Winning Against the Quarantine 15

While COVID-19 is synonymous with loss of social activities and travel, some of us have gained during the pandemic. Labeled the Quarantine 15, weight gain is identified by both women and men as stay-at-home orders went into effect last year.

Tipping the Scale

In a poll of 1,102 U.S. WebMD readers, 47% of women and 22% of men reported gaining weight due to COVID restrictions. Specifically, 75% report gaining from 1-9 pounds and 25% more than 10 pounds. Reasons given for the extra pounds include lack of exercise, stress eating and increased alcohol consumption.

Winning the Weight Loss Battle

North Kansas City Hospital Wound Healing Nurse Danyelle Thummel, BSN, RN, knows first-hand about weight gain and loss. She started this year 60 pounds lighter with the satisfaction that she achieved her weight loss goal.

Danyelle, 34, partnered with her mom (pictured right), Susan, in January 2018 to start a journey to healthy living. Mom and daughter held each other accountable as they transformed their lives through better eating and exercise. They shared recipes and meal ideas, and they worked out together. Danyelle’s mom lost 75 pounds.

Danyelle attributes her own weight gain to the stress of nursing school and the birth of her daughter, Adalynn. At her heaviest, Danyelle weighed 193 pounds. “I was unhappy about how I looked and felt. I didn’t have any energy, and I wanted to keep up with my daughter,” Danyelle said. She transformed from a size 16 to a size 4.

Successful Weight Loss Tips

Danyelle relied on weight loss programs, WW (formerly Weight Watchers®) and OPTAVIA®, to get started and recommends these tips and tricks for beating the Quarantine 15.

• Drink at least 100 ounces of water daily to cleanse the body
• Plan meals and do meal prep to avoid the convenience of fast food
• Eat smaller, more frequent meals
• Set a timer as a reminder to drink water
• Allow a weekly cheat meal
• Substitute spaghetti squash and zucchini noodles for pasta
• Read food labels

Danyelle began 2021 with a new outlook for herself and her family. She sees how her healthy lifestyle is inspiring her family, especially her daughter, who is 8 years old. “Now, she chooses asparagus to eat and reminds me when we need to exercise,” Danyelle smiled.

Following a healthy diet requires changing lifelong eating habits. If you have a medical condition or illness that can make losing weight even more challenging, our outpatient nutrition counseling services can help you take control of your health.

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Kim Shopper

Kim has worked at NKCH for nearly 40 years where she produces the employee newsletter and manages internal campaigns. She is a board member for the Kansas City Health Communicators, and she is passionate about animal rescue and volunteers for the Parkville Animal Shelter.