are things to do. The problem is they can’t muster up an actionable desire.”
So boredom is not that you have nothing to do, you just can’t seem to find the ‘desire’ to do anything.
Boredom is the absence of ‘clarity’.
When there are a lot of things – big and small – around us, the absence of clarity, either in the form of a ‘list’ or an ‘action plan’, prevents us from acting on that thing.
And so, without further ado, here’s a quick list of things to do while on ‘lockdown life’.
Top 10 Things to Do to Survive Boredom At Home
1 Call Him/Her
Remember that person, family or friend, you always wanted to call and just get back in touch with? Well, NOW is the time.
27 years without closure…
One friend of mine actually got in touch with an ex, NOT to try and get back together, but to ask something that has been bugging her for the past 27 years.
Almost three decades ago, she was in a relationship with him and she became pregnant. Things did not work out; they broke up; and she’s raised their daughter on her own.
She has no issues with being a single parent, but all these years she never had the courage to ask him… “WHY?”
“When I look back, it seems like he just ‘disappeared’ overnight. Not even true because our families knew each other and so over the years we would even run into each other but there was just no actual closure for me.”
“So I sat down, called him, and asked MY burning questions… was there even love? What was HIS reason for breaking up?”
“We both have wonderful families now but to me that was not the point. I just needed proper closure. I’ve always wanted to call him and have that conversation… and now I did.”
2 Pick Up a New Positive Habit
What NEW thing do you want to do that will uplift your mood and spirit?
Personally, I’ve been into yoga the past years but I’ve never really immersed myself deep into it. So that’s exactly what I did.
I checked some free yoga videos online, and then I rolled out my yoga mat and just started moving.
My routine was simple.
Wake up, do my morning bathroom rituals, make lemon water (lukewarm), roll out my yoga mat and do a 15-min routine. If I have more time, I do 30 mins.
Once I’ve more or less mastered a simple yoga sequence, it’s time to move to the next (more challenging) video.
Yep, this yoga pose needs time to achieve 🙂
Other positive habit ideas: drink more water, meditate, start a food journal, begin a self-grooming ritual (bath+hair+nails+skin) an afternoon every week, make a list of ‘one thoughtful act of kindness’ you can do for someone (e.g., bake cookies for Mary, cook a stew for Anna, babysit one afternoon for Juliet, donate $1 to a charity you like, etc.)
3 Go Through Your Closet
Open your wardrobe closets and (1) find what you haven’t worn in the past three years, (2) find what no longer fits, (3) find what’s no longer in fashion, and (4) find what no longer suits your age. (I know, this last one can be brutal! hahaha)
Put that all in one pile and sort what to throw and what to donate.
I promise, at the end of this endeavor, you’ll feel LIGHTER.
4 De-clutter? Re-fresh? Remodel? Renovate?
You don’t need to give your house a complete makeover, girl! Just do this one step OR room at a time.
For example, during these self-quarantine days, does everyone seem to be in the living room? If yes, then… look at your bedroom or kitchen first!
Seriously, it’s much easier to tackle a room where there’s no one there right? 🙂
Ok, say you chose your bedroom; first thing to do is de-clutter. Here’s my personal rule of thumb: if I’m not using it or it has no actual purpose, it goes in the box (storage).
After you’ve cleared some stuff away, what do you think could re-fresh the room? New bed sheets? If you don’t want to buy new sheets, that’s perfectly fine!
Just mix and match your current sheets. For example, use the dark blue pillow cases of one set with your white cotton sheets, all up to you!
Other ideas: put a big plant (or few small ones) in a corner, take down the painting that’s been hanging forever and swap with another one if you have other artwork, or simply re-paint one wall (it’s called having an accent wall!), change the lighting, put a big mirror, use linen spray, etc.
A plant in the bedroom looks great AND helps with air quality.
You can stop at this or go big and bold and completely re-paint or wallpaper your room. You can renovate and add a small bathroom. Again, all up to you.
5 Try a New Recipe / Try to Meal Prep
One thing’s for sure, lockdown life has sent many people into their kitchens. I say, embrace it!
This is the perfect time to learn a new recipe (or why not a whole new cuisine?), know how to bake, and discover the joys and health benefits of meal prepping!
6 Explore INDOOR Fitness
Unearth all those late-night fitness equipment purchases you’ve made… but never used.
Seriously though, you DO NOT need to go out to get fit. The internet is your best friend here because there are literally THOUSANDS of free online fitness workouts you can follow indoors.
7 Read a Book
Many of us own a stack of books we’ve been wanting to read for some time now. Well, guess what? NOW is that time.
If you want to take this a step further, then why not read something that will enhance your CV?
Invest in furthering your education by reading or learning something that will improve your skills.
8 Prepare an Emergency Home Spa Kit
You know this won’t last forever. Sooner or later, we will all go ‘back to the grind’ and you’ll be yeeeeeearning for those lazy days at home. So prepare for that moment by having a ‘spa kit’ ready.
In a box, put some scented candles, scented oil, a special loofah, a face mask, a hair mask, and anything else you may need to de-stress.
9 Start a Veggie Garden in Your Kitchen
These days have re-awakened my desire to grow my own vegetables again. And you don’t even need so much space! You can grow veggies just using jars and placing them in a sunny spot in your kitchen.
BeFinallyFit is a unique 28-day eating strategy that will teach you how to properly eat for weight loss. Get back in ‘fighting form’ — at any age — with this sustainable weight loss system. Click here to start your journey.
I’ve Got Kids!
Now, you may be thinking that the 10 tips to beat lockdown boredom above is all well and good but… I HAVE KIDS!
Inside our BFF Member’s Area, we’ve asked mommies what has helped them during this time and they said it was majorly important to establish a daily routine of some sort, especially if you have young kids.
“My kids get a kick crossing off whatever is on the ‘schedule’ for the day. And I like involving them in creating the sched for the next day so win-win.” – BFF Mommy Lannie
Sample self-quarantine schedule for kids 🙂
Experiencing boredom is normal during these social distancing / self-quarantine / lockdown life times and giving in to a day of doing ‘totally nothing’ is OK.
Just don’t let ‘doing nothing’ become a habit because this can impact your mind and body negatively.
So whenever you feel ‘stumped’ on what to do, just take a quick look on the anti- lockdown boredom list above, ok? 🙂
In need of weight loss tips you can actually apply in REAL LIFE?
When it comes to weight loss, many of us feel that no one understands what we’re going through.
“I feel like I’m just living a life of… dieting. Yep, I’m a professional dieter.” “I’m just so tired of failing yet another weight loss attempt.” “I’m a yo-yo dieter. I lose weight all the time, but it keeps coming back!”
Sound familiar?
Trying to lose weight can be a lonely journey… but the women below? They get you.
They know EXACTLY what you’re going through.
So just go ahead and benefit from their experiences. Find out what helped these wonderful women lose over 45+ pounds.
Weight Loss Tips from Women Just Like You
1 I stopped drinking soda and putting sugar in my drinks.
“As weird as it sounds, NO ONE drank water in our household. It was always soda or concentrated fruit juice. I honestly don’t know why. It’s just always been this way.
At one point though, at work, I just noticed that everyone’s drinking water. So I did too.
It was hard. I wasn’t used to it. So at the start, I only drank water at work. At home, I still drank juice. After about a week, I got semi-used to it so started drinking water at home too. (Drinking water was the easy part, discussing this with my family was harder 🙁 )
After about two weeks, I stopped putting sugar in my coffees and teas altogether. Believe it or not, i lost around 20 pounds just doing this! It was shocking to me and the perfect way to start my 47 lb weight loss.”
– Monique Plum, 41 yrs old, ⬇️47 lbs
2 I realized weight loss really does start in the kitchen.
“I’m not a great cook but I know my way around the kitchen. Along the way though i started opting more and more for ‘convenience’ which meant frozen dinners, boxed meals, take-outs, etc.
One day I woke up, got the courage to step on the scale and WHOA! I didn’t even realize I was THAT heavy already. So I took back control step-by-step.
I limited myself to 1 take-out every other week, and no more packed mixes or canned sauces. After a while I weaned myself from frozen dinners too.”
– Lisa Gardner, 43 yrs old, ⬇️45 lbs
3 It’s ok to start slow… but structured.
Most people, especially women, overwhelm themselves when it comes to weight loss. They believe that for pounds to melt, they need to completely overhaul their way of eating AND spend hours at the gym… on Day 1.
This is the perfect recipe for weight loss failure.
“I have a daughter, twin boys below the age of five, and a full-time job. I just don’t have time so I knew I couldn’t go all gung-ho with my weight loss efforts. One day, I just sat and thought… FINE! one thing at a time.
I looked for a weight loss program online because I didn’t want to think and plan and learn this and that. Too much time and effort. I just wanted to follow something.
I joined BeFinallyFit thinking the weight loss would be slow but boy was I wrong!”
4 I didn’t banish any food group… because I realized I’m not strong enough to live without rice 🙂
“I’m Asian, I cannot imagine life without rice 🙂. So I learned the art of ‘food swapping’.
I no longer eat white rice, but brown rice. No white bread, but whole-wheat bread. No sugar-heavy, white flour-heavy cookies but healthier ones made with coconut oil, oats, and fruit as natural sweeteners.
I tell friends I’m still a foodie, just a healthier one.”
– Neri Tan, 32 yrs old, ⬇️48 lbs
5 It’s ok to give into cravings.
Depriving yourself of your favorite foods can deter your weight loss success in the long run. It’s human nature to start craving things you’re not supposed to have and once you finally give in, you may find yourself binge eating instead of just having a normal serving.
“I’m partial to anything chocolate. But since I’ve gone on this journey, I only eat dark chocolate and limit myself to a single piece after dinner with my black coffee. And instead of having it on weekends, I have it on weekdays. 😉”
Afraid your cravings are getting out of hand? Click here for real-life tips to manage your cravings.
– Carol Peek, 37 yrs old, ⬇️46 lbs
6 I started taking yoga… because it’s the only ‘physical activity’ I can do.
Don’t be pressured to do anything you’re not physically and/or mentally ready. Focus on what you like or what truly interests you… the rest will follow.
“I’ve never been an ‘active person’. And as the pounds piled on, I was just too heavy to do any physical activity and too embarrassed to go to the gym.
The only thing that remotely interested me was yoga because I liked the ‘quietness’ and peace I’ve always associated with it. I tried one session, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
Once I lost a few pounds and felt more confident, that was when I became more serious and tried a weight loss program.”
– April Rainier, 45 yrs old, ⬇️49 lbs
7 I plan when I indulge.
“I work in marketing so eating out is a given. What I do is control when that happens as much as I can. So normally I would schedule dinners with clients 2x per week max. Then I would check the menu in advance so that I can plan what to order.
If there are unplanned lunches or dinners out, or I give in and order something decadent, I don’t beat myself up about it. I just compensate the the rest of the week as best I can.”
– Melody Powell, 44 yrs old, ⬇️45lbs
8 I learned how to cook.
Women who don’t cook or are not fond of cooking often feel that making meals from scratch requires HOURS of effort. That’s not true at all because studies show… we’re really not as varied or diverse as we think.
“I’m a nurse and work crazy hours so take-outs were my life. However, it’s hard to talk to people about their health when you’re overweight yourself. I felt like a hypocrite. ☹️
However, cooking and prepping my meals were out of the question. I just don’t have time. Until the day my new roommate came into my life.
She was a nurse too and she had it all together! I couldn’t believe it. She would cook on her day off and pack and freeze and she wouldn’t even spend hours in the kitchen. She told me to just cook something simple, and don’t over complicate things.
Well, here’s what I found out… chicken and brown rice are life. I love eating this day in and day out. I would vary it a bit of course but that’s how I started losing weight, and keeping it off. 😀”
– Carolyn Adler, 41 yrs old, ⬇️47lbs
9 I created my own hunger suppressing tricks.
“I’m single so I don’t like to take walks out at night. This means coming up with other ways to battle after-dinner cravings. I would normally drink first: water or flavored water. If that doesn’t work, I’ll have hot tea or some bone broth I’ve previously made.
I would drink this slowly while I watch funny YouTube videos or workout videos online. Sometimes, I’ll visit health and wellness sites. This is often enough to put my mind back on the ‘healthy track’.
If not, I grab an apple or banana and eat that with almond butter or any nut butter I have in-house.”
– Lannie Smith-Mills, 33 yrs old, ⬇️46 lbs
10 One goal at a time.
“A lot of people don’t realize the depression that can come over you from so many failed diet attempts. They think that you don’t have willpower or you’re lazy or that you prioritize a donut over yourself.
At one point, I was just tired. Tired of trying, starting, losing, stopping, gaining, repeat repeat repeat.
Luckily I met someone who actually told me that I was doing too much. Changing too many things. And that I was trying too hard. Huh? I thought I wasn’t trying enough!
She helped me focus on ONE THING first — what I was eating. Just that.🙂”
The food industry is not doing overweight people any favors. They label food items as ‘low salt’, ‘low sugar’, ‘low carb’, ‘low fat’, and on and on.
But here’s the problem, any product ‘low’ in one thing is normally ‘high’ in something else. So often, people are just replacing one unhealthy thing for another.
“I don’t read labels. I understand that it works for many people but it doesn’t for me. When I grocery shop, I just ask myself ‘where does this come from?‘. If it’s in any way man-made or processed, I don’t buy it. Simple.”
– Sammie Law, 48 yrs old, ⬇️51 lbs
12 I stopped being a ‘secret eater’.
“I’m a lazy person, I don’t ‘journal’. I also told people I have no idea why I’m so overweight when I cook my own meals and eat ‘healthy’. ha!
A visit to my doctor changed all that. He told me I was prediabetes and that I needed to change how I was eating ASAP. But how can I change something I thought was already ok?
I started taking pictures on my phone of every single thing I was eating and drinking. I mean, everything. And I was just shocked!
I never realized how much MORE I was eating. I would remember my ‘light’ breakfast and healthy lunch or dinner but I wasn’t aware of the so many unhealthy things I was eating during the day… the ‘small’ slice of co-worker birthday cake, the little candies on my desk, the chicken nuggets (or donut holes) I would munch on as a mid-day snack, the glass (or 2) of wine at dinner, and most of all… I was shocked by the 1,0000+ calorie bomb of a coffee frap I was having almost everyday!”
Food cravings… oh, we’ve all been there. I have a thing for potato chips myself! And since I have never advocated complete abstinence from any food group for weight loss I say, sure, go ahead and indulge… ONCE IN A WHILE.
But what if the cravings hit you a tad too often?
Food Cravings – 7 Tips to Stop Your Food Lusts
1 Wait it out.
Studies show that most cravings are actually not due to hunger but to some other emotion such as loneliness, boredom, stress eating, sadness, or even just plain thirst!
So when a craving hits, don’t give in right away. Instead, drink a glass of water, drink some green tea, or brush your teeth. And while you’re at it, picture your ‘new, slimmer, sexier, stronger you’ at the end of this fitness journey.
2 Stop looking at FOOD PORN online.
You’re not doing yourself any favors by constantly looking at food pictures on social media. Instead try do something that’s would have a positive effect on your physical and/or mental well being.
For instance, a light some candles, put on some relaxing music and take a long relaxing bath. Take a long reflective walk. Do some light yoga, or meditate.
3 Plan ahead.
Accept that cravings will happen. That’s normal! So knowing this, plan ahead.
What are your ‘triggers’? Cakes and donuts? Don’t buy them, or buy healthier alternatives (snack on unsalted nuts instead).
Often, you just need that ‘crunch’ to get over a bad craving. So pre-cut some crunchy veggies and stack them in the fridge. Dip them in peanut butter and you’ve got yourself a healthy treat!
4 If you’re keeping a food journal (and you should!), check your calorie consumption for the day.
Ok, I’ll just be brutally honest here. By being ‘confronted’ with a list of what you’ve already eaten for the day and how many calories you’ve consumed, chances are you’re going to experience a sort of ‘wake up call’ and realize that nah… those extra calories are just soooo not worth it.
6 You’ve got to move it, move it.
Instead of getting up and heading for the fridge, get up and go for a leisurely walk. You can walk up and down the stairs or just around your living room. Find that corny? Do it anyway… while calling someone ☎️.
6 RE-CAP
Check how far you’ve come in your fitness journey. Look at old pictures and think about what you’ve all done to get to where you are now. Do you really want to sabotage your efforts?
7 Bring out some sexy fit-spiration.
QUICK! Grab a fitness magazine or visit a fitness site or check out one of your fitness heroes. Now, this is something that REALLY works for MANY of my weight loss clients. Every time a craving strikes, grab a fitness mag, watch a weight loss program.. ANYTHING that motivates you towards fitness. Re-directing your thoughts to the good and healthy stuff, curbs your craving for the bad, weight-gaining stuff.
Is there a gender bias when it comes to losing weight? The short answer:YES.
Men lose weight faster than women but that does not mean there’s nothing you can do about it.
Men vs. Women – Starting Fat Levels
Women, biologically, have 10% more body fat than men. That might sound unfair but there is a reason. Women need this extra fat for child bearing.
Fat is stored fuel. As such, nature gave women more fat in their bodies because of the anticipated need for extra fuel during pregnancies. Remember that at this stage, women are not just ‘carriers’, but ‘nourishers’ too.
Since women have more body fat than men to begin with, it will naturally take longer to see any noticeable results from any weight loss effort. It doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t happen… it will just take a lot longer.
Men vs. Women – Fat Burning
Ok, we’ve established that women have more fat for the purposes of child bearing. So what’s the purpose of men? 😁😁😁
From an evolutionary point of view… men’s purpose is to ‘provide food’. So due to the very physical aspect of hunting and gathering food, men’s bodies have more muscle.
Muscle tissue burns more calories. On average, 10 pounds of muscle burns 50 calories a day spent at rest, while 10 pounds of fat burns only 20 calories.
Yes, even though he’s just right beside you, sitting just like you… his body is burning more calories than yours. Arghhhhh!!!!!! 😡
Men vs. Women – Testosterone vs. Estrogen
The male hormone testosteronehelps build and retain muscle. (Remember, muscle tissue burns more calories at rest.) The female hormone estrogenhelps women prepare the body for child bearing, and it does this by encouraging the body to store fat.
Another important thing to note is that as women age, estrogen levels decrease, which tend to lower metabolic rates (metabolism slows down). This is why women going through menopause experience weight gain.
Men vs. Women – Men ‘Power Down’ Faster
It’s easier for men to ‘shut down’ and call it a day. Not so much for women.
We are natural born caretakers and multi-taskers. So while he’s already off to dreamland with nary a thought, women’s minds are busy thinking, planning, and even worrying about tomorrow’s activities (and a host of other things).
This can lead to less sleep or poor quality sleep, which in turn increases cortisol(a.k.a. the stress hormone). Studies show that high cortisol levels lead to depression, food addiction, and sugar cravings. 😭
Men vs. Women – We Look At Cupcakes Differently
Men lose weight faster than women because they are less emotional about food and why they eat. Ok, men are less emotional than women. Period. 😜
To men, a cupcake (or donut, or pizza, or ice cream, etc.) is just YUM. There’s nothing else attached to it. For women, we tend to associate these food items with feelings of comfort, reward or celebration, and yes, happiness.
There’s also the hormone called serotonin. This hormone has many functions but it’s also called the ‘happy hormone’ or ‘mood hormone’.
Studies show that just before ‘that time of the month’, serotonin levels in women’s bodies decrease. (PMS, anyone?) When this happens, women crave carbs.
Carbs give a ‘sugar rush’ (that feeling of elation or happiness), which in turn brings serotonin levels back up.
(Since, we’re talking about that time of the month… the hormone progesterone also increases during this time. Progesterone increases appetite.)
What Does This All Mean?
All of the above may seem unfair but it’s really just how evolution made women. So don’t fight it. You cannot change it.
Does this mean that women are doomed to gain weight? NO!
The problem is this: with traditional, mainstream diets, women will lose weight at an extremely slow pace (if at all). And in the absence of short-term results, most women lose motivation and give-up.
You go back to your old ways and BOOM! you gain back any weight you may have lost… and then some.
This in turn may lead to anxiety, low self-esteem, depression and a host of other health issues.
Further, most diets out there today do not even consider women’s hormonal levels. More and more studies show that hormone imbalance is one of most common reasons for weight loss resistance in women.
BeFinallyFit is a 28-day unique eating strategy for women. It turns a woman's natural fat-burning switch 'ON' by (1) re-balancing female hormone imbalance, and (2) resetting malfunctioning hunger hormones in the body.
BFF also applies a special weight loss tactic, which you can adapt by Day 7 of the program. This technique will enable you to burn through your fat reserves WAY FASTER than any other 'diet' because it targets a specific hormone in your body! Click here to start your journey.
The permanent solution is this: work with (not against) your female body – its fat levels, hormones, structure, and all – so that it gives you the weight loss results you want to see… fast.
Weight loss for women is not about ‘calories in and calories out’. That doesn’t work.
In fact, ‘eating less’ may produce even a greater imbalance in hormones for women! The secret is eating more (of the right foods) for the female body.
Weight loss for women is also not ‘eat less, exercise more’. That doesn’t work either.
Women should avoid ‘chronic cardio’ because this creates unnecessary stress in the body, which in turn increases cortisol. And as mentioned above, higher cortisol levels mean weight gain.
But don’t lose heart ladies.
Now that you know why men lose weight faster, you also know that the road to long-term weight loss IS achievable! Now that you know what makes you so different from men… you can start focusing on solutions that are geared towards women’s needs.
Here’s exactly what to do during those ‘I Feel Fat’ days.
We all have our ‘off’ days. We are, after all, human. However, if those ‘i feel fat‘ days are happening just a little bit too often then it’s time to develop some kick-ass positive thinking habits!
Remember, positivity and a good attitude will ALWAYS be more beneficial than any negative self-talk.
Here Are NINE Ways to Shake Off Those ‘I Feel Fat’ Moments
I feel fat moments can quickly turn to a downward spiral. Before you know it, you’re looking at yourself and things/people/events around you negatively. Don’t let that happen! Arm yourself with the following tips.
1 List At Least 3 Things You Love About Yourself
Ok, you’re having an ‘i feel fat’ moment. There it is; acknowledge it. Now, take a very deep breathe and as you exhale, imagine that negative feeling being expelled from your body.
Next, write 3 things you love about yourself and focus on those instead.
Examples: I’m a GREAT FRIEND. I can DANCE really, really, really well 🙂 I’m very OPEN-MINDED.
Examples: I love the color of my eyes. I have great hair! My nails are the envy of all my girlfriends.
They may seem ‘shallow’ at the start but trust me, this will get the positivity ball rolling.
2 Practice GRATITUDE
What are you grateful for? That you woke up to another day? That you have people you love, and love you back? That you got a sweet message from a friend?
It doesn’t matter if you’re giving thanks to something big or small. What’s important is that your appreciative of something GOOD. When you’re in this positive mindset, it’s easy to shift away from something negative.
3 Bring Out Your ‘Feel Good’ Toolbox
What are the things that bring an instant smile to your face? If you don’t have a go-to list right now, here are a few tips. (You can do just one but hey, doing all of them is fine too 🙂 )
Play some ‘feel good’ music. (Btw, if they’re dance tunes, pump up the volume and dance away!)
Pictures. Family pics, friend shots, vacation photos… whatever it is, take out and look at the ones that will instantly bring you to a happy place.
In my years as a fitness professional, I always come across this ‘guilt’ that many women have about prioritizing themselves. Everyone else must be taken care of first. Well, for those ‘I Feel Fat’ days or any day when you’re feeling down, give yourself the gift of importance. You deserve it girl!
Take a day off and read a book.
Get a haircut, manicure, pedicure, the works!
Get a massage.
Tinker in your garden.
Do the groceries leisurely (instead of running around like a headless, time-constricted chicken :))
5 Surround Yourself With Good, Positive People
Positivity is contagious. When you surround yourself with happy, smiling, optimistic people, it’s hard to be gloomy!
6 Go for Health, and Fitness-Focused Goals
When you feel fat, it’s easy to think that the solution is to turn to a ‘quick fix’ in the form of fad diets or crash diets. On the contrary, science shows that these quick fixes offer nothing but short-term results. They also put you at a high-risk for developing a slow metabolism. 1
Instead, focus on health-related and fitness-focused goals. When you adapt a plan or system that’s focused on your physical and mental well-being… I promise, the weight WILL drop off faster than you think.
BeFinallyFit is a unique 28-day eating strategy that focuses on not just dropping pounds, but with equipping you with the real-life tools you need to get in shape — in both mind and body.
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7 Hit ‘Pause’
During an ‘I feel fat’ moment, it’s not surprising to feel like you don’t have control. However, instead of overwhelming yourself with everything you need to do or all the things you need to change. Sometimes, the best action is not to press ‘Play’ ▶️ but to hit ‘Pause’ ⏸️.
That is, take a moment.
Take a step back. BREATHE. And then… slowly make plans to make things better.
8 Go OFFline
Social media is great but there’s A LOT of things out there that actually promote those ‘i feel fat’ days. Your news feed can be unhealthy because it can promote feelings of comparison, jealousy, and competition. So, go OFF the grid for a bit. Focus on yourself. The rest of the world can wait.
9 Set Yourself Up for a GREAT DAY
If you set yourself up to have a great day, it’s easier to avoid any negative self-talk. For instance, if you hate waking up to your headache-inducing alarm clock, change the tune! Better yet, wake up to your fav mood-enhancing songs. Follow this up with some ‘gratitude thoughts’ and I bet your day’s already off to an amazing start! Here are a few more ideas.
If you’re in the habit of checking your phone the minute you wake up, read positive or motivational quotes first.
Got a bit more time? Try a light yoga routine or engage in a few minutes of meditation. (Light your favorite scented candle when you this and happy days!)
Treat yourself to a light, healthy, but yummy breakfast.
Dab on your favorite perfume whether you’re going out or not.
Don’t schedule anything until after lunch.
It’s OK to have an ‘I Feel Fat’ day now and then but that doesn’t mean you need to STAY in that vibe. Follow the above tips and you’ll bounce back in no time!
