In our previous post, we talked about 3 tips for you to fight the stay home blues this circuit breaker.
Today, we’ve got a real life #WomanOfWaistlab who will be sharing how she does exactly that!
Say Hello to Jojo
Meet Jojo!
She’s a working professional in her late twenties who also happens to be a bodybuilder!
She’s been weightlifting for about 5 years now and works out 6 to 7 days a week.
Lifting iron has taught her important values like tenacity and endurance.
But everyone’s got a vulnerable side and Jojo is no different; she finds the constant social isolation from the circuit breaker measure to be challenging on her mental well-being.
Too Much Alone Time
For some of us, the regulation of physical social interaction might have been a relief at first. Perhaps some of our introverted #WomenOfWaistlab can relate to that. (Also, in case you didn’t know, Anis and Q from the Waistlab Team are introverts.)
However, this over abundance of quiet, alone time poses a unique struggle in itself.
For Jojo, she finds herself experiencing more emotional thoughts than usual. Coupled with the listlessness of being home, she feels inclined to idle her day away.
I’m sure that many of us reading this feel the same way too. Too much alone time can take a toll on us mentally and emotionally. Video calls are cute but we miss the physical social interaction with our family members, friends and our WOWs 😢
Get Your Daily Dose of Endorphins
So what does Jojo do to fight the negativity?
More home workouts, of course! She definitely isn’t fazed by the closure of gyms.
In fact, she works out even more now. She’s a strong advocate of exercising to achieve mental wellness.
Exercising helps to release many neurotransmitters (i.e chemical messengers) in our brain such as endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin. They play a huge role in regulating our moods, and relieving stress and pain. (You can read more about it here.)
Jojo motivates herself to work out even more now by reminding herself how awesome she’s going to feel after she sweats it out.
And this is her advice to others out there who may be experiencing the same thing as her: exercise or get some cardio in for at least 15 to 20 minutes of the day. Those rush of endorphins can really uplift your mood!
“With the daily training of the body, the mind is strengthened in the process too.”
This is an actual photo of her work out calendar. Thank you for sharing, Jojo!
For example, she writes a note to herself in her workout calendar describing how happy she feels after working out. Then, on days where she doesn’t feel like she’s at her best, she will read that note in her calendar again to remind herself of that awesome post-workout feeling. This motivates her to push through her workout for the day.
Jojo’s Waist Training Journey
Everyone’s got different waist training goals. Jojo’s isn’t to lose weight.
Instead, she waist trains to keep her stomach in. She says that she’s hyperextended and jokes that it looks like she has a “lizard tummy” if she doesn’t stand properly 😂
Waist training also makes her more aware of how much she’s eating so she doesn’t over eat. She mostly wears her waist trainer on holiday trips, during the festive season or when she feels bloated from her monthly cycles.
Stay Strong, #WomenOfWaistlab 💪
It’s not an easy time for a lot of us right now. But when the going gets tough, the tough get going!
We aren’t certified counselors but we’re certainly more than happy to be a listening ear if you need someone. Talk to us anytime on Instagram DM about anything really, and we’ll gladly respond!
Source: National CARE 24-Hour Hotline, Gov.sg
Alternatively, you may also contact the National CARE 24-Hour Hotline at 1800 202 6868 if you’re worried about how Covid-19 is impacting your life and need emotional support.
