Creating a weight loss friendly work environment

Enhance your work environment.Credit: Wikimedia Commons, Emiellaiendiay

When many people head to work, they are faced with a break room filled with donuts and candy-filled jars littering coworkers' desks. This can knock your weight loss plan completely off the tracks, especially if you work a sedentary job. With that being said, there are ways to create a weight loss friendly work environment. After all, just because your coworkers don't mind having rear-ends that rival many full-sized SUVs doesn't mean you have to give up on your plans.

Bring Healthy Snacks to Work

One of the easiest ways you can make your work environment more diet friendly is to not rely on the snacks at the office. Instead of heading to your coworkers desk for an afternoon pick-me-up, grab a cup of yogurt or an all natural granola bar. Not only will you save on calories, but the protein in these snacks will help your beat that mid-afternoon nap attack.

Store Exercise Equipment in Your Office

No, this doesn't mean you have to bring a treadmill into your office. Simple pieces of equipment such as dumbbells, stability balls and even resistance bands can give you a great workout. Even if your company offers a gym, it pays to buy these inexpensive pieces. After all, how many times do you actually have time to visit the company gym? With these pieces, you can workout even while making calls or typing up that long report.

Surround Yourself With Inspiration

Pictures of your partner, kids and pets are always a must on your desk, but why not take it a step further and add a few pictures to inspire you to stay healthy at work? You can either have a picture that you don't particularly care for or a picture from a time when you liked the way you looked. Each person is different. What really matters is that you inspire yourself to go have a healthy lunch, skip that morning donut and stay on track.

Create a Little Competition With Coworkers

Chances are there are others in your office that want to be healthy, but, like you, are struggling to stay on track at the office. By forming a group and creating a little friendly competition, you will all have a better chance of reaching your goals. You could offer prizes for the person that loses the highest percentage of weight or have small rewards for those that consistently stuck to a healthy goal, such as walking 3-5 days a week during lunch break. Either way, this a great way to get the office involved in creating a healthier work environment.