Avoiding Office Obesity 10 Tips to Stay Healthy at Work

Avoiding Office Obesity 10 Tips to Stay Healthy at WorkAvoiding Office Obesity 10 Tips to Stay Healthy at WorkTwo out of three Americans are considered overweight or obese. The country is obsessed with combatting fat even the First Family has joined in the fight against obesity. Whats the cause? Is it sugary sodas? Readily available fast food? A lack of education? Poverty? For some its possible that work environments are contributing to waistlines.According to Australian researchers, men who sit a desk for more than six hours a day are about two times as likely to be overweight than their counterparts who sit for only 45 minutes a day. Here are a few tips to battle sedentary sluggishness and fight off the impending pounds.1.Use the Buddy SystemIf youre looking to escape schreibstube weight gain, chances are that youre not alone. Poll your office and find someone else who is making healthier choices. Become a team, create a walking club, sit at a healthy lunch table, or perhaps even m ake workday fitness challenges designed to keep you motivated.2.Drink WaterThat two oclock feeling after lunch when you struggle to keep your eyelids open and your brain focused could be because youre dehydrated. The average adult needs to drink 8-10 glasses of water every day to be adequately hydrated. A side benefit of drinking water is that it will keep you full. Try keeping a refillable water bottle at your desk and reach for it when you start to feel a midmorning pang or an urge for an afternoon salty snack.3.Stop Boredom EatingSometimes its easy to eat out of sheer boredom or to break up monotonous work. Cant stare at that spreadsheet for one more minute? Its time for a snack break. Alternatively, turn those trips to the kitchen into a quick walk around the office or a moment to chat with a coworker.4. Pack Your Own FoodIn todays world of corporate cafeterias filled with heavy comfort food, not to mention break room vending machines stocked with tasty treats, its important to manage your food choices. An easy way to get ahead of what you eat is to pack your lunch and snacks after dinner the night before. Once youre satisfied after dinner, try packing a healthy and balanced meal along with some delicious and nutritious snacks such as raw almonds, fruit, celery and hummus, or whole grain crackers and cheese. When youve taken the time to provide yourself with food, its easier to make those healthy choices throughout the day.5.Stand on Your Own Two FeetSitting at a desk can be harmful to not only your waistline but also to your muscles. Combat poor posture and bad circulation by walking around throughout the day and occasionally choosing a different working position. If your company provides standing desks, try one out. If not, find a higher surface such as a break room counter, or stack boxes on your desk to make a higher surface so that you can use your computer while standing. Youll be surprised how different you feel after only an hour.6.Get Up and Get O utGrab that fitness friend and take an afternoon walk. For those with restrictive break times, try shortening the amount of time you sit at the lunch table and taking a 15-minute stroll around the block. The little bit of exercise will not only get your blood pumping and make you feel more active, itll also help you focus.7. Try TechnologyThere are many different fitness technologies designed to help people become self-aware about their lifestyles and to help them make positive changes to their routines. Pick up a pedometer and set a daily step goal, or try some newer innovations such as FitBit or Nike FuelBand to help you set realistic activity and exercise goals for your everyday life. Free mobile applications such as MyFitnessPal will track your food intake and provide helpful feedback to keep you on track by reminding you that you should stick within certain calorie counts or amounts of protein versus carbohydrates consumed. Strava can track your daily walks or runs while tellin g you the distance youve gone and calories burned.8.Take the StairsSkip the elevator and climb those stairs to your desk every morning. Your heart will get pumping, and youll be ready to conquer that inbox once you arrive at your desk.9.Send Fewer EmailsDo you really need to send an email to your coworker 50 feet away, asking them if they would like a PDF or a Word document? Get up and walk over. The benefit of more face time with your coworkers will be two-fold. You will enjoy having a quick chat, and youll also get up from your desk and move around a bit more.10. Make it FunTry starting an office softball league or organizing a company-wide kickball game. Youll not only feel healthier, but youll also get to know your coworkers better and help grow teamwork simultaneously.Its no easy feat to ignore Monday morning donuts in the office break room or to stay away from the vending machine at two oclock. However, with a bit of self-awareness and some moral support, you can combat the ni ne-to-five weight gain. What else do you do to stay healthy and fit at work? Comment below.