6 Tips to Help You Lose Weight at Work By William Winch At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

After everything we know about eating healthy and exercising, obesity rates are still at an all-time high in America. Obesity increases the risk for debilitating diseases, namely type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and arthritis, but also increases the incidence of depression and some cancers.

Despite these consequences, the number one reason busy people can not stick to a diet is because they give in to their workplace environment too easily. Vending machines are stocked with sugared soda and teas, candy and snack bars, fried chips, and little else. Every week someone has a birthday or some other special day that must be celebrated with cookies, donuts and cakes. No one ever brings in fresh fruit and vegetables to much on as an alternative.

Adding to these temptations, most workers are trapped at their desks for nine hours every day, never leaving their seats except for an occasional break or to take a quick lunch. Workers who sit more weigh more, and the longer you sit, the greater your chance of being overweight or obese. This is what we call double trouble!

Obesity leads to increased absenteeism, increased insurance costs, including health and disability premiums, decreased employee retention, and lower profits. Obesity leads to problems with self-esteem and can directly affect worker performance. Despite how much money you make, you simply can't perform your best if you are not taking care of your health.

Here are 6 ways to help you lose weight at work that won't require any additional time or effort.

1. Eat Breakfast

People who eat a healthy breakfast do better on tests, have better concentration and energy, and are less likely to overeat during the day. It puts energy into your body and gets your blood pumping. Most people try to save time by skipping breakfast, but that will not help you lose weight. I always start my day right by drinking a soy-based protein shake. It gives me all the nutrition I need without spending the time to make a huge meal.

2. Limit Your Coffee

Coffee will not make you gain weight, but it is not healthy to drink several cups every morning. Coffee has so much caffeine that it brings you up once, but then drops you down the more you drink. It stimulates your cravings for foods and decreases your metabolism. You find better weight loss results if you switch to green tea. It speeds up metabolism and keeps you on a natural high without letting you down like coffee will.

3. Eat Healthy Snacks Throughout The Day

Yes, that's right. Eat more! The trick is that you must eat healthy. You can keep yourself feeling full and satisfied all day long with smaller meals as long as they are healthy. Protein snack bars, raisins, yogurt, cut-up fruit, melon or berries or a mix of crunchy vegetables are all good snacks. Just stay away from the vending machine. Those kinds of snacks work with same way as coffee does. You wll feel good for about a half hour on a sugar buzz, then whammo! You'll be ready for a nap.

4. Eat lunch At Work

Start bringing your lunch that you've prepared for yourself instead of ordering in from the pizza parlor across the street. Bringing lunch saves you money, and you'll eat healthier. If you snack more throughout the day, you will not feel the urge to stuff your face with something bad. I often drink another soy-based protein shake for lunch that I make in the blender with fruit before going into work.

5. Get Up And Move

Despite what your company might tell you, the law requires you take a 10 minute break for every four hours of work. Get up out of your seat and walk around at least every two hours. Get outside for some fresh air and just enjoy it. Walk up and down stairs and do some chair exercises. The extra exercise will actually allow you to work more efficiently as it clears your mind and gives you a boost of energy.

6. Drink water.

Cool, clear water takes the edge off your appetite and is essential for losing weight. Keep a bottle at your desk and drink often. Most often people confuse hunger with thirst, so the next time you are feeling really hungry, you might just be dehydrated. Water now comes in a variety of flavors and can be packed with extra vitamins to give you more energy.

For things to change, you have to change. You can never be too busy to change your eating habits because it takes the same amount of time to eat an apple as it does to eat a Hershey candy bar. If you are burdened with the task of going to a job every day and using the workplace as a scapegoat for not shedding those pounds, follow the tips above and stop making excuses. Turn your workplace into your own personal weight loss center and you will soon find yourself happier and healthier.

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