Avoid gaining the pandemic 15

Have your 10,000 daily steps turned (mostly) into countless trips to the refrigerator?

Your new social distancing status does not mean you need to forgo exercise. On the contrary, keeping an exercise routine is more important than ever.

“I know this new normal can be hard, but fitness doesn’t have to take a backdoor,” says Miguel Marrone, personal trainer at FIU’s Wellness and Recreation Center (WRC), who adds he’s staying as active as possible.

Exercise supports a healthy immune system, is a mood booster and helps manage anxiety and stress—something we can all benefit from to help us stay calm during the pandemic.  

And while plopping on the couch to binge on our favorite Netflix shows may be a more enticing option, it may also not be the best alternative for our health. A research study found that even one additional hour of sedentary behavior is associated with the decline in immune function. 

So how much exercise do we need? The World Health Organization recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week, or a combination of both.

To help the FIU community stay focused on their health and fitness, even while being remote, the Wellness and Recreation Center has created PantherFit TV, featuring a series of virtual fitness videos.

“This is a very stressful and uncertain time for many people, so the need for healthy outlets (is) in high demand,” says Brittany Baldwin, assistant director of fitness programs at the FIU Wellness and Recreation Center at MMC. “We decided to create virtual fitness videos to continue to serve the FIU community, even during campus closures.”

The videos will range from 30-second health and fitness tips by WRC fitness professionals to short 30-minute in-home workouts and group fitness classes such as yoga and dance.

Segments will be posted on the WRC youtube page on a weekly basis on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Here are PantherFit TV’s latest additions: