HOW TO STAY FIT AND HEALTHY DURING A STORM

As Hurricane Florence continues to near my home, I realized just how hard it will be to stick with a weight loss program, special diet, or mental health-building should disaster strike. I myself remember how long I was out of commission after Hurricane Matthew hit my area in 2016, and I can see this hurricane hitting harder and keeping us in the dark longer.

But, as someone who has seen a good amount of weight loss and progress mentally - and wants to keep it up - a storm can be scary. 

Think about it, a lot of non-perishable foods are loaded with sugars and carbs. This can be good to help you keep your energy up, but if you aren't doing anything and have a slow metabolism, they actually work to your detriment. This is something it has taken me years to understand. Now that I have a good understanding, I don't want to compromise and end up back where I started. I also know I get anxious about things like this, which can cause me to worry.

I found myself at the store purchasing water, bread, canned pastas, crackers, and peanut butter. All of these, aside from water, are loaded with sugar that I know I don't really need if I'm sitting in the dark playing Go Fish with my husband.

I realized that I'm not the only one that may struggle with these issues, so I wanted to do some research to see what people can do to stay as fit AND healthy as possible during a storm that brings with it power and water outages, flooding, and other serious issues. So, here is what I found:

BEFORE THE STORM HITS

Here are a few things you can do before the storm hits to maintain your health and wellness routine when disaster strikes.

GET FLAVOR PACKETS FOR YOUR WATER

Water is always important to have in your emergency stock pile, but some may decide not to stay hydrated and rather drink sodas or alcohol during a storm. However, this can cause you to become sick with issues like nausea, which can make surviving indoors with no AC nearly impossible. 

Instead, buy some flavor packets for your water. It will help give your water variety while still keeping you hydrated. There are low-carb, low-calorie options, and there are flavors that everyone will love!

IF THE STORE IS OUT OF WATER, DON'T COMPROMISE

I actually ran into this problem when I was out shopping for storm supplies when I was at my mom's house. I thought I wouldn't have to fight against the crazy storm preppers since I heard the storm wouldn't cause as many problems in her area, which is nearly three hours away from my home.

I was wrong!

By the time I got into the store, there was very little water left. I actually had to pay nearly $2 for a 12 pack of those small waters you generally give to your children. But, it was better than nothing. Before I saw those, however, I didn't see any affordable water choices!

While the diet Dr. Pepper looked tempting, I decided to stock up on these as well as my baby water bottles. Later, when I visited another store, I decided I would also get some Powerade, which contains electrolytes to help keep us hydrated should we run out of water or want a little bit of variety. 

MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS POSSIBLE

This is a lesson that I need to follow through on next time, however, I do have some hurricane snacks that are healthier options.

But, instead of going straight for the most inexpensive and least healthy option, try to get some snacks and foods that are non-perishable but also fit your diet.

Some ideas for hurricane snacks include jerky, pepperoni, nuts and seeds, cheddar chips, fruits, and veggies. ​

TAKE SOME TIME TO PLAN AND ORGANIZE YOUR THOUGHTS

It's always a good idea to have a plan should disaster strikes, but disaster can strike in a matter of hours. It is far easier said than done, but you should take a minute to think about all of the possible solutions and problems and plan out what might be best for you and your family in the long run.

For me, I am testing the waters. I was actually farther from the storm, but decided to come back to my house because I have my husband and cat here along with several electronics I want to save. ​

WHEN THE STORM HITS

Here are a few tips to follow when the storm has hit. This could mean that you're trapped due to flooding, your power is out, or you have no water to bathe in.

GET MOVING TO PREVENT WEIGHT GAIN

It can be tempting to give in to laziness when you're stuck at home during a storm. Instead of sleeping the day away, resolve to get up and move no matter what.

You can do some yoga, walk or pace around the house, or have a dance party. No matter what you do, you'll be moving.

​This will keep your heart pumping and facilitate calorie burning to help you maintain your weight loss, even when you're stuck in the house during the storm.

This will keep your heart pumping and facilitate calorie burning to help you maintain your weight loss, even when you're stuck in the house during the storm.

SERIOUSLY, DO ANYTHING

Science tells us that doing literally anything other than sitting still can help facilitate calorie burn. So, if you're stuck at home during a storm, play some games with your family. They can be card games, board games, or even a fun game of hide-and-seek. 

You can also use your new-found time to learn a new skill from a close family member or friend 

you're stuck with! You can learn a new language, how to knit or crochet, or how to write a poem. The possibilities are endless, and you've got a lot of time!

CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS

Aside from your diet, you need to be sure you are staying clean, dry, and safe when you are without power and water.

Instead of wasting water on baths, do what they do in hospitals: take a bath with some baby wipes. They are good enough to keep your baby's bum fresh, so they're good enough to keep you fresh! Invest in some and use them during the storm to keep clean and conserve water.

STAY MENTALLY HEALTHY WITH A DAILY JOURNAL

Being trapped in one place for a long time can give you a serious case of stir-crazy. As someone with anxiety, I can tell you that sitting still and not doing anything productive can make me nervous.

I've found that, for me personally, keeping a video log helps me to feel better about what's going on. 

I may not use them on my YouTube channel. Often, I delete videos a few days after I take them. If you don't want to do a video, you can just journal your day or feelings to help you organize your thoughts and keep the scary thoughts away.

CONCLUSION

So, staying fit and healthy during a storm isn't impossible, but it isn't easy either. It will take dedication to stay away from sugary and carb-loaded foods, and it will take motivation to get up and move when you're stuck in one place. But, you will thank yourself when you continue to see the results you were hoping for!

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LEGAL: All photos are my own or taken from Pixabay, a creative commons website that requires no attribution for photo use.