Photo credits: Isaac Wendland.
It’s hard to believe it’s been one full year since the Pandemic started on March 23, 2020.
As Bono once said, “We are in different boats, but we’re in the same storm“. That being said, my goals are different than yours. My training program is very different than your training program.
But there are a lot of common themes out there, and one of them I want to address is weight control.
Some people want to gain muscle mass, but most people I know (both athletes and non-athletes) want to lose weight, especially female athletes in the mid-distance and long-distance running events. It’s a more serious problem than you think which I feel needs addressing.
Back to the Pandemic… since I’m homebound 7 x 24 x 365… and counting!
I decided to weight myself every Monday morning, same routine, after the trip to the bathroom, same scale, no clothes, and being careful not to move the scale. Modern electronic scales are so inexpensive, you can get them for under $20 or $30 USD. Click here for the best selling Body Fat Scale, Smart BMI Scale, Digital Bathroom Wireless Weight Scale, Body Composition Analyzer with Smartphone App
Weighing myself every day would have been a bit obsessive, though I know a lot of people who do it.
I’m quite consistent in my workouts, diet, water intake, coffee, carbs, and being part time vegetarian.
There was one major difference as of March 2020 n the UK … no access to synthetic tracks, or weight rooms. All track workouts on grass, no free weights, with only circuit training. And no racing!
The Results
In a nutshell, I was surprised my weight varied that much, from 82.0 to 85.0 Kg (83.5 +/- 1.5Kg)… that’s a 3Kg or 6.6lb fluctuation in the first pandemic year.
I feel that is quite a fluctuation, and I’m really shocked to see this.
But it really shouldn’t surprise you.
I can only think during European Daylight Savings time (end of March to end of October), I did train a bit more with more daylight hours after work (i.e. working form home), and the weather was warmer. And a lot less rain! (Brits like to complain about the weather!)
And that 85Kg blip on 4th Thursday of November?
Yes, you guessed it, I do celebrate USA Thanksgiving, and I did buy a 7.5Kg / 16.6lb turkey, and had turkey Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Sometimes twice a day! Hence the positive protein (nitrogen) balance come Monday morning! That’s my excuse, and I’m sticking to it.
The Bottom Line
I feel too many people are obsessed with their weight. Way too many!
So unless you’re training for a sport with weight classes (like weight lifting, boxing, etc), keep track of your weight, bearing in mind there are so many factors that can affect your overall weight. And don’t let it get to you.
Eating disorders is serious, and needs more discussion. More awareness. Let’s save that for a future article or podcast.
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