We are sure so many of you are feeling the stress and anxiety created by the international pandemic of coronavirus (COVID-19). These are unprecedented times that call for us to dig deep in a time of great uncertainty. While news about the pandemic and its impact on the world appear to be changing rapidly, we know that the top priority is and always will be the underlying health of you and your family.
This includes treating chronic conditions, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and a multitude of other diseases. In fact, mitigating the elevated health risks posed by these conditions right now may be more critical than ever before.
Considering the great challenges that lie ahead, we’d like to offer some practical guidance to help you build and maintain a life that will carry you through once we reach the other side of this crisis.
Follow CDC Guidelines and heed the orders of your state and local government leaders
While COVID-19 is a new virus for which researchers are rapidly pursuing effective prevention and treatment solutions, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) offers guidelines based on facts and evidence from viral infections like influenza and historical pandemic data. State and local government leaders are taking these guidelines very seriously based on the cautionary evidence of the experiences of other countries like Italy and China. We urge you to take these guidelines very seriously. This is no time to take chances or risks or think that your actions will have no effect on others. This is particularly true of the elderly, defined as the most vulnerable population to coronavirus.
Establish and adopt a new daily routine
One of the most important guidelines for protecting yourself and others from contracting COVID-19 is called social distancing. This means staying a minimum of six feet away from others and, in the most extreme cases, self-isolating.
To enforce social distancing, many governments have ordered the shutdown of businesses that are not deemed essential, such as hospitals and medical offices, food distribution centers, and pharmacies. This has resulted in the closure of businesses like theaters and entertainment venues, restaurants (except for takeout orders), and gyms. Offices, where possible, have moved their employees to remote working, which eliminates the commute.
The new social distancing guidelines have revealed just how much our daily routines have revolved around these kinds of businesses and activities. Within a span of a week, our routines have been thrown into disarray. When our routines are thrown out of whack, we can feel out of control. But now, more than ever, is a time when we need to feel a sense of control. It is imperative that you find and establish a new routine for as long as we live under these conditions.
For many readers, a large part of your routine has been designed around the CMWL weight loss program working with your doctor or nurse practitioner. So, what changes do you need to make to your routine while following coronavirus guidelines and government orders?
First, the good news is that the highly structured framework of your plan does not change. You still follow the rules of the four main categories of 1) nutrition, 2) activity, 3) sleep, and 4) stress management.??
Hospitals and medical offices are deemed essential services so remain open. However, for weight loss services, please call your CMWL local provider to confirm the hours of operation to see if anything has changed or will be changing.
Leverage technology for both social distancing and social connection
If you find yourself in a position where going to your in-office visits is not an option, CMWL offers technology you can leverage to continue to follow your plan while complying with social distancing guidelines.
The CMWL Patient Connect mobile app integrates with a wireless home body composition scale that shares your progress with your CMWL provider. You can download the app for free in the Apple or Google Play stores and purchase the scale from your providers office.
Speak to your provider about setting up telemedicine video conference appointments. We are working on rolling out a telemedicine feature in the CMWL Patient Connect app, but it will be immediately possible for you to connect with your provider on poplar video conferencing platforms like Skype and Zoom.
You can log your CMWL meal replacements daily via the app as well as the amount of water you drink per day. This data will be shared with your provider, who can help keep you on track with your plan. Also, speak to your provider about making meal replacement pick-ups as convenient as possible for you.
For activity, while you can’t go to the gym, you can work out in your home. If you are lucky enough to have access to nature where you can safely venture out alone, take a long walk or hike. The sunshine (including the Vitamin D it offers) will do you a lot of good. If you have a Fitbit, Apple Watch, or other tracker, you can also sync that to the CMWL mobile app to share with your provider, who can monitor your activity and fitness to provide guidance.
The sleep and stress management portions of your plan are well-suited for social distancing guidelines. Both are essential for successful chronic disease management. So even if you have young children at home bouncing off the walls, be sure to set your own household guidelines for bedtime and quiet time.
Finally, within the context of your weight loss plan and your overall well-being, use digital technology to connect with family and friends. We are social beings by nature and need to keep those bonds intact to the best of our ability. Nothing can compare with the power of human interaction. For the foreseeable future, it’s going to have to be powered by technology. And at least for that, we can be grateful.
We will do our best to keep you informed and motivated during these very challenging times. Please take care of yourself and your family.
Be safe and be well..
Tags: CDC, corona virus, covid-19, pandemic
