Multitasking for weight loss

I get a lot of my exercise at work, which is where I spend the majority of my day, like most people. This presents a problem for a lot of people as their job requires a lot of sitting and not much exercise. Obesity isn’t the only problem that this represents. Long periods of sitting can impair the venous circulation in the legs and cause varicose veins or even a deep vein thrombosis which can possibly be fatal. In order to prevent these complications it is important to stretch your legs and go for a walk when possible. If your job demands that you stay in one place for extended periods of time, it’s a good idea to point and flex your toes to stimulate your calf muscles and keep the blood in your legs flowing.

Exercises don’t need to dynamic (moving) to be effective. Just pushing your feet against the floor or pressing your hands up against the bottom of your desk until you feel the muscles working can make a difference. Always allocate plenty of time to get to work so you have the option to walk or take public transport. Choose the stairs instead of the escalators and do things the long way, dont take shortcuts. This is purely a matter of willpower – don’t think, just make your feet walk toward the stairs

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Finding healthy food at work can be a challenge – fast food is generally the fastest, cheapest and easiest option which is a common trap. Bringing lunch from home can be an option but I can understand if that’s not an attractive option. If worst comes to worst there are always ways to modify fast food meals. For example, choose water instead of coke, ask for your fries to be made without salt, choose a meal that incorporates some form of salad and choose grilled or seared meat instead of deep fried. If you’re having trouble adjusting to a healthy diet or just aren’t a fan of “rabbit food”, try decreasing the size of your meals instead.

If your work allows, try keeping a large bottle of water on your desk to keep you hydrated and keep your stomach full without snacking on sugary foods and empty calories. Water has a lot of benefits: by keeping yourself hydrated, your body can work more efficiently, burning more calories and wasting less energy. In addition, water helps food move through your digestive system faster with the benefit that your body absorbs less calories from the intestines. But water’s main advantage is that it fills the stomach and tricks the body into thinking that it is full and supressing an overactive appetite.

One thing to remember: you don’t need fancy instructions for aerobic exercise. As long as you’re moving a limb, you’re burning calories in order to create the energy needed for those muscles to contract. So movement, no matter what kind, is a good thing ^_^

Good luck everybody!