Has your job played a part in your weight gain?

13

Replies

  • xxxTiaxxx
    xxxTiaxxx Posts: 310 Member
    I work in a call centre too...and did put on weight when I started there but was already big. That said while still working at a call centre (been in the same job for nearly 12 years) over the last 6.5 years i have lost 188 pounds while working there :)

    That's seriously amazing. Good job!
  • xxxTiaxxx
    xxxTiaxxx Posts: 310 Member
    Desk job also + I had a gaming addiction for a few years -> I used to spend most if the day on a chair

    I have a gaming addiction too so I'm on a computer for majority of the day. But with games I forget to eat;
  • xxxTiaxxx
    xxxTiaxxx Posts: 310 Member
    I have an office job and most people gain weight due to sitting and people bringing in tempting treats. We call it the "secretary spread". I walk around the building 9 to 12 x's a day, it is massive- 3 x's around = 1 mile. My husband has a physically demanding job and he needs his meat and potatoes supper to refuel so it is hard to cook for both our needs.

    I'm actually that person at work who brings in treats for people. I bake every weekend cause I enjoy it but I don't eat it myself. My thing is cupcakes so I'll eat one to try it but thats it. I leave some for my fiance and then bring the rest to work for people. As long as it's not me eating them lol
  • Kellllog
    Kellllog Posts: 81 Member
    Absolutely - my last job was under massive stress.
    Hopefully new one will continue to be much better (and I can actually go out and walk at lunch now!)
  • MizTerry
    MizTerry Posts: 3,763 Member
    I've had a desk job for years and was fairly lean. What contributed to my weight gain?
    I quit smoking.
  • hungrypotato
    hungrypotato Posts: 1,642 Member
    Yes definitely!, At my old job I worked as a breakfast Attendant at a hotel , surrounded by food. My downfall were the waffles I could make everyday on the waffle maker and danishes
  • shutupandlift13
    shutupandlift13 Posts: 727 Member
    In Montana as an estimator and in New Mexico as a paper pusher on a construction project I definitely noticed it was harder to keep a deficit due to boredom eating and office snacking. In Ohio as a field engineer... there are some snacks in the office I've had to fight hard to avoid but I spend 4-8 hours underground everyday lugging around 40-60lbs of gear so that has helped keep my deficit high enough to start losing weight again. Part of the reason I LOVE field work over office work.
  • Goddessmaker1
    Goddessmaker1 Posts: 114 Member
    Depressing job and it's a desk job as well so I haven't gained but I haven't lost a lb since I started and that is about a year ago.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,990 Member
    I'm playing devil's advocate here.

    If bored or stressed at your job...............................................what do the lean people at the same job do when faced with the same?
    Point I'm making is that even lean/fit people get bored, stressed etc., but didn't resort to food to help solve those issues.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • pudadough
    pudadough Posts: 1,271 Member
    No. If anything it has kept me from gaining. I'm a teacher and I stand up 90% of the time.
  • jacknblack
    jacknblack Posts: 9
    Ugh yes. I give out free food. It's a fairly active job but... still.
  • danglarity
    danglarity Posts: 31 Member
    Actually, my lack of a job right now has contributed to my weight gain. I need a job like ASAP!
  • Mock_Turtle
    Mock_Turtle Posts: 354 Member
    It played a role in me making excuses like i'm stressed / the commute is long / i have no energy.

    All were pretty weak excuses
  • JaimeMWS
    JaimeMWS Posts: 36
    Yes - I am a minister, and after church on Sunday we have coffee hour, and I thought people's feelings would be hurt if I didn't eat what they brought. Someone else could have eaten a little bit, and then returned to healthy eating after getting home, but being a carb addict I'm not good at the moderation thing, so once my cravings were primed then I would do things like eat cupcakes out of the freezer when I was working late without dinner. Eventually I was just honest with my parishioners about my attempt to lose weight and my problem with carbs, and now they understand if I just eat the cheese and fruit and admire the cake.
  • CougNurse2011
    CougNurse2011 Posts: 29
    Not blaming my job for my weight gain (its more my lack of self-control)... But I am an RN so I'm on my feet for 12-13 hours and dont have time to sit down for 30minutes to eat lunch so it turns into a "run into the break room, eat a cookie/muffin/cake that my wonderful co-workers have brought in and run out" situation. Mindless eating, really. I dont feel satisfied at all and then when I get home at 7am I eat all my calories and go to bed and sleep all day and wake up and do it all again. Not sure if I was on day-shift if that would change anything.
  • ladybuggprincess99
    ladybuggprincess99 Posts: 142 Member
    I work in a call center so that means sitting at a desk for about 7.5 hours. A lot of people I know who have worked here for years actually started the job slim but have slowly gained weight over time. Even I have in the past seeing as you sit and eat and then are locked to that chair for hours afterwards. Boredom eating is another problem with this place. I know what you eat plays a part in it but could your job be part of the issue as well?

    Anyone relate to this issue or have opinions?

    I worked at a call center for a little over a year and they were okay with us doing things at our desk (like squats, etc), as long as we were in between calls. I would suggest packing some veggies and squattin' it out! :)
  • XXXMinnieXXX
    XXXMinnieXXX Posts: 3,459 Member
    I have a no eating at my desk rule! Helps a lot! Take the stairs always, lunch timewalks. You can make it work if you want it enough. If you must have some of the chocolate etc that's on offer just have a little!
  • SmangeDiggs
    SmangeDiggs Posts: 238 Member
    Yes
    I gained 10kg in 3yrs at my last job, i went from working on the floor as an RN, to having an office and loads of computer related work. My daily activity could no longer make up for my crappy eating it seemed.
    Im back working on the floor again now in a new job, eating loads better so technically the weight should be melting off!
  • CillitBang
    CillitBang Posts: 33 Member
    Most definitely. I'm a Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 office girl and a busy day for me means sitting at the computer all day without getting up much. A quiet day means sitting at my desk and tryng not to boredom eat! I'm trying to keep sensible things to snack on through the day in my desk like Ryvita crackers and pate or peanut/almond butter but it's hard when there's a vending machine on my floor filled to the brim with naughty but nice things!

    This is a quiet day and even thought I had porridge at 8am, I'm thinking about what I can eat next and it's only 10am!

    I'd love another job where I moved about more and then I wouldn't need to work out JUST so much!
  • Toddahlie
    Toddahlie Posts: 116 Member
    Desk job also + I had a gaming addiction for a few years -> I used to spend most if the day on a chair

    ahaha me too, for that reason I work out!
  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    There were a few things about my job that, at first, made my weight loss effort really hard. First, there is always (and I mean ALWAYS) all kinds of junk food around. Cake, cookies, chips, ice cream, you name it. Second, I work overnight, so it's always tempting to eat out of tiredness and boredom. Eventually, I started bringing my own food, so that solved most of those problems. I'm still occasionally tempted by junk, but it's not nearly as much of a problem as it used to be.
  • fit_ania
    fit_ania Posts: 26
    probably
    sitting on my bum all day doesn't help
    I try to walk, go see ppl instead of emailingor phoning them, but still - most of the time I'm sat down
    not fun
  • 19Lindsay76
    19Lindsay76 Posts: 135
    Yes! But due to stress, not lack of movement.

    Same here. I do have a desk job yes, but I also make sure I move and I workout at home. Is stress for me as well, I really don't like my job and the people I work with don't help, so I have a tendency to come home and bury all the negativity with food. This is a very hard habit to break, but with help from my friends here and in everyday life...that will change!!
  • fitbum19
    fitbum19 Posts: 198 Member
    I was always told that if I got a desk job that I would get fat, lol. Well, I have had a desk job for 3 years and during that time, I have LOST weight. Not gained. When I was running around constantly as an insurance agent driving all over town, I gained 30 pounds. The reason for that being that I would stop for that convenience food, etc. I was in my car all day, so I had limited options to bring for snacks and whatnot. At my desk, I may be sitting, but I am distracted enough not to be snacking when I am not really hungry. Its a better deal for me.

    but it really boils down to self-control and scheduling your meals. :-)
  • sconns21
    sconns21 Posts: 92 Member
    I did a temporary job for 3-4 months where I had to travel down to Cornwall/up to Scotland every 2nd week and stay in holiday parks. I worked ridiculous hours, I would usually get the early flight down on Monday (5ish) then come back on the 9 o clock flight on the Friday. I would also work from 08:00 in the morning until 10:30 at night some days with an hour break for tea. I would have to eat on park a lot which was pub food and I was so stressed that I had dessert every night (I'm a terrible comfort eater). I could only run when I was away which I hate and only when I had time. If I was at home I would be out climbing, cycling, surfing etc.

    I put on a stone and have never shifted it since. I can maintain well but never seem to lose the weight I gained. I am in a vicious cycle of strictly restricting and losing between 4 and 5 pounds then bingeing and putting it all back on again. I think being a stone heavier makes me unhappy so I withdraw from my friends and sit in the house and eat instead which starts the cycle again.
  • ctinawilson
    ctinawilson Posts: 127 Member
    I would definitely say it has an influence yes. But I probably have a different angle on the whole subject.

    I used to be a hotel supervisor in a big, busy hotel, on my feet 12 hours a day, sometimes lifting, sometimes running (!), often out of breath, what you would call highly active on the MFP 'scale of activity'. Saying that, I ate badly. I had no clue what I was eating and no time to think about it. The combination didn't result in weight gain, as I literally must've been slowly but steadily burning all day, but i was always tired, drained and under-nourished.

    Now i have an office job. I sit. I sit some more. But I've learnt how to be wise. It's simple really, if you eat your TDEE, and no higher, you won't gain weight, eat at a deficit, you will. So I adjusted my TDEE (to be honest, what I actually did was start to pay attention, which in turn led me to working out my TDEE and living by it!).

    Now I am losing weight, I am nourished and healthy and it's all based on planning! I walk for upto 45 minutes at lunch time, I don't snack unless it's fruit/veg or within my macros, I always have a bottle of water in front of me (amazing how you can form a habit of drinking water!). Best of all, I plan - while I'm at my desk (not an option in some jobs so i see it as a great bonus) - group exercise / yoga / gym sessions for my free time. I also plan my meals. If i'm bored, rather than snack, I look at the posts on MFP, and it keeps me inspired!

    I guess what I'm saying, is that what office / desk / computer related work has given me, is the chance to be organised about my lifestyle, so i can confidently say that it has HELPED me increase my fitness and weight loss.

    Another few little things i do;
    Shoulder rolls
    Constantly move my legs
    Always take the stairs
    Get up to answer the buzzer before anyone else!
    Sit at the furthest point of the office to the printer / water cooler and frequently visit them
    Go out for 5 minutes leg stretches (if smokers can go out, so can I!)
    Walk home on a nice day / get off the bus 4 stops early (started as 1 stop, and I just got a bit addicted to the lovely morning walk!)
    Always offer to take the post
    Stand up and walk around while on conference calls
    Suggest catch ups / meetings are out of the office (ten minute walk away)
  • ctinawilson
    ctinawilson Posts: 127 Member
    I was always told that if I got a desk job that I would get fat, lol. Well, I have had a desk job for 3 years and during that time, I have LOST weight. Not gained. When I was running around constantly as an insurance agent driving all over town, I gained 30 pounds. The reason for that being that I would stop for that convenience food, etc. I was in my car all day, so I had limited options to bring for snacks and whatnot. At my desk, I may be sitting, but I am distracted enough not to be snacking when I am not really hungry. Its a better deal for me.

    but it really boils down to self-control and scheduling your meals. :-)

    I'm so glad you've found this too! Office work gives you the luxury of planning!
  • bassett8807
    bassett8807 Posts: 96 Member
    Oh yes it has! I am a security officer and work 12 hour shifts. Meaning I sit on my butt for 12 hours straight 3-4 times a week!
  • Nicole65
    Nicole65 Posts: 41 Member
    Yes! But due to stress, not lack of movement.

    ^^^ YES! Exactly this!

    My former employer was a devil incarnate, working for her was hell :devil: hence stress eating = 35 pound weight gain.

    Once I quit and opened up my own business, new stresses emerged at first, but after the first year I started losing all the weight. Now over 2 years later 23 pounds gone, 7 to go :love:

    This it for me as well! I eat fairly well during the day while I'm at work, but the minute I get some I want to stress eat because I hate my job and don't want to go back to work the next day.
  • Silvervixen79
    Silvervixen79 Posts: 116 Member
    Absolutely. I was about 10 stone and had a really cute hourglass shape until I took a desk job and as I've moved up the career ladder I am stuck at my desk for longer and longer stretches, I now work 10-11 hours a day at my desk and no longer have the time or energy for any exercise during the week (I run on the weekends).. but am now 14.5 stone and so unhappy. I am seriously considering packing it all in and stepping down from my job, reduce my hours and focus on my health.

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