Work: A ‘weighty’ obstacle?

Do you work at a desk all day? If you spend most of your day stuck in an office, weight control has some added challenges.  

There's that pesky vending machine downstairs, a birthday cake every other week, Mrs. Smith’s mum’s sister’s triple-chocolate brownies or baked goods every other day, and as for time to exercise - yeah right!

But if you’re of the mind set that weight management at work is impossible, stop and think again. You just have to know how to tackle the obstacles. Read on to learn some of the simple strategies you can use to get healthy and slim, even if you do work at a desk all day.

Read more :

• Blitz those birthday bash binges
• Vanquish the vending machine
• Fend off (too many) Friday drinks
• Engage in easy exercise

Blitz those birthday bash binges

If special occasions and birthdays at your office seem to roll around quicker than you can say “no more chocolate cake” then you need some good strategies for dealing with them. Some weight loss know-it-alls might suggest avoiding temptation altogether. While this could work, do you really want to miss out while the rest of your colleagues socialise?

Try these tips instead:

• Get your day's eating habits off to a good start by having a filling, high-fibre breakfast before you start work - or even at work if you're running late.
  
  
• Resist overindulging when cake is around. Have just one small portion - enough to enjoy the occasion but not blow your diet. Don't forget to take these extra calories into account.
  
  
• If it takes just one taste for you to want to eat the whole cake, have a filling, low-calorie snack beforehand and avoid the birthday food. If you're full already, it's a lot easier to keep your willpower strong.
  
  
• Practice saying no and be prepared with some good excuses, such as "It looks delicious, but I've just eaten," "No thanks, I can't eat gluten," or "Thanks, but I'll pass - believe it or not, I'm not a 'cheesecake' person."
  
  
• Don't make food the focus of the celebration. Stand away from the food table and focus on the conversation!
  
  
• If you're in charge of the occasion, try bringing along healthy treats instead of the usual chocolate cake. You can guarantee that you won't be the only one pleased to see low-fat options. In fact, you might even start a new trend in your office.