3 Simple Ways to Stay Active While you’re Stuck at Home.

Angela Flatsoussis a certified personal trainer said maintaining an active lifestyle is an important part of combating illness. She said further that Physical activity can help lower stress and anxiety levels, boost your immune system, and keep off any unwanted pandemic pounds.

1. Get outside and move
   If you can manage it, get outside (your compound) and move in some way, whether that’s a more traditional type of exercise — like running, biking, or walking — or simply playing with your kids. Don’t think of it as an“exercise,” which tends to make it sound like a chore. Think of it in terms of “being active” or “physical activity”.
   Jeanette Gustat, PhD, MPH, department of epidemiology, prevention research center at Tulane University School said outdoor exercise has many benefits during a time when we may be bored and anxious due to physical distancing.
   Outdoor exercise encourages activity with more space, it allows us to have a more varied experience than being indoors all the time, and it can reduce stress.
   If you already do activities like walking, running, or biking, then you can simply continue to do these. However, even if you don’t normally exercise, take note that it’s important to keep moving.
2. Get Creative with Resistance Exercise
   When you don’t have access to your usual weights and machines, Flatsoussis suggests finding substitutes around your home to do resistance training. Flatsoussis suggests the following;
   Squats are a great compound movement that will work your back, core, legs, and glutes.
   A) To replicate the traditional barbell squat;Using a broomstick while you perform squats; Simply place the broomstick on the upper part of the back and hold onto it with your hands.
   B) In lieu of box jumps, she suggests using your stairs; Start at your landing and jump up to the first stair. Step down and repeat. This exercise will work your legs and glutes as well as provide you with some cardio.
   C) Instead of dumbbells, try using soup cans for bent-over rows. Rows help strengthen the back and improve one’s posture, she said.
   D) In place of the deadlift; which helps strengthen your legs, back, and core — she suggests grabbing a pair of gallon milk or water jugs.
   E) Challenge your core and obliques by leaning back, with a flat back, and twisting your bag side to side.

Finally; You can also simply use your own body weight, according to Gustat. “Situps, pushups, pullups, squats — anything with resistance will work.”

3. Make a clean sweep or tackle your to-do list; While we might not think of cleaning or home maintenance as being exercise, Gustat said, “Any movement counts and has health benefits.”
This includes activities like mopping your floors or changing your bedsheet. Think of moving more and sitting less. “Strive to get at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity every week. that’s 30 minutes, 5 days a week.”
According to Gustat; Moderate activity is any type of activity that gets your heart beating faster,
Even if you don’t work the full 150 minutes, Gustat said it still helps. Which means any amount of activity is beneficial.
Reflections
This time is not an excuse to neglect your body. Within only a few weeks your strength and muscle mass can diminish, making it that much harder to resume your normal routine after the pandemic.
Conclusion
Both our experts agreed: The best thing you can do while you’re stuck at home during the pandemic is simply to keep moving.
Physical activity will reduce your stress and anxiety, boost your immune system, and keep you strong and healthy.
Activity can be in the form of traditional exercise, if you have the equipment, but any type or amount of movement is going to be beneficial.

Exercises not only changes your body, it’s changes your attitude, mind and mood.

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