Alex Sconziano, Reporter
@ASconzCourant
While the world fights to stay healthy from the coronavirus, it is obvious that we need to wash our hands and use antibacterial gel to keep our hands clean. If we keep our hands clean, we have a better chance of keeping ourselves and others healthy.
However, what many people do not think about during this time is how important it is to keep your body healthy. Yes, we can eliminate the germs on our hands, but it is more important to make sure our bodies are strong during a great time of change. We can do this by eating healthy and exercising. Everyone around the world went from their daily routine to being cooped up in their houses all day long. This takes a toll on our bodies as we adjust to the change.
As a result of this worldwide virus, we need to keep our immune systems healthy. It can be very tempting to snack and eat a lot of food out of boredom. It is important to eat a healthy amount of food. It’s not a good idea to put your body under more change when it is already adjusting to such a drastic change in schedule. As we want to keep our bodies the healthiest we can be during a time like this, it is important to eat healthy foods, and in controlled amounts.
After researching how some professional athletes keep their bodies in shape all the time, I learned that it is manageable for anyone with the correct mindset to do it. What was surprising is they were all relatively simple; eat your fruits and veggies, eat in moderation, and treat your body like a car (putting good foods in your body for positive results, just like putting good gas in a car lets it go farther.)
However, the most interesting trick I discovered from researching came from Triathlon Olympic Gold Medalist Gwen Jorgensen. Gwen’s nutritionist told her to front-load her meals. This prevents her from feeling hungry and tired as the day goes on. Front-loading meals is when the first two meals of the day are more calorie-dense, and dinner is a lighter meal. Having a large breakfast and lunch gives us more energy as the day goes on, which will make us feel better, be in the right mindset to exercise, and not feel tired or wanting to become a couch potato every day we are quarantined.
I understand we are not all professional athletes, but this is an example of how eating right can keep our bodies healthy while stuck at home. I also researched how some non-professional athletes manage to stay in shape.
Actor Mark Wahlberg is also well known for his ridiculous daily schedule. Waking up at 2:30 to begin a workout is not a common thing to do. However, Wahlberg’s food choices help him stay in shape in addition to his 2 workouts a day. As mentioned previously, it is a good idea to front-load our meals while stuck at home. But, what we eat at those meals is more important. Wahlberg has shared the foods he eats every day, which have high levels of protein and vitamin C. For breakfast Wahlberg has a mix of grilled chicken, Kalamata olives, baby peppers, cherry tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, cucumber, and bell peppers. A meal like this would be great to eat while stuck at home. It is a great source of protein with limited calories, which gives us energy as our day kicks off so we don’t go straight to the couch and watch Netflix for the rest of the day.
For lunch, Wahlberg will have a steak, and by dinner, he will have downed fish and some more chicken with bok choy. This example shows how healthy eating and exercise can be beneficial, making us feel good during the quarantine. A mix of eating well and daily exercise will keep our bodies healthy and safe. In a time where it can be so tempting to open the snack drawer and dive in, it is so important to keep our immune systems healthy so we can be as safe as possible from the virus.
By staying healthy and strong, you can help your body to have a strong immune system, which is very important when there is a pandemic. The healthier our bodies are, the less likely we are to contract any sort of virus or disease.
In the end, I would stick to three meals a day, plus a snack between lunch and dinner. Eating a heavier Breakfast and Lunch gives us more energy during the day. At each meal, work in a fruit or a vegetable. It is important to mix in some healthy foods so your body is taking in some vitamins and nutrients to balance out all of those potato chips with fats that we have been eating. Also, it is a great idea to get in some sort of exercise every day, which will help manage your blood sugar and put you in a better mood mentally. You only need a pair of shoes to run, and a quick lap around the neighborhood is a great way to get out and see some natural color from being inside your house all day. During this break I have been playing a lot of basketball in my driveway, I have gone for a lot of runs and I have also used my family’s home gym downstairs. Exercising every day should be something to look forward to. By keeping ourselves healthy and clean, we are protecting ourselves as well as others around us.
