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Avoiding Workplace Obesity

Avoiding Workplace Obesity

Lisa Eirene

About Lisa Eirene Lisa lost 110 pounds through calorie counting and exercise. She swims, bikes, runs, hikes and is enjoying life in Portland, Oregon. Her weight loss story has been featured in First Magazine, Yahoo Health, Woman's Day and Glamour.com.

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18 Comments

  1. Roz@weightingfor50

    It is SO true that there are numerous temptations in and around the workplace. Like you, I’m in a neighborhood with endless offerings of healthy and not so healthy fare. For the most part, I bring my own lunch, and when I do go out, I try to make smart choices, or portion control if I’m in a group setting which involves shared plates (like dim sum). It’s not always easy, and I’m not always successful at it, but it all balances out in the end. Have a great Tuesday Lisa.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Sharing plates is a great way to resist overeating. Portion control is SO hard when eating out!

  2. Lori

    Well, I work at home, so I almost never eat out for lunch LOL! It is hard, though, because food is so close by and it is all food I like to eat (since it is my house).

    When John and I were both significantly overweight, we were eating out a lot, mostly breakfasts on the way in to work and then going out after work. Then we would eat out on weekends.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Working at home probably presents a very different struggle. I know that being home alone, bored, I am more apt to graze when I shouldn’t. It really isn’t any different than the candy room at work–I only graze when I’m bored (or stressed) so keeping busy is crucial.

      Eating out a lot is definitely difficult on the waistline. I ate out a lot too when I was heavy, but it was more junk and fast food.

  3. Jess

    I take a packed lunch every single day. I’m a teacher at a school that is a 5 minute drive from any cafes, and once you take my 35 minute lunch break and factor in waiting for the slow eaters to finish up and driving to and from the cafe, I would only get 10 minutes to sit down and actually eat! Much easier and cheaper to pack my lunch. When I worked in retail, however, I purchased lunch several times a week. What a waste of money and calories!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      You sum it up pretty well, Jess! I take a 30 minute lunch too and I’d much rather go for a walk then stand in line at a restaurant! I pack my lunch 95% of the time during the work week.

  4. Carbzilla

    Hi – I have compulsive overeating issue, and I’ve been put in charge of feeding 40 people. You know that’s gonna be a battle, and it is every day,

    So today I realized that our favorite catering site has the sandwich calories – they average 750 – 1000 each. I’ll never eat a whole sandwich again! But it’s so hard when it’s free. So I have to figure out how to let them feed me in my calorie range. Being unemployed sucked, but at least I weighed 15 lbs less than I do now.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Oh wow! That does sound hard! I am with you, free food is so hard to resist! That happens in my office too but it seems like the collective office has a sweet tooth so it’s always things like cookies, cake, brownies and donuts. GRRRR!

      Stay strong, my dear! I know you can do it. #losing20

  5. Jane

    I always did better when I worked in the office setting. It gave me structure to my days. It wasnt until after I had bilateral arthroscopic knee surgery and left the office work setting that I regained my weight. The bad results/recovery/chronic pain in addition to the lack of structure to my schedule wreaked havoc on my ability to stay on track. I guess either way it boils down the planning to succeed or the lack thereof is a by default a plan to fail.

    I eat lunch out now about once or twice a week. It is a salad from the cafe at the gym or a pre picked menu item that I know is a good choice from one of several healthy spots I go to. I do my best to eliminate bad settings where I can slip, derail and end up “in a bad choice situation.”

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Structure does play a big part. Sometimes just having a routine helps a lot in resisting the grazing and overeating issues.

  6. Miz

    I rarely eat out but only because, working from home, I HATE to interrupt my flow since the afternoon bus always feels seconds from arriving.
    but working from home is fraught with pitfalls too 🙂

    1. Lisa Eirene

      That’s awesome that you have a better reason for resisting eating out! Working hard! 🙂

  7. Diane, fit to the finish

    I am at home, but my hubby struggles with this. The food is ridiculous. Ladies bring in home baked goodies, the snack machine is full of junk, and the lunch restaurant meals are calorie-laden. It is a challenge for him.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Your hubby and me are in the same boat. Just last week I resisted steaming, oozing cinnamon rolls a coworker tried to make me eat. Literally. He was shoving the plate in my face saying “You want this!” He’s a fairly new addition to my department so my other coworkers explained to him not to do that and he later apologized and commended me on losing the weight. It’s a challenge. I surely wanted that roll!

  8. Kati Mora, MS, RD, Kellogg's FiberPlus(R) Wellness Advocate

    Bringing your own lunch to work is definitely a step in the right direction. There often are a lot of temptations at work and packing your lunch can definitely help ward them off. I like to try and make sure I also have plenty of nutritious snacks around too. My go-to’s are homemade trail mixes, apples, and baggies of Kellogg’s FiberPlus cereal. I keep them in my desk for those moments when hunger strikes in between meals.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Good point. Having healthier go-to snacks are crucial. I always bring fresh fruit or veggies every day to snack on, but I also have a stash of protein bars, oatmeal, etc in my desk just in case.

  9. Crystal

    I work with a bunch of computer geeks who go out to eat every day ~ we have endless options within a short walk or drive. I was one of them for 4 of the 8 years I’ve worked here and it was when I packed on the pounds and lightened my pocket book!

    I started bringing my lunch and snacks almost religiously about 4 years ago allowing myself to join the group eating out once a week on Fridays. Then I started a circuit class Friday’s at lunch and stopped eating out all together. While it is great for the health and the pocketbook, the worst part of not joining the co-workers eating out is you lose that social aspect ~ so much intangible work goes on during these lunch hours, that it is almost isolating to not do them. If it is like this in many workplaces, I understand why many people eat out.

    I’ve managed to find the balance (hopefully), but the temptation is always there!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      There is definitely a social aspect missing when you don’t eat out to lunch. I experience that as well. Since I don’t eat out, or partake in the goodies in the office, I’m seen as someone who maybe doesn’t want to have fun? Not sure, that’s just the vibe. But eating out is costly and not something I really want to do.

      That’s cool that you started a fitness class! Good for you! Fitting it in is often the hardest part and you’re doing it.

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