There’s no doubt in my mind that for most cubicle warriors out there, a majority of your calories will be coming from food/snacks that are consumed during the 8 to 12 hours that you’re in the office.
I’m not saying that it’s bad to eat a few snacks in the office especially during a bad bad day, but if you’re really looking to get a little leaner, you’ll have to minimize the calories you consume in the office. If you’re familiar with the 80/20 Pareto Rule, focusing on this 20% will yield 80% of your fat burning efforts.
Let’s begin!
Stop going to the pantry!
In our office, the pantry’s loaded with snacks such as Cheetos, Tostitos, tasty loaves of chocolate marbled bread, etc. If GI Joe Said, knowing is half battle, cubicle warriors should know that, not going to the pantry at all is THE battle.
Should you need to go to the pantry to get water…just do your best to get water ONLY. If you eliminate the temptation, you eliminate the possibility of eating those extra calories
Don’t Eat Lunch (out)
Eating lunch out will significantly sabotage your success of burning fat for the simple reason that you hardly know what ingredients they’re putting on your food. Your cheesesteak may contain excess amounts of hydrogenated corn oil (which is so bad for your health). That extra cheese on your burger is equivalent to 30 more minutes on the treadmill.
Packing your lunch will solve this problem. Sure, it’s a lot more work, but you’re going to be chomping down 50% less calories at the most in that manner.
Snack on Fruits
The 3pm to 5pm window is crucial. I’m almost sure that most people are already hungry by this time. This is also where most people go to the nearest 7-11 store to buy Snickers to snack on. After all, it’s just a bite right?
Anyway, the hunger pangs experienced from 3pm to 5pm, can easily go away with a dose of sugar from mother nature. EAT FRUITS. Not only will it hamper down your cravings for sweet things but it also has enough fiber to keep you feel full throughout the day.
Drink Tea
If you absolutely need something to drink that’s not water. Drink green tea. Don’t like hot drinks? ADD ICE. You like it a little sweet? Add a little brown sugar with that, just to give it a little sweet kick. Tea will also give you a metabolic boost which will help you burn even more fat throughout the day.
Packed iced tea contains just way too many sugar as is the case with most energy drinks and soda. Avoid these at all costs.
Handful of Nuts
This has got to be my favorite. Try to buy natural, unsalted, nuts from the nearest store. Bag them with an amount the
size of your fist, and snack on this instead of grabbing junk food. The nuts contain a lot of protein for your muscles and take a lot of space in your stomach. You will feel full almost immediately.
Some nuts that you might be interested in (mix them up for variety): walnuts, cashews, almonds, pecans, macadamia nuts.
These are just some of the strategies I use on a daily basis to keep my calorie count low in the office.
On Friday’s though, I make it a point to violate one of the strategies (packing lunch) and eat out with my friends. This keeps me sane by the way and doesn’t let me become a social outcast of some sort in the office.
Cheers!