Fat Burners And Workplace Productivity Boosters
As summer wanes and fall gradually robs us of daylight hours, many of us leave our active lifestyles behind and stay chained to our desks from 9 to 5 and well beyond. The combination of shorter days, increased stress and being plopped in front of our computers for half our waking hours can spell trouble for those who struggle to keep their weight in check. The good news is there are ways you can stay healthy and fit while working, even if there’s no time to go to the gym.
Before You Leave Home…
Start your day with a healthful breakfast. If you don’t have time to eat an omelet or oatmeal before hitting the road to work, then be sure to bring a piece of fruit, a high-fiber low-fat muffin or instant oatmeal with you to work. Remember, a donut is not a good breakfast — avoid getting on that carbohydrate roller coaster first thing in the morning by eating a high-protein, high-fiber breakfast. It will give you the energy you need to make it all the way to lunch without cheating.
Pack a healthful lunch. If mornings are hectic, then pack your lunch the night before. Include healthful munchies (raw vegetables, almonds, string cheese, low-fat popcorn, fruit or yogurt) that you can snack on later in the day, when food cravings are most likely to hit. This way, you can avoid the temptation to satisfy your hunger pangs at the office vending machine — the nemesis of anyone looking to lose weight or keep it off! You’ll not only save calories, but you’ll save a sizeable chunk of change. With the money you save on snacks and by brown bagging it, you can afford to regularly treat yourself to a stress-reducing massage! How’s that for an idea?
Remember, free food, bagels for the entire office or those brownies that Bev baked and brought it, are not free of calories. Quite the contrary, they are loaded with sugar and fat — so stay away.
Take 90 Seconds To Stretch It Out!
One of the biggest mistakes we make is sitting slumped over our desks and transfixed by our computers for hours on end. But, you can change all that by simply remembering to do 90 seconds of stretching every half hour or so. Stretching not only increases your metabolism, it also alleviates stress. Increasing your heart rate even slightly can help keep your mind alert and keep those calories burning at a steady rate. Here are a few quick stretches you can do even while sitting.
- Back and side stretch. Sit up tall and stretch both your arms overhead and reach toward the ceiling. After 10 seconds, try reaching a bit higher with first your right hand, then your left – and repeat. Do this for 10 reps.
- Upper shoulder stretch. Bring your left ear to your left shoulder and hold for 10 seconds, repeat on your right side. Using your hand, to gently press your head toward that shoulder increases the stretch.
- Neck and waist stretch. Here’s a new twist. Facing forward, turn your head toward the left while twisting your torso to the right and hold for 10 seconds. Reverse.
- Shoulder relaxation. Slowly do ten forward and then ten backward shoulder rolls. You’ll release tension and find that your posture improves as well.
- Arm stretch. Sit up tall, interlock your hands and push them out in front of you as far as you can. Hold this position for 10 seconds.
You’ll be surprised at how your muscles respond, how stress melts away and how invigorated you’ll feel after this little 90-second stretch. Do this at least once an hour, preferably every 30 minutes. Your productivity will soar. Also, keep reminding yourself throughout the day to sit up straight. Slouching can cause back aches, headaches and that overall sluggish feeling.