The diet and the desk-job.

I can relate! I work at a desk all day long! I hit the gym at 5:00 am and walk on my lunch breaks to make up for the sedentary desk job :P

I had a very active job (10-15 miles of walking a day) that led to a desk job - boy, I packed on 40lbs without really noticing over 2 years. Never really struggled with my weight before as I worked in retail for the majority of my life.

Turns out I had no idea how to lose weight properly. Over time, I learned a few tricks on how to move more and make healthier and/or lower calorie choices to eventually lose the weight.

Best tips I can provide:
- create a walking challenge with coworkers if you have the technology available to do so
- Invite colleagues on walks either during lunch or during meetings when appropriate
- Challenge yourself to always take the stairs (I work on the 4th floor and haven’t taken the stairs in over 2 years except when with clients on rare occasions) and to do a quick round up and down stairs when taking a bathroom break
- Set a timer in your phone to get up and walk every hour for 5 minutes - your brain will thank you, too, for the momentary break
- Inquire with your company about under desk Peddlers or a walking treadmill for work purposes. We have walking treadmills and I can easily hit my 12,500 step goal by 3pm when I have back to back phone meetings while walking on that machine

Outside of work, I started with 5 minutes of exercise - walking, jump rope, whatever. Slowly, I added 5 minutes here or 5 minutes there to a workout. Maybe you will surprise yourself with how much time you eventually can dedicate if you start small at first.

Good luck!

Your day sounds similar to mine but I have been getting closer and closer to 10k throughout the day with the help of my watch reminding me to stand and move around. I keep an eye on my steps and even though I am NOT motivated at night, will try to get at least the 10k in on the treadmill. I generally come home, make dinner, eat and then use the treadmill. It can be really boring, but my goal is 2-3 times a week hitting 10k. I'd say most days when I hit the treadmill it's around 30-40 minutes or so.

Without looking at what you are eating, maybe adjust your diet as well. I've also had to do that to help offset how much more I am sitting now. It sucks, but it's working.

ladyhusker39 wrote: »

veganfanatic wrote: »

time to change the diet, eat more carrots and celery

That's weird advice. What does it have to do with OP's post? You're a vegan so everyone else should be too?

Well, the headline DOES say diet.

JGuerra77 wrote: »

Same here, 9-5 desk job not the greatest in terms of being active but there are many ways to compensate. What works for me is gym at 5am every morning, get up & walk every hour, avoid snacks for this could quickly become a habit. Bottom's up on that H20! (you'll be forced to get up and walk to the bathroom more often). Last but not least, I try to do some physical activity in the evening like hit the gym a second time if time allows. Best wishes!

I am in the process of getting back in the gym at 5 am as well! Great ideas!
I too have a deskjob during our non surgical days. I get almost no steps in as I'm glued to the phone speaking to patients all day. Need to figure that out still.

I have been working at a desk Job for the last 5 years and I have gained some unwanted weight, however what I have noticed is that it isn't the desk job that makes me put on the weight it is the excessive snacking. being at a desk all day could be extremely boring and the only than to keep from falling asleep is to snack. what I have started to do is pack my breakfast, lunch and a snack making sure it is healthy and get me through the day. I also have my 3lb weights on my desk, and I get up every hr to walk for at least 5 minutes

I have a little pedal thingy under my desk that I can use. When it's nice out, I eat lunch and then take a 20 minute walk.

Commute by bike.

We bought a treadmilll and I got up earlier and got a mile in before work. Like you, I got home late and we live far out so I had a longer commute. This helped me start my day off knowing I had one mile in. I tried to walk from the back of the building to the front several times a day. Even walking the dog...whatever I could do

I get up at 5:15 every morning to get in a work out before heading to work. I also move around a lot in my chair - lifting my legs, jiggling my legs. I get up every chance I get and walk around as much as possible. Keep yourself moving!

I also have a desk job. I gained most of my weight starting at 30 years old when I took my first desk job and it was a 12 hr per day deal with a lot of business travel. I gained about 50 Lbs from 30-38 when I finally decided I needed to take care of things.

I don't work those hours anymore, but with my commute I still do about 10 hours per day...add to that, I have a wife and kids and other obligations. I have found it pretty much imperative to make time for some exercise. Most of my weekday rides are 30-45 minutes and my lifting program at the moment takes me about 40 minutes. I try to get in a longer ride or two on the weekend and also try to be up and around and doing stuff rather than lazing about the house.

Not only does the exercise help with weight management, it helps with my sanity and my overall well being. I have had a bunch of stuff going on the last couple of months and haven't been able to do what I normally do, and it drives me nuts...I feel so much better and much less stressed out when I get my exercise fix on the regular.

In my 30s I always made the excuse that I just didn't have time for it...much of that was due to me thinking I had to spend copious amounts of time doing it to have any real benefit...I wish I would have realized the benefit of a mere 30 minutes most days...could have saved myself a lot of trouble.

amandaeve wrote: »

@Relser - what is this pedal thingy? Tell us more.

Google "desk cycle"