Squat–Jumping Back into Things: After students find a new love for working out during quarantine, they work it into their new daily routines

As students Zach Sederquist, Jilli Foley and Meredith McGannon wake up to start their online school day and prepare a protein shake or smoothie bowl, they think back to where this health kick all started — COVID-19 lockdown. This lead students to create a different lifestyle than those who took lockdown as a time to lounge around and empty the pantry.

Senior Jilli Foley woke up to the sound of her mom yelling her name, making sure she was up and running –– literally. 

Foley has always tried to find a good incentive for working out, but could never get a steady routine going. When she realized she was going to be trapped in her house all day, she figured going for a few jogs each morning and attempting Chloe Ting workouts wasn’t such a bad idea –– and neither did her mom. 

Foley credits her mom as her inspiration for finally starting the workout regimen that’s become daily for her.

“My mom has always been someone who works out a lot,” Foley said. “I wouldn’t say she pushed me, but she for sure made me feel like I needed to go for a run or just move around.”

Foley and her mom grew closer throughout lockdown as they bonded over 60-minute rigorous HIIT classes. Once gyms and classes slowly reopened, Foley didn’t hesitate to return to Genesis –– the gym she calls home.

Foley’s family also moved about 30 minutes across the Kansas-Missouri border to Lake Winnebago over the summer. Their heart rates were always high from bike rides, pickle-ball tournaments or just peaceful walks. She feels like exercising hasn’t only helped her maintain a healthy life, but has also benefited her mentally.

“[Staying active] kind of clears my mind,” Foley said. “If I’m angry or sad, going for a jog makes me really think about the situation, and sitting in [my] bed all gloomy isn’t really going to help either.”

Now that school has started, Foley hasn’t stopped the consistent exercise. She wakes up, makes a protein shake, completes her online classes and heads out for a run or a Genesis class. 

“Quarantine and lockdown were really good for me,” Foley said. “I just feel gross not working out everyday now and it’s honestly become a lifestyle.”

McGannon used the extra time to create an Instagram account (@carewithmere) to share her salmon dishes and smoothie bowls, along with her workout finds.

“I really made it for my own personal fun,” McGannon said. “But now it makes me really happy people are actually using it and finding new places [to eat and workout] from my account.”

McGannon created this fun account when she finally had run out of things to keep her busy. Mojo Cycling, where McGannon works and spends hours a day at, had closed for lockdown, and COVID-19 had taken that away from her. 

A year and a half ago, McGannon decided to amp up her health habits with new workout routines and whipping up healthy dishes. McGannon continued these habits during lockdown by doing Fusion, Peloton and Powerlife online classes, as well as any Instagram livestream workouts she could find to get her blood pumping.

“I tried so many new things,” McGannon said. “My motivation and amount of working out pretty much stayed the same, but my way of working out obviously changed.”

With online school, McGannon feels like getting up and moving is more important than ever. Not only does McGannon think that working out has helped her stay in shape and stay healthy, but helped her in a deeper way too. 

“In the mornings I just like getting my endorphins going and clearing my mind before I start the day,” McGannon said. “I honestly think it helps me become a better person in general.”

Now that McGannon has returned to working the front desk at Mojo and can attend her sweat-filled Sculpt classes at Power Life, she feels like life is a little bit more normal.

The only exercise sophomore Zach Sederquist got during the first two weeks of state lockdown was walking from his bed to the refrigerator. 

“I began to realize it was time to start working out,” Sederquist said. “I was so bored, so why not feel better about myself and be healthy.” 

Sederquist got up one morning at 7 a.m., made himself a strawberry-banana protein shake and did some weight lifting — eventually, this became a part of his daily routine.

“Because of COVID-19 I had nothing else better to do, which honestly helped me take my working out to another level,” Sederquist said. 

Even though Sederquist had no idea how East sports would look approaching August, he was motivated by the thought of having an advantage over other players in his three sports: swim, soccer and tennis. Now that sports are on, Sederquist makes it to morning weights at 7 a.m. and school practice after a long day of online school. He even adds a jog or a quick weights workout when he gets home from soccer if he’s feeling determined.

“With this year being so different and almost unpredictable it’s hard to know really what to do and [how to] prepare for the upcoming seasons,” Sederquist said. “But I know that starting to workout during lockdown was a good idea because I think that now it has made this hard time just a little bit easier for me.”