Gyms Are Closed Throughout Australia, This Is How I’m Staying In Shape Meanwhile

Staying in shape during lockdown is difficult. With New South Wales living in a state of strict regulations for over sixty days, the gym is now a distant reminder of what once was. No longer do we have the luxury of going to a sweaty HIIT class or intense pilates session. The gym has been traded out for local parks, which are amazing, but perhaps less motivating.

On top of that, daily routines have been tossed out the window. Morning routines have slowly faded, while bad habits may have made their way onto your agenda. Your time spent at the gym in the morning is now spent sleeping in. Your healthy meal prep plans have all but disappeared in favour of UberEats and ice cream. Does any of this sound familiar?

If it does, you’re not alone.

Without a sense of normalcy and the ability to maintain our normal daily routines, many of us have been struggling to stay in shape during this period. It’s hard — undeniably — but it’s not impossible. With a little bit of effort, maintaining your fitness during lockdown is possible. It just takes some self-awareness and a bit of effort.

5 Tips to Help You Stay In Shape During Lockdown

1.Maintain Your Nutrition

It’s easier said than done, but maintaining your nutrition is a huge part of staying in shape during lockdown. Even though your normal gym regime may be on hold, it’s nevertheless important to look after your body and keep your nutritional goals in mind. If you’ve been ordering more UberEats, rest assured you’re not the only one. Try not to be too hard on yourself, but don’t lose sight of previous healthy habits.

Regardless of occasional indulgences, make sure to get enough of the good stuff in: Healthy carbs, fats, and plenty of protein.

A few easy ways to keep your nutrition on-point include:

A daily protein smoothie to ensure protein needs are met
Try to cook your own meals at least a few times per week
Eat breakfast if you can to help establish a normal meal routine in lockdown

2. Eat Enough Fruits and Vegetables

This goes hand in hand with maintaining your nutrition, but fruits and veg deserve their own shoutout—especially in pandemic times. Fruit and vegetables help boost your immune system, which is something we should all be considering at a time like this. Plus, the plethora of vitamins and minerals they offer means that we should strive to eat enough of them every day, whether in lockdown or not.

If you’ve fallen victim to mindless snacking while working from home, fruit and veg can also be a massive help in keeping extra weight off. Swap out those chips for some carrots and hummus. Reach for an apple instead of a mid-day chocolate. Giving you the nutrients you need, fruits and veggies will help you feel better too, and let’s be honest: We could all use a mood boost.

Easy ways to sneak in more fruits and veggies include:

Making your own juice at home and sipping throughout the day
Aiming to eat a side of veggies with your meals
Add fruit and veggies into other recipes to bolster the nutritional value

3. Take Up Running

If you’ve always wanted to try running but never got into it, now is your chance. While we may not be able to go to gym classes, running is a great way to break a sweat while exercising solo. Start small, building up to larger distances as your fitness improves. Not only is it a great way to stay fit, but running has also been shown to help with stress management.

Get into running by:

Investing in some high-quality running shoes
Download an app like Couch to 5K to get you started
Create a routine and stick with it

4. Try an Online Class

If running isn’t your cup of tea, there are plenty of online fitness classes you can try right now. Whether you like yoga, pilates, or HIIT, there’s truly something for everyone. In addition to keeping you in shape, online classes are a great way to get a sense of community that most of us are seriously lacking right now. Many local gyms and studios are currently offering live classes online, so you can have the feeling of working out with a group, even though it’s from your own home.

Local classes to check out:

5. Take Care of Your Mental Health

While it’s all well and good to take care of your physical health, it’s all for nought if your mental health is rubbish. Now, more than ever, it’s important to check in with yourself and take strides to ensure you’re feeling alright. Even if you think the stress of lockdown hasn’t affected you, it’s a burden bearing down on all of us that can add subconscious pressure.

Carve some time out for yourself, perhaps via meditation, breath work, or yoga to help reconnect with your thoughts.

Of course, these tools won’t fix everything, but they can be a great way to practice mindfulness. If you need something more, online therapy might be a good option.

A few ways to keep up with your mental health during lockdown: