According to a recent CareerBuilder survey, the stresses associated with full-time employment may be a contributing factor to weight gain among US employees. Of the 3,000 people surveyed, 57 percent of workers feel they are overweight. The survey also revealed:
– Extremely high-stressed workers were 49 percent more likely to be overweight than those under extremely low stress
– 63 percent of workers with wellness benefits/gym access do not use them
– Professional & business services/IT workers most likely to gain weight at present jobs
– 42 percent of workers say they’ve gained weight in their present job
When asked what they felt contributed to their weight gain at their current job, 37 percent of workers said “eating because of stress,” and 43 percent said they are “too tired from work to exercise.” Fifty-six percent said “sitting at the desk most of the day” contributed to the weight gain at their present job.
I recently had a conversation about on the job healthy eating and fitness habits with Stephanie Mansour, a health and fitness expert and facilitator of corporate wellness programs for top firms like GE, owner of Step it Up With Steph, and featured trainer on Chicago-based weight loss reality show Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is. She offered these tips for managing your waistline on the job.
- Don’t forgo breakfast and a mid morning snack in favor of a huge lunch where you are likely to be so hungry that you overeat. It’s best to eat 5 small meals each day to keep hunger pangs at bay and keep blood sugar levels stable.
- Schedule your exercise time in your calendar like you would any other important appointment.
- If you plan to go out after work with colleagues, schedule an exercise session first. Yoga can help you become more mindful in your eating and cardio exercise will help you burn some of those extra calories you may consume while you are out with colleagues.
- If you don’t have time to go to the gym during your workday, run up and down the stairs a few times or do some stretches in your chair or at your desk.
- If you plan to exercise during your lunch hour but don’t want to return to the office drenched in sweat, wear a headband to absorb sweat or perform yoga or Pilates exercises that work the muscles without working up too much of a sweat.
- Make each decision separate from the last one. Just because you began the day eating badly doesn’t mean you have to finish the day that way.