anyone else work at home?

MouseFood

I have been self-employed off and on for 11 years. I am currently a self-employed writer and crafter. I love being my own boss, MOST OF THE TIME ...

The problem is, it's difficult to motivate yourself. Also, working at home means working next to the kitchen, damn it.

Does anyone else find this hard?

Rarrrrrr ...

Lorraine128

MouseFood wrote: »

I have been self-employed off and on for 11 years. I am currently a self-employed writer and crafter. I love being my own boss, MOST OF THE TIME ...

The problem is, it's difficult to motivate yourself. Also, working at home means working next to the kitchen, damn it.

Does anyone else find this hard?

Rarrrrrr ...

Yes! I work from home too and was finding any excuse to put the kettle on for tea which also meant a biscuit or two...

fatbird73

Oh, me too. I do IT support at home. It's really difficult, I just try to buy treats for the family that I don't like it's just so easy to go and have a look in the fridge...

crazykatlady_

I do too, but I've put my business on hold while I focus on getting fit and being happy. Or maybe I just lost my mojo because something I used to love was causing so much stress.

kath711

I work from home in the kitchen. I have set snack schedules for myself. Kind of reward for keeping working and looking forward to the snack break.

fatbird73

That's a good idea, I find that I don't plan in breaks because it's just me here in the day.

Lucyloo2

I work from home too - the only way I can manage food-wise if to have set snack times, like kath711. I have a cup of tea and two Rich Tea biscuits mid-morning and same mid-afternoon.

47Jacqueline

I worked from home on and off as an industrial and graphic designer for over 30 years. My best solution was going out to breakfast so when I came back I was ready to get to work and the kitchen was not a lure.

Other than that, keeping regular hours helps, i.e., stop at nooon or 1 for lunch, stop at 6 or so to end my day instead of keeping at it for one-last-thing.

My current home-based business is fitness and most of my actual work is away from home and it's much easier to keep my eating impulses at bay.

MouseFood

Wow, lots of us, and lots of different businesses! it's really encouraging. I like the idea of going out for breakfast. It would also give me at least a 12 minute walk and get me out amongst the "hoomans." However, to do it, I need to make more money. I need to make more money anyway, though, so maybe that can be a challenge ...
I would love to add you all as friends if you don't mind

jenny3008

I work from home too, I can't say I have too many problems snacking and I find the flexibility means I can work out with my PT most days.

When I say I don't have many problems snacking that is because there is nothing snackworthy to eat in the house apart from fruit.... I don't tend to have a stop button when I start.

SnowBear15

I've been working at home for 2 years now. Working close to the kitchen has also been my problem, on top of not having enough motivation to leave the house for the gym. It's tough working at home, I must say,

amusedmonkey

I work as a translator, and only leave the house to meet with clients every once in a while. When I have a particularly challenging project with a tight deadline, I find that if I don't consume something sweet and carb heavy every couple of hours I get antsy and lose concentration, usually bananas or chocolate for the best results. This is surprising to me, because on regular days I eat moderate carbs without issues, usually around 100-180g. On high volume work days, however, my carb consumption is around 250-300 (and calories are at maintenance).

Yes, it is harder to have access to food at all times. I find that outside of high-stress days creating a food routine works best.

MouseFood

I used to be really, really good with a food routine, the first time I lost all that weight. I think it helped that I lived with 5 other people at the time, though. It's easier to give in to temptation when I'm alone. But I'm definitely going to incorporate the ideas here.

MouseFood

jenny3008 wrote: »

When I say I don't have many problems snacking that is because there is nothing snackworthy to eat in the house apart from fruit.... I don't tend to have a stop button when I start.

I have the same problem, which also made it easier when I was living with my parents, because they simply didn't buy junk food, at least very rarely. But even when I don't my husband sometimes does, and I'm only a short walk from a convenience store.

I really do miss the days of having to drive 25 minutes to get to a grocery store ... that helped my diet a lot lol

MouseFood

kath711 wrote: »

I work from home in the kitchen. I have set snack schedules for myself. Kind of reward for keeping working and looking forward to the snack break.

what do you do in that kitchen

jpaulie

I work from home but plan all my meals day in advance so I don;t even think about eating because I have a plan to keep myself satiated during the day. I plan for 3 meals and 2 snacks and enter my food the night before
Being at home also allows me the flexibility to get a workout in a lunch time. so it can work for you as well.

tlacox1

I don't work from home, but I am a teacher and the summers are hard. Three months at home with nothing to do but eat. I try to stay as busy as I can so that I don't!

dsimmons107

I have been working from home for more than 3 years and I find it easier to manage the diet. I keep healthy snacks and make sure I have set times for eating. I usually eat about every 2 hours and that keeps me from being hungry and when I do get hungry it is time to eat anyway.

AviBZ

I work from home too. Staying away from snacks is hard. On the up side, I can usually work in a walk or a bike ride during the day.

shaynepoole

I work from home = part of the reason I got even heavier than I was beforehand was because it is just so easy to eat at my desk in front of the computer - Now unless something is pressing, I try to keep to a schedule - I tend to make breakfast and lunches beforehand and portion them out so that they are ready when I am - and I keep a variety of 100-150 calorie snacks on hand so that if I get a snacking urge, they are preportioned and ready to eat

lynndot1

My schedule is off and on but I am home more often than not lately doing work from there, and I find it hardest to stick with calorie goals when I have the entire afternoon to myself at home, mostly because of snacking. I notice it's even worse if I'm bored - I will get up and look for stuff in the kitchen to kill time. When I'm out in meetings or whatever I obviously don't have that option so I don't eat as much.

I think the best advice I can give is to 1) always have water or maybe hot tea on hand and 2) set rules for the kitchen that you can stick with. I try to drink a lot of water but I find hot tea easier to drink more of...I have caffeine and decaf herbal tea that I switch between so I don't kill my blood pressure with too many cups of caffeine haha. But if I always have water of some kind on hand I'm less likely to feel the urge to snack.

And then if you DO want to go snack, make rules. My newest rule I'm trying to stick with is "snacks during the day = only fruit and veggies." I'm bad about granola bars, cheese/crackers, etc, for snacking, so during daylight hours now my only allowed snacks are fruit or veg with hummus. Even nuts are off limits during the day for me because they are so calorie dense. Then at night when I want a real snack (read: chocolate) I haven't eaten too much earlier in the day. But if you tell yourself only fruit/veg or something else very low calorie during the day you aren't as likely to go over. And the fiber from those foods will help with cravings.

Unless of course you NEED a high calorie snack. If you're really hungry, don't starve yourself. You just need to recognize the difference between "I'm bored" and "I'm hungry"

feisty_bucket

I work at home too. I've found eating within a limited time window (IF) and strict logging to solve any mindless eating problems.

BobOki

MouseFood wrote: »

The problem is, it's difficult to motivate yourself. Also, working at home means working next to the kitchen, damn it.

Does anyone else find this hard?

Rarrrrrr ...

I find it easy. Get something like a Garmin vivosmart, and it should tell you when it is time to get off yer butt and move. Get the desk workout cards to do some stretches etcetc or go take a lap around the house, or a few up the stairs.

Kitchen wise, I set times to eat.

nishant234

I have been working from home for a year. First year was hard - I ate my *kitten* off, and ordered food every other night. In the end I realised that nobody but me was responsible for my choices. I started eating healthy in January. It hasn't been that hard. Lost 10 pounds in Jan itself.

SinomenJen

Interesting, I have only recently started working from home, and find it to be a relief. No more potluck, no more birthday cakes, no more hey lets go to the buffet for lunch. Nowadays it is just me and my pre-logged food. The lack of snack machines and endless birthday/other peoples food keeps my impulse eating under control.

gothchiq

I work at home for my second job, which is to say, evenings and weekends. I find that it helps to brew a pot of tea to enjoy while working. Also, some nice ambient music in the background. That provides enough sensory enjoyment that I won't be snacking after dinner.

MarkdMiddleton

I worked from home last year, lucky the gym is less than 1 mile from place & I could train most mornings and start work around 10am...... But I also found when I lost my motivation which happened in July (work stress) & December (training injuries) I found i was even closer to the fridge than the gym

MaureensFreshStart

Yes Ma'am, and I can absolutely relate! I find myself grazing throughout the day, even if I'm not that hungry

crazykatlady_

Although, I'm taking a break from working I am still home all day with my kids. So, the temptation is definitely still there. Yet, I actually feel like I have this under control. I bought a food scale, some snack bags, and I portioned out all my temptation foods. The plus side of that is that now my husband and kids get the proper portions too. :-)

Need2Exerc1se

MouseFood wrote: »

I have been self-employed off and on for 11 years. I am currently a self-employed writer and crafter. I love being my own boss, MOST OF THE TIME ...

The problem is, it's difficult to motivate yourself. Also, working at home means working next to the kitchen, damn it.

Does anyone else find this hard?

Rarrrrrr ...

I am not self employed but typically work from home (remotely via VPN) 2-3 days a week. I find it easier to stay on track because I can wear my workout clothes while I work and get in a full workout at lunch, plus toss in 50 jumping jacks or walking lunges here and there throughout the day.

There is always plenty of food aroung the office and it's usually far less healthy that what I have at home.

nikkohli

fatbird73 wrote: »

Oh, me too. I do IT support at home. It's really difficult, I just try to buy treats for the family that I don't like it's just so easy to go and have a look in the fridge...

This is what I do too. I haven't struggled too much. The hard part is all the sitting. Last year I taught in a classroom and so I was constantly walking-I NEVER sat. This year I teach from home (cyber school), so I am rarely moving. I had to set an alarm on my phone to remind myself to get up and move!