Losing Weight At A Desk Job HELP!

blpnana

Right there with ya. It's so hard. I'm starting today though to get up and walk around my floor more frequently, then take half of my hour lunch to go walk outside. I have to do this. The most difficult part is that the longer I sit, the lazier I get!!! Horrible!!! But I love my job. We just have to get up and make ourselves move.

Ashshell

I sit on my butt behind my desk for 8-9 hours Monday-Friday. I go to the gym before or after work, whichever works best for me that day so I don't worry about being inactive at work. I set my activity level to sedentary and stick to my calorie limit. I haven't had any issues losing weight.

ash012

Now that the weather is nicer, I get outside for walks, etc. I've even gone for a few runs on my lunch break.

I've fallen off a bit, but when I was drinking a ton of water, every time I went to the bathroom I would either do 10 quick squats, or 10 lunges on each leg. By the end of the day I'd done at least a hundred reps!! LOL

This is what I do every day! Run at lunch and squats/pushups off the counter in the bathroom.

matt2442

Do you have co workers? These two surely are burning some cals

Ashshell

I got dizzy just watching that.

hpsnickers1

Wow. So many options. I'll add mine.

Carbohydrates. The more active you are the more your body can handle. The less active you are, the less it can handle. (not all carbs are evil. IMO, grain and sugar carbs ARE evil - IMO only).

I sit all day. Sometimes I go home and I'll sit all night. I used to exercise all the time - when I was trying to lose weight following the healthiest version of the SAD - I had no choice - you have to following the SAD (was losing weight AND becoming diabetic at the same time - my genetic diabetes risk is lower than the "average"). When I switched to Primal Blueprint (Mark's Daily Apple) things got SO MUCH EASIER. Who would've thought that just by removing grains, beans, nasty grain/seed oils (had already removed sugar) and replacing with FAT (animal fat and coconut fat) that I would drop 10lbs below what I have ever seen as an adult (110-113 range but it will go above and below that occasionally). Oh I also removed all processed food products - about 95% of your typical grocery store has no use for me now. The food I eat (most of the time) is real, whole food. Only eat what you can pick, dig or spear - mostly spear.

I don't have to eat every few hours. Sometimes I don't eat for 24 hours. my body and my activity regulates my appetite now. If my activity increases, my appetite increases. If it decreases, my appetite decreases (there is a bit of a time lag, though. I'm still trying to figure this one out).

My N=1 is that as long as I stick to Primal I can maintain weight with very little exercise. I am active - no strict routine or regimen; I don't do well with those - but that "active" is just part of my life (my Primal journey is ongoing. It will never end. I will always be trying to improve my health).

And I'm not 100%. It was a crazy crappy food weekend (although the homemade chocolate chip cookies were made with organic sprouted whole wheat flour). I'm hovering at 112 (winter weight - it goes up in the Fall and comes back down in the Spring). I had a junk fest this weekend and the scale jumped to 118lb. Back to normal and this weight will be gone by Thursday. Not by starving or by doing huge amounts of exercise. Just by getting back to eating real, whole food.

If I applied CI/CO (I pronounce this "psycho" or "sicko") I must have over eaten by 21,000 calories on Saturday and Sunday. I didn't. But I didn't even "over-eat".

bethlaf

i got out with the smokers, but i walk around the building instead, can you bring soft weights to the office, i have started doing a lot of soft weight lifting , and i get up and walk more than i used to , i focus on doing so , it seems to help me a lot, i know i feel better about it , and about myself ,

YMMV

torivivian1993

I need some tips for losing weight while working as a secretary! I am typically sitting 8-9 hours a day!

News flash, a lot of us have desk jobs and it's never held us back from getting fit. Get a proper workout in during non-work hours and you'll be fine.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to find ways to improve your weight loss while at work - I mean 8 hours is a 3rd of my day... I would like to do something even just for a few minutes because that can add up over time.

Hey I've been known to do jumping jacks and squats in the bathroom. But I do think people need to know having a desk job is not a handicap, it doesn't prevent you from being a fit person. Walk, move, stretch during work hours it's great for your circulation. But don't cheat yourself by skipping a proper workout!

True, but she didn't say it was a handicap nor did she use it as excuse. I'm not sure why you felt the need to make that comment when all she did was ask for suggestions. I have found myself in the same place wondering what else I can do during the work day to keep myself from leaving work all hunched over and stiff and blah... I already posted what I've been doing but hey- I'm always looking for more so I will be checking this thread myself to see if I can add to the list. Speaking of that, time to stretch my legs!

Yah ! I just started last week and was looking for tips. Not this guys arrogant post! I started biking to work which is a 50 minute ride.. I started weight training last week which is twice a week and I am starting Zumba tonight.. I have found other ways to stay active outside of work but was just wondering if there was anything we can do while sitting at a desk Thanks everyone for there support

KenosFeoh

Oh gosh; me too! Sitting is so bad for you, and I've been doing it for nearly 40 years as a medical transcriptionist. I've learned to stand up for part of my day (typing AND operating a foot pedal), plus I get in a good workout as often as I can. I have to get up early to do it because it's really hard to overcome the inertia. Sitting and typing all day makes me very tired.

Thorbjornn

Another "desk jockey" weighing in here (no pun intended ). I exercise after work, and have been dieting. No, not dieting, changing my eating habits. In almost two years I've lost almost 40 lbs (my ticker shows only from when I started MFP). It's possible even as a desk jockey. I'd rather have a physical job, for less mental stress, but it is what it is.

_kannnd

There are videos on Sparkpeople that give you ideas on exercises you can do while sitting at your desk. http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/videos-detail.asp?video=103

bearsmom82

Park further away from the door and never use the elevator. Have a big water cup/bottle.

The stairs are your friend. Walk up and down the stairs, and use the bathroom a few floors up or down from your office. Only a little bit of extra work, but day after day it adds up. Of course, that's assuming you're getting in a decent walk/run/workout or whatever kind of activity you like best :-)

jdm0804

I've never done this, nor do I think I ever will, but I know that some people will trade out their office chairs for exercise balls.

Pinkgirl319

I walk with a coworker at lunch if its nice out we walk outside or if not we do laps around the building for 20 minutes and squats in an empty conference room. Also you can do leg raises with a ream of paper sitting on your calves under your desk. When I cover reception and no one is around I do squats up there too! You are right every little bit helps. I also had to teach myself that just because there is free food does not mean I need it or want it.

tinak33

I'll workout in the morning before work. I like to lift, so then I get to rest my muscles and let them repair while I'm sitting on my butt all day. Also, plan your meals ahead, working in an office can wreck havoc on your diet.

^^ I do my workouts early before work too. And I also lift.

Hey I've been known to do jumping jacks and squats in the bathroom. But I do think people need to know having a desk job is not a handicap, it doesn't prevent you from being a fit person. Walk, move, stretch during work hours it's great for your circulation. But don't cheat yourself by skipping a proper workout!

I have been known to do squats in the bathroom too!!! Not jumping jacks, though, I usually hide in one of the bigger closets around here and do those! hahaha :laugh:

debbie19612

I try and get out and do a power walk at lunch time. I work just off the shopping street, so instead of heading straight out there, I detour out and walk around town and come back in the other end, Try and get some hills in there too. If your office is on more than one floor, take the stairs. Use a photocopier on another floor.

I try to 'lay off' the snacks, if I get peckish, will have a cup of green tea to take the 'edge' off, or do something to keep the brain active.

djshari

I walk with a coworker at lunch if its nice out we walk outside or if not we do laps around the building for 20 minutes and squats in an empty conference room. Also you can do leg raises with a ream of paper sitting on your calves under your desk. When I cover reception and no one is around I do squats up there too! You are right every little bit helps. I also had to teach myself that just because there is free food does not mean I need it or want it.

I'm so doing the ream of paper thing... I can probably do a few squats too since my desk is in the corner.

Andrew_peter

Skip coffee and take walks instead, work exersize into your lunches and just have a quick bite to eat, walk to work. That's what I've been doing anyways and I feel 10x better even with 8 hour desk days. Also have one of those hand flexor spring things but it's more of a joke than anything.