[optimusprinceps]

The pandemic has been great for my personal health! I had complete control of my food environment, more time to exercise and more restful sleeps.

I've lost 22.5% of my bodyweight and reduced my waistline from 36 down to 32.

[zz865]

That's great but you're unusual. From https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2021/one-year... :

> A majority of adults (61%) reported experiencing undesired weight changes since the start of the pandemic, with more than 2 in 5 (42%) saying they gained more weight than they intended. Of this group, adults reported gaining an average of 29 pounds (with a typical gain of 15 pounds, which is the median).

[bagacrap]

how does that compare to the same survey given during a normal year?

[null_object]

> The pandemic has been great for my personal health

Have had exactly the same experience: walked and cycled more (and progressively faster); eaten better home-cooked food (presumably adding less fat, salt and sugar than city-center lunch food); enjoyed the fresh air of open windows and a balcony instead of the stultifying atmosphere of an air-conditioned office; and generally rested, focused and felt better than ever.

Went back to the office last week buckling under the drive from senior colleagues to get back to “normal”. Now have a cold and a mild chest-infection.

[dorchadas]

I'm a third one. I lost 15 pounds from March-August of last year, but a lot more in fat. Then I went back to work (teacher) and it got harder to keep it up. Cue summer break this year and I was down another 20. I'm literally in the best shape of my life, and it's honestly all due to the pandemic as odd as that sounds to say.

[chitowneats]

Yes, the laptop class accrued many benefits during the past 18 months. It's no wonder that by and large this group doesn't want to go back.

That being said, a mild cold is nothing compared to the stress and pressure and exposure that everyone else lower on the totem pole has been subject to while supporting your comfortable WFH arrangement.

We're all in this together, right?

[pibechorro]

Salt and fat arent necessarily bad things. Its sugar that is the crack cocain of food.

[ravenstine]

Most likely depends on the kind of person you are, since obesity definitely was not curbed during the pandemic.

But yes, as someone who has been working remote even before the pandemic, I have had a similar experience. It's great being able to exercise between tasks, fast for most of the day, and overall have more control over my schedule. If I ever have to work in an office again, I know I will gain a minimum of 10 lbs. Group lunches, the desire of management to have you be there even if there's no meetings, no real ability to exercise during the day without being a weirdo, and commute time would take its toll. For me, that environment is evil.

[WhompingWindows]

"without being a weirdo" -- Seems like shyness or shame is preventing exercise? Someone at my last job actually went jogging every lunch where the weather allowed. She wasn't perceived of as weird, just dedicated and others thought "Wow! Good on her!"

[bumby]

Ehh, like the other poster I think this is company culture dependent.

I've certainly worked places where exercising at lunch would get you labelled as anti-social. Of course, this is the same place that would cause snickers and thought people were "weirdos" for being vegetarian or even ordering healthier options of food.

[BurnerKDOS]

I'm assuming the situation worked out to where she had access to a shower/space to change that didn't add significant time? That feels pretty dependent on the company, office locale, and availability of amenities.

[ravenstine]

> Seems like shyness or shame is preventing exercise?

No.

EDIT: LOL, I submitted that before finishing my thought.

It's just been my experience that people frequently remark on differences in the workplace and I just get tired of frequently explaining my habits to never gain anything from it.

[bagacrap]

I think doing push-ups during an all hands would go over better at home than at an office

[sandos]

I stopped "having" to commte by bike, so my fitness level went WAAY down, even while doing some very light mountainbiking as a hobby.

[dagw]

I had a very similar experience. Pre-covid I would (according to my phone) walk 50-60 km a week mostly be just going about my day to day business. During covid I struggle to break 20km a week despite actively trying to go for walks.

[reportingsjr]

I got a new job right as the pandemic started and also unfortunately stopped commuting by bike.

That combined with the uncertainty of even being near people outdoors for a few months killed the rhythm I had for mountain biking, hiking, and climbing. It took me about 9 months to adjust my food intake for this, and as a result I gained 15 pounds.

Luckily in the last three months I've gotten back on to a good active hobby schedule and adjusted my diet a bit and I'm just a few pounds above where I was!

[cutthegrass2]

Almost the opposite for me, although it could be something to do with having twins!

Congrats on the weight loss!

[JasonFruit]

Congrats on the twins! It's hard to keep fit with young kids, but I think it gets more practical when they're a few years older.

[sdze]

Fantastic results. What kind of exercise? Mostly Cardio or weightlifting?

[FartyMcFarter]

I'm not the OP, but I seem to be getting good results (strength gain and fat loss) from a combination of dieting, beginner calisthenics and a bit of weight lifting on the side (dumbbells / kettlebells at home).

If you stay in a calorie deficit and eat enough protein, you can lose fat and gain muscle at the same time which is nice :)

Cardio seems to be good for overall health so I do a bit of that too sometimes, but I don't think it's strictly needed for fat loss.

Some form of exercise and a sustainable diet is all that's needed really. If you do both of those things in any way, you'll be way healthier than the average person.

[sdze]

Exactly what I did after reading Longland study.

> https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26817506/