HoCo Fitness Expert Offers Exercise, Eating Tips: Coronavirus

ELLICOTT CITY, MD — People finding themselves cooped up inside are struggling to find ways to stay active. County park trails are still open for people to hike on and a walk around the block while practicing social distancing works, too. Aaron Behrens, owner of GYMGUYZ in Ellicott City, as well as Gaithersburg, Annapolis, Bethesda and the D.C. Metro, has some ideas to help keep everyone engaged and active, from families to those working at home.

"Parents should focus on making exercise fun and playful. One great thing to do with kids is dance and exercise," Behrens told Patch.

He suggested the following for both parents and kids:

• Dance for one minute, stop the music and do five push ups, then start dancing again.
• Dance for one minute, stop the music and jog in place for 20 seconds, then start dancing again.
• Dance for one minute, stop the music and do 15 squats, then start dancing again.

"It’s a fun thing for everyone and the parents can also make their versions a little bit harder," he said.

Another idea from Behrens that works for individuals and families is to take advantage of fitness videos available from companies like his own that are shared on Facebook and other platforms.

"You can watch fitness videos together as a family and the key is that everyone goes at their own pace with these videos," he said.

For updates on the coronavirus in Maryland, get Patch news alerts.

For people working from home, Behrens reminded them that it's important to break up their routine and get moving periodically.

"Get up and just walk around your house for five minutes or walk up and down your stairs for five minutes or just stand up and do 10 squats. The key is whatever you do make sure it is 20 to 30 minutes of exercise in total for the day," he told Patch.

When stuck at home, it's easy to overeat, especially when anxiety is ebbing its way into someone's life. How to pay the bills, feed the family, find employment - these are all concerns many people have right now during the new coronavirus pandemic.

"Some simple things we can all do is serve food on smaller plates, drink water while you're eating, eat high protein foods such as nuts, protein shakes, lean grass fed meats, smoothies, and put healthy snacks out for people to pick on such as grapes, strawberries and apples in high traffic areas such as the kitchen," he said. "The key is to make sure you are moving. Get up off the couch and walk around. Shut the TV off, put the electronics down and do something that gets your body moving. Use this time as a family to exercise together, but more importantly to support each other."

Read more:

• Howard County Restaurants Offering Delivery, Takeout: Coronavirus
• RVs 4 MDs Initiative Arrives In Maryland To Aid Coronavirus Fight