How to eat well at work?

**OceanLove** · 10-09-2011 05:32 PM

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for some tips on how to eat well and lost weight at work. I'm a young professional, working long hours, and I'm looking to lose about 20lbs. I'm 5 foot 4, and I find that when I sit at a desk all day, it's really hard to lose weight. I just finished grad school, and definitely gained weight during those 3 years. Now that I'm in the working world, I'm having trouble losing weight. Even when I feel like I'm eating well, I won't lose more than a pound or two before plateauing.

I just got a YMCA membership, and will be adding cardio into my routine as much as possible, but I need some tips on what to eat.

Does anyone have any suggestions for managing weight loss and a healthy lifestyle while working?

**Avatar Nirvana** · 10-09-2011 07:12 PM

I'm in college and I definitely gain some sort of "freshman 15" each semester. The problem is because I don't have a healthy home cooked meal. There are times when I think the cooks don't know what they put in dining hall/cafeteria food and I don't know why I eat so much. My suggestion is to have a small portioned lunch with some fruit as a snack and water. I eat a bologna sandwich and cherries or grapes for lunch at my summer job, and I don't feel like I'm gaining anything.

**Mes T** · 10-10-2011 01:29 AM

What does your daily diet consist of? I'm sure we could pick out one or two things that could be eliminated easily, or substituted, that would help you immediately. Such as substituting any sort of carbonated or sweet drink with tea. Instead of having a bar of chocolate as a snack, eat an apple. That sort of thing.

I hear you though, it's tough. I work in an office all day as well, but luckily it's hectic enough that I'm forced to run from one end of the building and back on a daily basis to attend to some crisis or other.

**Pooja Sharma** · 10-10-2011 03:01 AM

Originally Posted by OceanLove

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for some tips on how to eat well and lost weight at work. I'm a young professional, working long hours, and I'm looking to lose about 20lbs. I'm 5 foot 4, and I find that when I sit at a desk all day, it's really hard to lose weight. I just finished grad school, and definitely gained weight during those 3 years. Now that I'm in the working world, I'm having trouble losing weight. Even when I feel like I'm eating well, I won't lose more than a pound or two before plateauing.

I just got a YMCA membership, and will be adding cardio into my routine as much as possible, but I need some tips on what to eat.

Does anyone have any suggestions for managing weight loss and a healthy lifestyle while working?

Hi. Drink lots of water, take stairs instead of lift. Keep your lunch lite. Walk to your station while leaving from work instead of taking public transport.

**Avitom** · 10-10-2011 05:39 PM

Hey! I've found always keeping veggies and fruits to snack on to be a big help. Baby carrots are my best friend. Snap peas and cherry tomatoes are fantastic as well.

Try to get up every hour and stretch for 5 minutes.

Reduce corn syrup and fructose in your diet, increase fibre and protein, and bring carbs down. Cut out simple carbs (white bread, white rice, white pasta) and replace with complex carbs (whole grains, bran, whole wheat pasta).

Always pack a lunch and snacks! Even if you think you won't need it, better to have something to munch on than to crack and get something from the vending machine.

Replace coffee with green tea or a caffiene free alternative.

**Pooja Sharma** · 10-10-2011 11:41 PM

Excellent thread!
Even I make sure to pack my bag with seasonal fruits, green tea bags, diet namkeen, diet cookies etc.

**OceanLove** · 10-19-2011 08:32 PM

Thank you all for the suggestions!

I already avoid liquid calories and have been trying to keep veggies on hand for snacking. The crunch is satisfying! I'm cooking more often too, but coordinating cooking the night before and bringing in leftovers can be a challenge. I'm definitely still looking for suggestions for quick lunches that are healthy too!

Ps. I've lost 9 pounds! Yay!!

**Mes T** · 10-20-2011 01:55 AM

Something I finally discovered this week... sandwich wraps! Sooo good! You can make all sorts of combos, and they're a great way to include veggies that you normally wouldn't eat. Check out some recipes online!