Technology has eliminated as many as 2,000 of the calories that office workers used to burn each day, says James A. Levine, M.D., Ph.D., professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic and author of Move a Little, Lose a Lot. No wonder the average American is 26 pounds heavier today than a generation ago. To start burning calories at work, Levine suggests you embrace these four work-based strategies.
trim that fat with these small adjustments to your day
1.) Meet on the Move
Instead of booking a conference room, ask colleagues to join you on a walk. Seriously. Just make sure the topic is relatively informal—brainstorming, not budgets, for example. Even an easy pace burns 10 times more calories than sitting for an hour—150 vs. a measly 15.
2.) Get on Your Feet
Stand up while talking or typing. (You may need to request a headphone or long cord, or a podium for your keyboard.)
3.) Find a Partner
A co-worker with similar fitness goals won’t push for fast-food breaks and will help you stay motivated. Maybe you can both buy pedometers and see who gets in the most steps each day. If you have iPhones, there’s a free app called Walk ‘n Play that tracks your movements and pits you against a friend or a simulator.
4.) Tackle Takeout
If you eat with your co-workers, offer to order lunch for the group. That way, you’ll control your options. In fact, you’re probably not the only one who would appreciate the healthier choices.