HOW I STARTED FOLLOWING THE 80/20 RULE

 

RULE:

The rule states that 80% of our fitness is achieved through our diet and 20% through exercising.  I confess I stumbled upon this completely by chance.

OLD LIFE:

For years before the pandemic, I slogged away for 2 hours a day 6 times a week at the gym out-exercising a 1200-calorie diet of breakfast bars/biscuits, canteen salads/sandwiches and, after the commute home, a rushed dinner that fit in however many calories I had left 😅.  I had a normal BMI but was definitely skinny fat: I fit in size 8 clothes but anything fitted or tight created bulges.

LOCKDOWN:

Then came the first lockdown in March 2020.  I began working from home, the gyms were shut and the supermarkets only stocked the essentials.

Without the afternoon commutes from the office, I suddenly had time for a 1hr walk around the neighbourhood every everyday after work, part of the sanctioned daily outdoor activity.

After a few months of trying various YouTube workout videos to replace the gym, I had at least 4 trusted trainers in my subscription list on rotation for a half hour workout 5 times a week.

But most importantly was the food shopping.  Due to the scarcity of collection slots and many essential items, I had to buy at least a few weeks’ worth of grocery and take advantage of any deals.  This led to careful meal planning to keep costs down and to make the food last until the next collection.  I discovered that fruits and vegetables really bulked up meals and snacks which made the food stock last longer.  Soon the healthier option became the norm  then the preferred choice.

CHANGES:

Even though work was busier than ever, I found that I had much more energy than I previously did due to my higher-calorie nutrient-packed diet and shorter but more efficient workouts.  I could see an improvement to my skin, nails and hair.  But what surprised me the most was the visible muscle gains which I could never achieve during all those years at the gym.  

I actually enjoyed my weekly meal preps (and still do!).  As a result, I could look forward to a hot filling porridge bowl at my desk while I checked emails before my online meetings.  This kept me full for at least 4 hours until lunch which was either a hearty jacket potato or fresh protein-filled sandwich with a side of crunchy vegetables instead of crisps.  After work, there was the daily pre-walk/workout snack: a homemade almond oat cookie with a side of skyr and fruit.  Then the post-workout dinner usually high in protein for muscle repair and growth.  And finally, a slice of low-sugar low-calorie homemade loaf cake.

NEW LIFE:

Lockdown is now long over but the good practices have thankfully stayed.  So here I am, sharing my discoveries about fitness and the healthy recipes/meals I created along the way.