Corporate Health: 5 Strategies to Limit Your Weight Gain at Work by Anders N W Lindgreen

We spend the majority of our waken existence at work, well; most of us do in some shape or form. So it’s not a stretch to imagine that our behaviours at the workplace can seriously impact or at the very least influence our weight management. We have got 168 h in our weeks and if you spend 8 h at work five days per week and get 8 h of sleep every night - a whopping 35% is work-related. Take away travel, chores, and over-time and see that figure rise. So it’s not a bad idea to have your workplace work for you rather than against you, and this is how to bring more corporate health thinking into the picture:

1. Water Cooler Magic

Drinking plenty of water will assist your body in removing toxins, improve your skin tone and aid your fat loss or weight management in two ways. If you consume two large glasses of water before every meal or snack, chances are that you won’t super size whatever you are having, and by getting enough water your will also assist your liver in converting fat into energy. So, get to the water cooler regularly or fill up a water bottle if you want to go less often. If you haven’t got one, make sure you do.

2. No Vending Machines

A mate of mine had a workplace lose on average 3-10kg per person over two months by simply removing their soft drink vending machine. This convenience was ruining their health. If you can’t get yours removed without being crucified, make sure you leave all coins and notes at home, and if you have to, make your colleagues promise to never lend you any money.

3. Healthy Snacks

If you know that you always get hungry at work, come prepared with healthy alternatives. It is far more convenient to only having to reach into your backpack or drawer to get that healthy snack and far better for you as well. Try to have a small snack every 2-3 hours.

4. Lunch-time Walk

Since you already come prepared with lunch (yeah, right), why not take it outside instead of inside the staff room or at your desk. Yes, some place may only have the concrete jungle alternative, but many places have at least a park nearby. You get the benefit of a walk, fresh air and a break from the work environment.

5. World's Quickest Nap

If you can get a way with it, here is how to take the world's quickest power nap. Sit and lean back comfortable and place a medium sized object in one of your hands. Place your hand so that if you drop the object, it will hit the floor (just make sure it’s not too heavy or fragile). Now, lean back, shut your eyes (still gripping the object) and once you fall asleep you will drop whatever you are holding and it hitting your floor will wake you up. How great is that?