About Hodgson Mill

Your Job and Your Waistline A Correlation

Do you know that about 45% of workers tend to pack on the pounds at work? Worse, some 26% gain weight by more than 10 pounds, and 12% gain by more than 20. What’s more, much of that weight gain is most noticeable – as a lot of people are familiar with – around the waistline. What are we to do about this?
An industry comparison showed that those in financial services and government employees experienced the most weight gain, and those in retail, as well as leisure and hospitality work, reported the least gain.  Much of this may be attributed to the amount and degree of activity within each job context: desk job workers do not have as much opportunity to move around as those whose jobs require them to be on their feet most of the time. Other factors (according to research): eating out at least twice a week –which means more temptation to pick up greasy fast food than what would be in a packed lunch, and getting food from the vending machine. 
One of the best ways to keep extra pounds at bay is to hit the gym. Unfortunately, only 9% of employees make the trip during the workday. If you don’t have the opportunity to work out, while you work, there are still things you can do to help you avoid workday weight gain:

•    Breakfast is really the most important meal of the day.  Eating a hearty but healthful breakfast will keep you energized until lunchtime, and you won’t feel the need to hit the vending machine for a midmorning snack of cookies and chips. Include plenty of protein and fiber in your breakfast instead of sugar. Hodgson Mill has plenty of ideas for a quick but power-packed breakfast.  Explore our website www.HodgsonMill.com to learn more.

•    Behold, the power of water. You might not realize that hunger and thirst are interrelated. If you feel snackish, you might actually be dehydrated. Drink plenty of water during the day so you don’t mistakenly quench your thirst with food.

•    Keep a journal. Having an occasional indulgence may not be so bad, but it can be if it becomes a habit. Yet it’s easy to discount the number of calories in unhealthy snacks because we often do it “mindlessly” – that is, we do it while doing other things, like talking with a co-worker. If you write down every snack and meal, you’ll be able to spot patterns that may be harmful.

•    Take a few extra steps. Opt for walking over technology or convenience. Instead of circling the parking lot to find a spot near the office entrance, park farther away. Walk to a co-worker’s desk and have a face-to-face chat instead of sending email or making a phone call.

•    Stress less. Research shows that people tend to eat more when anxious or overwhelmed, even if they are not hungry. Incorporate as much exercise as possible to relieve stress and burn more calories.

Hodgson Mill believes that healthy weight watching is an “always and everywhere” thing, so no matter where you are, you remain in control of your habits. We hope this article will encourage our readers to continue to take an active part in maintaining a healthy weight, and ultimately, a healthy lifestyle.