Working in front of the computer for 8 hours a day, 5 times a week is definitely unhealthy. Not only does it prevent you from doing physical activities, it also tempts you to eat whatever is in front of you. This could be your way to break the cycle.
Instead of simply sitting down for 8 hours, you take a break by grabbing whatever you can find hidden in your drawer. You may even take your free time to stand up, walk to the pantry and find something to eat. This practice will surely lead to weight gain in no time.
Since it is the nature of your work, there is nothing that you can do to stop facing your computer for long hours. The solution is to select the kind of food that you eat. By practicing these 4 healthy habits, staying fit won’t be a problem anymore.
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Bring your own food
This is the best way to resist the temptation of eating whatever you can find in the nearest café or restaurant. It is also better in a sense that you can decide what goes into the dish. You can control the amount of salt and sugar to put in it. When you always eat outside, you have no idea on what exactly are placed on the dishes.
Since you are bringing your own food, make sure that you go for healthy options. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Instead of munching on potato chips or cake after eating lunch, eat nuts, fruits or some other healthy snacks instead. Even if you eat a lot, you will still remain healthy. Most of all, remember that constantly eating in fast food restaurants will make you feel tired and sleepy. You don’t want your productivity at work to be affected negatively because of the kind of food you eat.
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Drink adequate amount of water
Stay hydrated. This helps you remain energetic throughout the day, especially if your job seems to be cyclical. You must have a bottle of water on your desk all the time. One way to do this is to recommend the installation of water coolers for offices. Throw away your hidden stash of carbonated beverages and sweetened juices. They will only make you unhealthy. Stick with pure drinking water instead or water with lemon zest. Fruits are also good sources of water. Grapefruit, watermelon, grapes and apples are some of them.
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Practice portion control
It is inevitable for you to feel hungry while working. It is perfectly fine. If you are hungry, grab something to eat. The key is to practice portion control. This means that you only need a bite or two each time you feel hungry. Don’t finish whatever it is that you are eating. Save it for later when you feel hungry again. If you have bought something large that you can’t finish on your own, share it with your co-workers. Eating small amounts of food which is evenly distributed throughout the day is better than eating a lot in just one sitting.
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Join the conversation but don’t eat
For sure, you will have meetings or small group discussions in the office. If it happens, there will be food. Of course, you can’t avoid these meetings especially if they are important. You don’t have to. Go there and engage in the discussion. Focus on the meeting so you won’t be tempted to eat whatever is served. Even if it is only an informal meeting, try to focus on the meeting and not on the food.
Practice these tips and stay fit. You should not keep on pointing on your job as an excuse on why you are gaining weight. Whatever your job is, there is always a way to prevent weight gain.