How to Avoid Gaining Weight When You Work at Home

Making a living or supplementing a spouse's income while working at home is great for those who can not or do not wish to leave the house to go to a job. While most aspects of working at home are positive, gaining weight is often a negative aspect people have not counted on. There are some things that you can do to avoid putting on weight when you start to work at home.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. First thing in the morning (or after the kids have been dropped off at school), take a walk. Even a short walk is better than nothing. This will get your metabolism going for the day. You will start the day burning calories. Walking before beginning your work day will give you added energy and a positive attitude. If you force yourself to walk first thing in the morning, you can not put it off. Think about the fact that once you walk, it is done for the rest of the day. You won't need to dread it.

2. Each night before going to bed or each morning before beginning your work day at home, prepare the day's healthy meals and snacks. If you have healthy food ready to eat, you will be less likely to grab something unhealthy.

3. Get up from your desk often to do some housework or stretch. It is not good for you to sit for long periods of time. Get up and move.

4. While your lunch is heating up, do some squats or jumping jacks. Raise your heart rate, burn calories and build muscle.

5. Make it a new habit that every time you are talking on the phone, you get up and pace back and forth or walk in place.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not plan your walk for the middle or end of the day. This will give you time to convince yourself that you are too busy to walk.
• If a morning walk is not possible, pop in an exercise video or DVD. Find short exercise videos. If you have a long exercise video, you will convince yourself you don't have time to do it.
• Do not fool yourself that junk food snacks will go untouched while you are working at home alone. Buy healthy snacks.