1. You work at a cubicle, tied to a desk, under florescent lights
"Desk Potato" is the label slapped on today's office workers and othersedentary employees. Fewer people are exerting any real physicalenergy during their workday (no, moving the mouse doesn't count). The equation is depressingly simple: when incoming calories exceed energyoutput, the end result is extra pounds.
If you work under artificial lights all day, you're probably sufferingfrom lower levels of serotonin, the brain's mood-calmingneurotransmitter. This can lead to seasonal affective disorder (SAD),depression, insomnia, frequent headaches and may result in addictivebehaviors such as overeating.
2. Your job subjects you to the two worst kinds of stress:
Relentless: The stress never lets up and you never get a break.There's always twice as much work at the end of the day than when youstarted. This kind of pressure causes a build up in the stress-relatedhormone cortisol, which promotes abdominal fat. You crave salt, sugarand fatty foods to counteract the tension.
Lack of control: You name it, you don't have control over it: yourschedule, deadlines, who you work with, the type of projects you takeon, etc. As you try to calm yourself, you might be reachingfrequently for 'comfort carbs,' since carbohydrates stimulate theproduction of serotonin, your mood-calming neurotransmitter.
3. Under-employed
If your job is too small for your spirit, and your talents andcreativity are not tapped, you turn to food to fill the void.
4. Work leaves you exhausted
Eating a big meal then falling asleep on the couch is not what weneed, yet millions of us do this because we come home too tired tosee friends, too tired to work out, even too exhausted to walk the dog.
5. You sleep less than 8 hours on a regular basis
You stay late, go in early, work split shifts or miss sleep because you are worrying about work. Cumulative sleep deprivation can resultin weight gain because your tendency is to turn to sweets andcaffeine the next day for a quick energy fix. Experts now agree thatsleep might be just as important to weight loss and maintenance asdiet and exercise.
6. Consistently lunching at your desk or skipping lunch
Almost a third of American workers are scarfing down food while toilingaway at their desks. We feel deprived, so we nibble mindlessly therest of the day and into the evening.
So how do I find a job that doesn't pack on the pounds?
Face reality. Make a list of all the harmful side affects of yourjob. If the list is long and/or serious, consider switching jobs orcareers. The average American will have had 8-10 different careers bythe time they retire. It's OK to switch.
Visualize your dream job. Be specific. If you can dream it, you can live it.
Get support from friends. Networking is still the name of the game.Tell your friends specifically how they can help. Expand your careerhorizon by trying one new experience each week.
Take a class. Volunteer. Interview people or job shadow those who workat jobs you nd intriguing, then…
Honor your energy. If it feels good, is energizing and you love it,it's a yes! If it feels bad, is draining and you hate it, it's a no!
Listen to your intuition. Trust that the small, still voice of wisdomwithin. You do have the answers.
Seriously consider self-employment.
Tired of the glass ceiling and not afraid of hard work? Then releaseyour entrepreneurial spirit and start your own company.
Meanwhile…
• Drink more water (8-10 glasses a day)
• Add steps. Park further away and walk. Take the stairs instead ofthe elevator.
• Get a walking or exercise buddy.
• Brush your teeth at work after lunch to help resist afternoon snack attacks.
• Limit snacks to healthy veggies you bring from home.
• Chew sugar free gum or suck on sugar free candy.
• Join a club and find something you enjoy. Pack your workout bag andgo before or right after work.
• Design a new reward system that doesn't involve food.
• Don't skip lunch. Resist the temptation to eat at your desk.
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