Lockdown is tough, fact. Whether you’re home-schooling the kids, trying to organise yet another video chat meeting or simply can’t motivate yourself to get out of bed, many Australians are struggling right now.
The stress is most certainly real and in times of stress and anxiety, many of us turn to food. You just have to scroll through social media to see everyone talking about COVID kilos, “smashing goals” with at-home workouts and all sorts of unnecessary pressure.
In fact, over 30 per cent of people around the world have experienced a change in weight during the pandemic, and it’s not hard to see why.
“Food can often be used as a coping mechanism during tough times, so it’s only natural that many people are turning to food during this time to help numb difficult emotions as a result of multiple lockdowns,” Dietitian Lyndi Cohen known as The Nude Nutritionist tells WHO.
“This pandemic has made it harder for us to be healthy, putting added financial pressure on us, and impacting our access to food, exercise and socialisation.”
So when it comes to weight gain in lockdown, it’s important to remember that it’s ok.
“These are incredibly stressful times. Not only will beating yourself up for gaining weight not help you lose weight, but it can also make you feel more stressed out about food which could lead to more emotional eating,” Lyndi says.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to weigh yourself, and I think it’s especially harmful to weigh yourself during lockdown.”
WATCH BELOW: Sam Armytage gets real about self isolation weight gain. Post continues after video…
Three reasons why you shouldn’t weigh yourself in lockdown, according to a dietitian
1. Your body weight doesn’t reflect your health.
For starters, Lyndi says that calculating your body mass index (BMI) which is used to determine whether you are in a healthy weight range for your height, is outdated and can’t measure your wellbeing.
“Instead of using your weight to measure your health, look at other metrics. Do you have the energy to do the things you love? Do you fall asleep easily and sleep well? Do you feel tired for no reason or has your stress become unmanageable? Are you getting sick more often than usual? Do you feel like you have hope for the future? There is so much more to your health than what you weigh.”
2. Weighing yourself makes you obsess over a number on the scale
When you start looking and over-thinking about that number on the scale, you’re more likely to adopt extreme and unhealthy habits to lose weight.
“We know from research that when people eliminate foods from their diets like carbs or sugar, they actually crave those foods more and need more for them to feel satisfied,” Lyndi says.
“Going on a crash diet as a result of weighing yourself may make it even harder for you to eat healthily, in a balanced way.”
3. You could put yourself at risk of an eating disorder
“We are experiencing a mental health crisis,” Lyndi adds. “You do not need to apply added pressure to your life.”
So what can we do to look after ourselves in lockdown?
Lyndi says that rather than creating a list of forbidden foods or quitting sugar, try to use this time at home to find healthy recipes that actually excite you.
“I love cooking healthy food in my air-fryer including things like crispy chickpeas or tofu chips,” she says.
“Now is the perfect time to play around in the kitchen, trying new ingredients and recipes to help break us out of a food rut. Recently, I’ve been making my one-tray chicken and each Sunday, I’ve been meal prepping a big pot of vegetable soup or lentil curry to enjoy for a few meals during the first half of the week. This helps save me time and helps me feel full.”
At the end of the day, we all need to be kind to ourselves and stay connected with loved ones.
“Access to food, exercise and socialisation that can help us manage our stress has been limited over the last 18 months,” Lyndi says.
“Avoid the temptation to try a lose-weight-fast diet which could jeopardise your wellbeing. Instead, fill your house with healthy options that you actually want to eat. Find some new podcasts or music to listen to while you exercise each day to help it feel more enjoyable.”
Lyndi adds that speaking to a psychologist during these tough times can also be helpful.
“Speaking to someone is kind of like going to gym for your brain. It’s a way to support your mental health during these tough times, and looking after your mental health will have positive flow-on effects for your physical health.”
As for mindless snacking, Lyndi’s top tip to combat that is checking in on your hunger.
“Sometimes, we might find that we eat out of boredom, stress or because we’re watching TV. Asking yourself “Am I hungry?” can help break this cycle. If you’re hungry, it’s the perfect time to eat.”
If you’ve been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, help is always on hand. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or call The Butterfly Foundation on their national helpline 1800 33 4673
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