Blog Post #2 The Silver Lining of the COVID Cloud of Doom
At Franz Fitness, we hold the value of gratitude very close to our hearts. It is important to be thankful for what we have and who we have in our lives. Whether we choose to focus on our health, our family, our financial abundance, or the support of our family, it is important to find the subtle victories and celebrate them. We also believe that gratitude is but the derivative of optimism, and in these unpredictable times, both are necessities.
With restaurants, bars, and gyms shutting down due to the current COVID outbreak, and with grocery store lines wall to wall, it is easy to become cynical and feed into the insanity, even accidentally. As a strength coach, I, along with many in our field, like to focus on more days in the gym, more effort given, and more weight on the bar. Our field often thrives on the “more, more, more” mentality.
This mass closure of gyms has forced athletes and adult clients to take a step back from their days at the facility, and while it is easy to complain with everyone else, while it is easy to blame people and management, and while it is easy to reach into our bag of excuses, we believe this is the best time for none of those. This is a time for each of us to explore home fitness and to find not only something that works for us, but also something that we enjoy. This is a time to focus on both physical and mental recovery. This is a time to focus on what goes into our bodies. We here at Franz Fitness encourage you to remember three things in these chaotic times:
#1 You can exercise at home. Home fitness has received a bad reputation whether it’s for being too simple, not challenging enough, or just boring. Some people are lucky enough to have a home gym, which is great, but not necessary. With the use of bands and carpet sliders, you can get a workout in that is plenty challenging. Even if you don’t have those tools, bodyweight exercises, isometrics, and calisthenics can all provide ample challenge. Don’t let the lack of equipment at home hold you back.
#2 Recovery for body and mind is a necessity. In a world where more is typically thought of as better, we believe that better is better. It’s crucial to give yourself a mental break from training at times. Reading, meditating, or other mind-stimulating activities will help you get more meaningful work done as your mind gets a chance to focus on other tasks. We spoke earlier about at-home workouts, but physical recovery also matters. Long walks, moderate bike rides, yoga at home (perhaps with your dog or cat) are all great ways to allow your body to recover in order to, again, put in more meaningful work when the time comes to get back to training.
#3 Put thought into your meals. So many clients default to the excuse of “Well, I don’t have time to devote to meal prep. I’m so busy with work, the children, etc.” In a time where remote work is the norm for now and most schools are closed, so too is the bank of excuses. No withdrawals allowed. Get your children involved in your meal prep while they’re home. Teach them healthy habits and incorporate them into molding your healthy lifestyle. Just because there is very little on the shelves, that doesn’t mean that you need to automatically turn to these canned and preserved options. You can still eat fresh. You can still buy fresh food to freeze and enjoy later. Take this time to look at what you are eating, craft quality meals with those you are confined with, and take pride in what’s on your plate and going into your body.
Remember: being the cynic is all too easy, and unfortunately the default more often than not. Stand out and be the optimist. Practice gratitude and find the subtle victory in these trying times. These closures and quarantines will end, and we will get back to training, but a negative mindset only holds you and those around you back.
Make these challenging times a thriving time for you and those you are with.
Best wishes and stay healthy!