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Photo: Kamil Macniak / Getty Images / iStockphoto
We can all no longer read or hear it, but it is the way it is: Corona is still raging out there and many people have moved their work to the home office again. Most Germans gained weight in the pandemic. How can it be that when we spend more time at home, we eat more and exercise less? After all, running in the fresh air was and is allowed at any time, despite all restrictions. Even the rule not to move further than 15 kilometers from home was quickly overturned. So what's the problem?
I think I know
We are annoyed because limited.
We are stressed because we are disoriented.
We are depressed because we are hopeless.
No one can endure this bouquet of negative emotions in the long term.
Fast kicks are needed.
Feelings of happiness at the push of a button.
And nothing raises the level of good mood faster and easier than sugary and fatty dishes paired with chilling out on the couch.
In defense of humanity, it's in our genes.
Life coach Christian Zippel once wrote a book with the wonderful title "Unfortunately, cool, fat and lazy!"
written.
This is what it looks like: Our genetic programming is based on an indispensable survival strategy and this is secured through reproduction, food intake and energy saving. Love, eat, lie around lazily. It is logical that it is difficult when you are annoyed, stressed and depressed when you are sent home to work somewhere between the refrigerator and the television and to maintain a particularly healthy lifestyle.
Because the problem with human genetic programming is that it has not changed with our modern achievements.
People used to move 15 kilometers on their two legs before they were allowed to fall asleep in the love nest while eating.
Today we move an average of 800 meters a day and have the richest food supply of all time available around the clock.
No wonder that the No. 1 disease of civilization is obesity.
Do I have to mention at this point that this pandemic is now not only a pandemic of the unvaccinated, but also of the overweight?
New feelings of happiness through more exercise - and three rules for December
Fortunately, people are capable of learning and every day holds the chance not to repeat the mistakes of the previous day.
So let's just use the current wave to turn things around.
Let's cheat genetic programming and upload an update.
New feelings of happiness through more exercise!
Sure it's possible.
It's no secret, after all, that running releases endorphins.
Unfortunately, you have to learn and train first.
I have a pretty simple trick!
Unfortunately, it is not entirely without discipline, which is why I have to formulate three rules for December:
No sugar, no white flour, no alcohol!
A daily "date with the sun"!
No exception, except on public holidays!
Don't get out of this column now. Continue reading! It's not that difficult at all. So, no sugar means that we should eliminate all foods that contain the classic "white sugar". The nifty stuff. If the word "sugar" comes first when looking at the ingredients or list of ingredients, then this food is taboo. I write "in the first place" because, as you probably know, there is sugar in so many foods. If you want to avoid that completely, then it becomes really joyless.
When it comes to white flour, I'm primarily talking about wheat flour, which has hardly any micronutrients.
Cheap bread, rolls, pretzels ... just cut out all foods that contain refined wheat flour for a while.
Well, alcohol is alcohol.
It also says everywhere when it's inside.
Omitting.
Fruit is allowed.
Tastes sweet too.
And nuts.
Fill you up.
And vegetables baked with cheese.
From me you can eat meat and enjoy rice with it.
Everything allowed.
Just no sugar, no white flour and no alcohol.
Fruit, nuts, vegetables - and a date with the sun
The date with the sun is easy. Especially now in December, when the sun does not rise until around 8:00 a.m. and almost sets at 4:00 p.m. You can choose: early risers watch the sunrise, night owls watch the sunset. Check your weather app to see when the sun rises or sets on the respective day of your current location and - regardless of the weather - always step outside the door ten minutes in advance to get outside exactly at sunrise or sunset move. You can walk, walk, trot, run, run or go for a walk with your dog. But strictly adhere to the schedule given by the sun.
This has two advantages: 1. Postponing to a later date is automatically canceled.
2. The lighting conditions are usually always special when the sun rises or sets, which stimulates us emotionally in a positive way.
So, and because I am a realist and a Christmas fan, these rules do not apply on public holidays.
Advent Sundays are public holidays.
Christmas Eve is a public holiday, and Christmas Day and Boxing Day are public holidays anyway.
New Year's Eve is a public holiday and in the New Year you stand on the scales, look critically in the mirror and honestly take stock.
I bet you have never come out of an old year so happy, healthy and balanced.
Despite working from home!
What do you have to lose other than a few pounds?
Just try it.
I wish you a wonderful Christmas time!
Stay healthy.
