Fat loss and diet tips to get rid of lockdown weight gain

Minimal physical activity and loads of food options during the lockdown has led to excessive weight gain which is now hard to shed. Most of us donned our chef’s hat during the lockdown and tried various recipes at home during our idle time. While we enjoyed the delicacies and the family time we got, the lockdown took a toll on our weight. If you too are struggling with the lockdown weight gain, then here are some essential tips from Delhi based Dietician Gauri Anand.

Overeating and lack of physical activity are the major contributing factors for weight gain during the lockdown. It is better to naturally detox your body from time to time, in order to keep the metabolism high. Consumption of more water-based drinks like lemon, ginger, basil etc will help the kidney and liver to flush out the toxins from the body. You can pick the drink of your choice and include it in your daily routine.

Increasing your protein intake is another effective way to hasten the weight loss process. Every major meal of the day should have a source of protein like curd, dal, paneer, soya and non-veg food sources etc. You can opt for dal, paneer, curd and soya if you follow a vegetarian diet or opt for non-veg food items like chicken and fish if you are a non-vegetarian.

Since our social gatherings have started again, it has become essential to keep a check on your portion control. Make sure that you don’t go overboard with food. If you are at someone else’s home for lunch or at a party, always prefer whole wheat food items over refined ones. You can also carry good snacking options to satiate those hunger pangs so that binge eating is reduced. Snacking options like seeds mixture, fruits, nuts, roasted channa and buttermilk are some of the healthiest ones.

You might have heard of taking enough steps on a daily basis to lose weight. Target small step count initially and then aim for 10k steps per day. Being physically active is the first step to maintain weight. You can also include 30-40 minutes of physical activity like jogging, yoga, home exercises or your favourite sport.

Lockdown has deeply affected the sleep cycle which has shot up stress levels. Prepare a sleep schedule for yourself and stick to it. Get enough sleep of a minimum of 6 hours and a maximum of 8 hours on a daily basis. Maintaining a proper sleep schedule will automatically help you in the weight loss process.

Love fresh fruit juices? It is better to opt for veg juice like carrot celery, carrot beetroot and parsley juice. You can have whole fruits to get maximum benefits instead of juicing them out.