8 Ways To Avoid On-the-Job Weight Gain

(BlackDoctor.org) — Have you ever thought of being chained to your computer as being a major danger?  Working nine-to-five may be the way to make a living, but it may be padding more than your wallet. If you’re reading this while sitting at your desk at work, you may be experiencing the decline in physical activity on the job that researchers now say is contributing to the nation’s obesity epidemic.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese, and that’s due, in part, to our sedentary jobs. On average, workers are now expending between 120 and 140 fewer calories a day in physical activity on the job, a decline that closely maps to the nation’s weight gain in the last 50 years.

Sitting at a desk doesn’t have to mean you’ll be just another
statistic! Incorporating these simple strategies into your workday will
bring you one step closer to being a healthier, more energetic you. Here’s how:

1. Be sure to eat. It’s easy to slog through a day of meetings, e-mails, and phone calls to discover at 4 p.m. that you haven’t eaten since breakfast. But, your body needs energy to get you through the day. Make it a priority to have a healthy and tasty meal—along with 1-2 healthy snacks. It is not a sin to opt for such shortcuts as microwave meals, as long as you read labels to avoid items with excess calories and sodium.
 2. Compensate, compensate. Get physical to compensate for your sedentary workday. Join a gym, take an early morning run, or find time for fitness fun with your family. Buy one or two pieces of home exercise equipment that will allow you to exercise no matter what the weather.

3. Rework your network. Chances are, your friends and co-workers need help with their love handles just as much as you do. So, try some new activities that don’t revolve around food. Organize a bi-weekly volleyball game, walk during lunch, or play a quick round of mini-golf after work.

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