The coronavirus health scare is upon us. Gyms are closed and many of us are left at home bored with nothing stopping us from raiding the refrigerator. This is a situation that can easily add on pounds and ruin diets completely.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to keep from gaining weight, even while you are shut in. Here are some helpful tips that will help you stay in shape during the coronavirus shut down.

Work Out at Home

Fortunately, exercise does not require the use of gym equipment. There are plenty of workouts you can do without any gym equipment, using only what’s available in your home.

Clear a space in your home that you can dedicate to exercise. Then pick a set of exercises that you feel are most suited to your fitness needs and do them in repetition to create your routine. Switch things up to target different parts of the body.

Try Intermittent Fasting

A loose schedule can make it easy for you to lose track of what you’ve eaten. Intermittent fasting can help you stay on schedule.

Intermittent fasting sets a six hour window for eating. These six hours can be during any time frame you choose. The other sixteen hours are for fasting.

Not only does intermittent fasting help you limit your food intake, it can boost metabolism, help reduce belly fat and protect the body against certain diseases.

Drink Tea

Drinking tea can help suppress the appetite and it can give you something to do instead of eating. You can brew a pot in the morning and continue sipping it throughout the day. Once its finished, just add more water to the tea leaves.

Many types of tea, like green and black tea, are full of antioxidants that can boost the immune system.

Stay Busy

Many of us are not eating because we’re hungry, we’re eating because we’re bored. Do your best to avoid ‘bored eating’ by staying busy. Take up a hobby or get to that task you’ve been putting off to keep boredom at bay.

Stay Out of the Kitchen

Many people have kitchenettes where they might set up a computer to do work. Still others may wonder into the kitchen while talking on the phone to friends. However, this just opens the door to temptation that can lead to excess snacking.

If at all possible, try to limit all your activities to your living room or den…essentially any part of the house other than the kitchen!

Drink Water

Water is great for suppressing appetite. Many people mistake thirst for hunger, so if you feel that hunger is coming on, try drinking a glass of water before reaching for that box of crackers. Carbonated and mineral water is especially filling.

Water is also great for providing the hydration a body needs to keep it functioning properly.

Do Stress Reducing Exercises

These are hard times and many of us are stress eating. Stress reduction exercises can be effective in minimizing the stress that leads to overeating. Meditation, deep breathing and trying to maintain a positive outlook are all ways to reduce anxiety and depression.

Join an Online Community

There are many online communities that people can join to keep them motivated during their weight loss journey. Members of these groups can encourage you to stay fit, congratulate you for your efforts persuade you to stick to your diet and encourage accountability. They can also relieve boredom that can lead to overeating.

Being stuck in the house can lead to weight gain but if you make the right lifestyle changes you will be able to stay fit and healthy. What tips do you have for managing weight during the pandemic?