There’s no question that the COVID-19 pandemic has had many of us feeling stuck. Stuck at home—maybe even stuck in bed if you got sick—and likely also stuck in a rut with any healthy eating and exercising plans you had in mind. At Nutrisystem, we surveyed 2,000 Americans and found out that the pandemic and resulting lockdown has been detrimental to healthy regimens. With our daily routines thrown for a loop, 69 percent of our survey respondents said they started snacking because they had nothing else to do. Combine that with increased stress, less sleep and decreased motivation to exercise (plus, gyms being closed down), it’s no wonder that many of us have packed on unwanted pounds.
If you’ve put on any weight during this difficult time, you aren’t alone. Of those polled, 76 percent shared that they’ve gained up to 16 pounds during their time in self isolation.
It can also feel a lot like you’re stuck in a downward spiral. In fact, if you’re like one of the 75 percent of respondents, you might feel like you’ve been living the same day over and over again. The days blurring together can make change feel impossible.
But we assure you it is not! It’s never too late to start making healthy changes that will improve your quality of life and help you drop those unwanted pounds.
Ready for Change
On a positive note, in some ways, the lockdown has been eye opening to many. Of those surveyed, 63 percent said they’ve now placed more of a priority on improving diet going forward.
They may have given up on their summer bodies but they know that getting healthy is about so much more than that. It’s about living a longer, better-quality life and protecting your immune system. Of course, it’s an added benefit that your clothes will fit better. Plus, you’ll look and feel better about yourself, too.
At Nutrisystem, we know that many people have felt stuck in a rut—and they haven’t been sure how they’d ever get out of it. But we want you to know it’s a lot less daunting than you may realize. Nutrisystem has always been about simple and sustainable steps that you can take toward better health. It doesn’t mean you have to drop everything you love about food. Changes like that take the joy away from eating and make a program difficult to maintain.
“So many people think that eating healthier means giving up your favorite comfort foods, and that is completely untrue,” says Courtney McCormick, corporate dietitian at Nutrisystem. That’s why programs like Nutrisystem exist, so you can lose weight without sacrificing the foods you know and love. “It’s also key to have healthy snacks like fruit and veggies on hand for when a snack craving strikes,” says Courtney.
Get Out of the Rut—and Stay There
Although healthy habits may have felt virtually impossible to keep during lockdown, the truth is that you can get back on track now. Oftentimes, people feel as though they fail because they didn’t have the support they needed to succeed. But we can help!
Nutrisystem has multiple layers of comprehensive support, including Weight Loss Coaches, The Leaf Weight Loss Blog and the Nutrisystem app. We can help you get unstuck from that rut and stay out for good.
Learn more about our survey results in the infographic below!:
Ready to get unstuck? Learn more about the Nutrisystem meal delivery service!