Losing weight is one of the hardest tasks someone can undertake. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
People often find it difficult to lose weight because of mistakes they don’t even know they’re making.
For example, when you are at work you’re typically distracted by various responsibilities. Because of this, the progress of your weight loss program may not be as fast as you’d like.
Here are 10 common weight loss mistakes that you may be making at work.
10. You Don’t Start the Day With a Good Meal
You may be incentivized to head to work early so you can get a head start on the things you need to do. That’s fine, provided you don’t skip breakfast in the morning.
Skipping your first meal of the day can set you up for bad habits the rest of the day, even if it may seem like you take in fewer calories. Eat a sufficient breakfast full of protein and fiber, and you are more likely to stick to your dietary restrictions.
9. You Eat While Working
Many people choose to eat lunch at their desk while working. Multitasking is definitely a great way to save time and get more accomplished.
But if you are not paying attention to what you eat, you may consume too much. Doing this over a long period of time means you’re more likely to make unhealthy lunch choices because you are less engaged with your food.
8. You’re a Little Too Happy During Happy Hour
Work can be stressful and sometimes all you want to do is blow off some steam at your local watering hole. Alcohol is full of empty calories that can wreak havoc on your diet if you have too many drinks.
This is one of the most ubiquitous weight loss mistakes. Opt for lower calorie cocktails and indulge responsibly.
7. You Get Too Stressed
Though going out for drinks may seem like the perfect antidote for work-related stress, there are much healthier methods. Try getting up from your desk to stretch every once and a while. Make time for brief, light-hearted conversations with co-workers.
It’s also important to keep a healthy work-life balance. If you are putting too many hours in at the office, you are probably doing so at the detriment to your health.
6. You Don’t Make the Time To Exercise
Every adult needs to exercise, no matter how fit they are. Many people make this and other weight loss mistakes because they are at work for long hours and have responsibilities at home. It’s not always easy to fit a workout into your schedule.
But this is essential to your overall well-being. It’s very difficult to lose weight through just diet alone. Exercise keeps your body healthy and happy, and these benefits may carry over into your job performance.
5. You Don’t Snack
Snacking is a very important and often ignored factor in reaching weight-loss goals. It’s crucial to stay satiated throughout the day so that you don’t overdo it during meal times.
A lot of people take in a huge amount of calories during breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but neglect to address their caloric needs in between.
The healthiest way to nourish yourself is to eat small, nutritious meals and graze on wholesome snacks, such as fruits, vegetables, and cheeses, during the day.
4. You Don’t Plan Your Meals
When you’re tired after a long day of work it’s hard to come home and cook yourself a healthy meal that requires a lot of preparation. In these cases, many people will opt for fast food or quick meals full of empty calories.
Planning your meals ahead of time can solve this problem. Try cooking dinners ahead of time and freezing them.
That way you can just come home from work and heat up a fresh meal without having to actually cook that evening. The same goes for lunches at work. Preparing meals in advance reduces your chance of making poor choices when you’re hungry.
3. You’re Not Eating Right
The only way to practice a low-calorie diet and still feel satiated throughout the day is to eat the right foods. You may not be ingesting that many calories per day, but if you’re eating junk you’re not getting enough nutrients.
This can lead to you feeling hungry and irritable, even if you’ve just had a meal. It’s important to eat food with minimal processing and high-quality ingredients. This enables you to get the most bang for your buck with the food you eat.
2. You Live On Energy Drinks
It can be hard to maintain energy levels throughout the day. Some employees will drink energy drinks that are very high in sugar and caffeine. Not only will these lead to a crash later in the day, but you will be ingesting unnecessary calories.
Coffee is a popular stimulant, and if you drink it black and in moderation, you likely won’t be cheating on your diet. But be careful of added sugar and cream, as they can affect your waistline without you even knowing.
1. The Top Weight Loss Mistake Professionals Make: They Go It Alone!
Many working professionals think their weight loss journey is something to hide and they try to achieve their goals without any support. But you should clue your coworkers into what you’re doing! They may even want to join you.
If you’re faced with a situation where you are pressured to eat or drink unhealthily you’re more likely to do so if your coworkers are unaware of your aspirations.
Let them be your cheerleaders. The weight-loss journey can be very difficult, but it is much more doable when you have the support of friends and loved ones every step of the way.
Common sense weight loss mistakes can be the undoing of any busy professional. Watch out for these, and you should be on your way to a slimmer you in no time!