Weight Loss – How to Avoid Gaining Weight If You Sit at a Desk All Day

Most clerical jobs include periods when you have completed all your tasks and have nothing to do. On the other hand, your assigned functions may require that you sit all day. The most common problems stem from eating and lack of exercise.

Dining at Restaurants

Many people who work have lunch at fast food restaurants every day. This is very bad for maintaining good weight since cost effective lunches often include saturated fat and food additives.

A good alternative is to bring your lunch every day. Food prepared at home is much healthier and can include leftovers from the previous night or a sandwich on whole grain bread

Eating When Bored

Most people resort to snacks when they are bored. Many of my friends actually stock their drawers for just such situations. So, what can you do?

1. Bring your own favorites and avoid the vending machines but make sure they are healthy choices

2. Always keep water in your desk. When you feel hungry, just take a sip. This will prevent constant snacking.

3. Keep hard sugarless candy or gum available. When you get bored, use these as an alternative to snacking. Both gum and hard candy kill hunger pangs.

4. Gracefully refuse snacks offered by co-workers. While they have good intentions, you can do without the extra calories.

5. Drink hot or cold green tea which is loaded with antioxidants and serve to reduce hunger between meals.

Good Alternatives

1. Raw fruits and vegetables which add fiber to your diet and keep you full.

2. Celery – Celery may take getting used to but it is one of the best fat burning foods.

3. Small handful of raw almonds, walnuts, pistachios or purchase trail mix.

4. Protein drinks – Rich in fiber and help to maintain muscles which burn calories better than fat.

5. Protein bars – Make sure to read the nutrition label so that you can eliminate those with high sugar content and choose ones that are high in fiber.

Exercise During Down Time

1.During breaks, take a walk around the block. You may even make it around more than once. This will help you to burn extra calories.

2. During lunchtime, eat a small meal then use the time you have left to take a long walk. Most jobs allow one hour for lunch. If so, you can take thirty minutes to eat your lunch and thirty minutes to walk. Go as far as you can and turn back toward the job when you have around fifteen minutes left.

If you are confined to a desk all day, try these tips to help in your weight loss or maintenance goals.