Hearty tips
Stop complaining that you can never find time to get active. Here are 10 easy steps to making the most of your work day.- Stand at attention.
Sitting burns a rather tame number of calories, but you can rev that number up by finding any excuse not to sit down. Stay on your feet while on the phone, volunteer to do the photocopying or give up your seat at meetings. You'll win a few brownie points for your dedication - and get active while working your way to that promotion. - Every little step counts.
In the age of digital technology, we hardly notice if the person in the opposite cubicle has cut their hair. It’s only if she IMs or emails you that you know the news. Ditching internal e-mails and phone calls and walking over to talk to colleagues can really make a difference. - Squeeze to tone.
Work on a firm bum, flat midriff and defined legs while you work on your proposal - it's all in the squeeze and good posture. For a firm bum, simply tighten and squeeze your buttocks, hold for 10 seconds and then repeat at least eight times. Tone up your calves by pushing your feet onto your toes, hold for 10 seconds and repeat. Give your abs a workout by sucking in your tummy - hard enough to be able to feel it but not so tight that you can't breathe - and hold for 10 seconds. Repeat eight times. You never know, one day your stomach might just stay there. - Schedule your snack slots.
Yes, even snacks should be made to queue up for an appointment with you. Rather than mindless munching, scheduling in your snacks along with your meetings could provide benefits to your body. Take time to enjoy your food away from your desk as if you're aware of what you're eating you'll be less likely to crave and absent-mindedly snack later. We recommend packing raisins and nuts from home. - Roll around. ;)
On a ball, we meant. Swap your office chair for an inflated gym ball. Gym balls promote active sitting that tone and strengthen core muscles, improving your sense of balance and transforming your posture. - We Heart Chocolates!
Nothing beats chocolates. Salivating about the chocolate bar on your desk before it even meets your lips could help you drop a dress size. In a recent study, women who suppressed their chocolate-smeared dreams ultimately ate more when they finally caved in than those who were asked to think about the lustrous taste and texture of chocolate before tucking in. - Leg lifts.
Leg lifts at work require a bit of tweaking, as rather than lying on your back and swinging your leg back, you're lifting your stretched legs out and raising them out in front of you. You should feel it in your thigh muscles. Hold for as long as you can and repeat. You could also trying marching on the spot, lifting your legs as high as you can until you start to feel the burn. Be careful not to accidentally kick a colleague. - Roll, roll, roll your neck.
It’s a known fact that stress can lead to weight gain. Many people store a large amount of stress in their necks and that can contribute to the body storing fat in the stomach area. One of the simplest ways of releasing stress is to roll or massage your neck which in turn releases fat storage in the tummy. You'll not only feel more relaxed, but in the long term your body will respond too by relaxing its grip on fat stores making it easier for you to lose weight. - Ice cold.
We all know the importance of drinking water. The secret is to gulp ice cold water as the cold fires up the body's metabolism. A fast metabolism is essential in the battle of the bulge and can help you burn additional calories while you sit in your office chair. - Store unhealthy treats in your left drawers.
Try storing tempting treats to the left of your keyboard and healthy pick-me-ups to the right. Researchers at Dartmouth College in the States found that we're more likely to reach for things to the right of our field of vision regardless of how easy they are to grab.
