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Home » Lose Weight » Weight gain in the times of corona | Jennifer Nataf – The Times of Israel

Looking in the mirror as I was getting changed yesterday (ironically, into exercise clothes), I was a little shocked to catch a glimpse of the Pillsbury Doughboy staring back at me. And whileI do think hes very cute, I dont particularly wish to resemble him.

Five weeks of lockdown have taken their toll on my body. Pre-Corona, I walked between 3 and 5 km per day, did 1 hour of low-impactexercise at home, and went to dance class 2-3 times a week. Corona not only obliterated my exercise regimen, it also did a number on my self-discipline. I lazily abandoned the daily hour of morning exercise Id been consistently doing for the past 6 years. Adding insult to injury, I consumed more food than necessary (and it goes without saying, right? more junk food than usual).

Less exercise and more food surprise, surprise resulted in a Pillsbury Doughboy body.

Because I know there are a lot of women out there who will identify with this, particularly at this time, I want to give you the good news, as I see it.

The good news has to do with set point theory.

Most peoples weight tends to fluctuate within a range of about 5-10 pounds. The set point theory about body weight refers to a specific weight to which our bodies return, time and again, after gaining or losing weight. Set point theory is at least part of the reason its so challenging to keep weight off permanently.

When we gain weight, our bodies automatically expend more energy on all the routine biological processes necessary to keep us alive. Our bodies also increase body temperature (again, to waste surplus energy), and release hormones to curb our appetite. All this occurs inside of us naturally, without any conscious intervention on our part, in order for us to lose the excess weight and get our bodies back to the set point weight. This is a part of homeostasis, the bodys natural regulation of itself to maintain the balance within.

Alternatively, when we lose weight, our bodies utilize less energy on routine biological processes. They lower body temperature to save energy. And they release hormones to increase hunger, so that we eat more food. The ultimate goal being the return to the higher set point weight our bodies are used to.

Image courtesy of ThemeInn/Unsplash

(Important side note: It is possible to change your set point, both to lower it and to raise it, but it will require time and effort. Even if you have been at a higher weight for years and you aim to lower your set point, it can be done! Just be prepared to experience hunger and overcome certain natural cravings for a period of time while your body loses weight and adapts to a new, lower set point.)

The good news is that if youve just gained this weight, your body wants to get rid of it. If youve just gained this weight, your body is already in the process of helping you release it. Your metabolism has gone up, as has your temperature (dont worry, not enough to keep you out of a supermarket*), and if you pay attention to hunger cues, you will notice that youre not as hungry as usual. If you obey those hunger cues, and eat less now, you will most likely find that its not all that difficult to take off the newly-gained excess weight.

As we slowly head out of lockdown this experience unlike any other and get back to a semblance of regular life, I want to encourage all you other Pillsbury Doughboys out there.

Stop beating yourself up. Forgive yourself for having gained the weight. And get back on track (whatever that looks like for you), knowing that your body is on your side, that itwants to release that extra weight, and that its already in the process of doing so.

* In Israel, body temperature is measured by a security guard prior to being granted entrance into certain spaces, like supermarkets.

I'm a Jerusalem-based personal stylist, originally from Montreal. I have always loved clothes and expressing myself through fashion. So much so that I briefly considered studying fashion design, before ultimately opting to study nutrition (B.Sc. and M.Sc. from the Hebrew U). I recently decided to follow my dream of becoming a personal stylist and have received my certification from the International Image Institute. I invite you to explore my philosophy of clothes, fashion and body image in my blog. I would love to help you find your own look, and feel fabulous and confident in your clothing. Feel free to contact me to see how I can help you.

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Weight gain in the times of corona | Jennifer Nataf - The Times of Israel

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Home » Lose Weight » Weight gain in the times of corona | Jennifer Nataf – The Times of Israel