7 Ways to Avoid Packing On Pounds While Working From Home

If you joined much of the country in the whole remote working thing a couple months ago, you may have noticed how much more difficult it is to avoid the kitchen. Self-control is tough, distractions aren’t there, and being cooped up indoors makes exercising even more difficult than ever. In addition, routines that were once the norm have all but disappeared— and boredom makes it all the more tempting to munch down on potato chips all day. It begs the question, what can you do to make sure you aren’t falling into old traps (or new ones) that will quickly cause the number on the scale to go up?

Here are 7 ways to avoid packing on the pounds while working from home.
 

1) Build a routine.

Treat working from home like you would if you were going to the office. Set your alarm clock in the morning. Get ready (showered, dressed, etc.). Commit to eating breakfast and lunch at regular times. Take a few short breaks throughout the day. Think about what you do when you go to the office, and try and mimic it as much as possible from home.

 

2) Be mindful.

Mindfulness is one of the best practices for managing mental health and weight. Be totally aware of your surroundings and what you’re doing. Don’t sit around mindlessly eating or staring into space. Know what’s going on, and ultimately, live in the moment.


 

3) Create a healthy kitchen.

It’s probably very tempting to pack your pantry and fridge with snacks and junk food. But that is a very quick way to overeat. Remove temptation by filling your fridge with fruits, veggies and healthy dairy products. Stock up your pantry with whole grain products like bread and rice, as well as healthy snacks like nuts, nutrition bars and popcorn. This will minimize the likelihood of mindless snacking throughout the day.

4) Opt for healthy meal delivery.

Takeout is big right now, but the amount of calories in an average takeout meal will have your head spinning. (A 2016 study found that 92% of restaurant meals have more calories than they should.) While it’s likely okay to have a restaurant meal on occasion, especially to support small business, it shouldn’t be your go-to.

Instead, consider a healthy meal delivery plan like Diet-to-Go. Our chef-crafted meals are balanced for nutrition and portion-size and delivered 100% safely right to your door. View sample menus here.
 

5) Don’t forget to move!

Sitting in front of a computer all day is the norm for most of us — but whether you’re in the office at your house, standing up and moving throughout the day is critical. Set a timer on your phone for the top of every hour. When it goes off, spend 5 minutes standing up, stretching, even pacing — anything to get the blood flowing and your muscles recharged.

 

6) Make the most of your extra time.

You may have gotten an hour or two of your commute time back — make the most of it! Get in some extra zzzzz’s, use the time to exercise, catch up on work or even meditate. More time is a blessing that you can (and should!) be taking advantage of.



 

7) Lean on your community.

Even if you can’t see most people in-person, know they’re all out there dealing with many of the same struggles as you are. Host Zoom meetings, get involved via Facebook Groups or on Nextdoor, call people. Share your feelings and support others when they share theirs. Remember, we’re all in this together.





What are some things you’re doing to stay healthy while working from home? Share in the comments below!
 

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Author: Caitlin H
Diet-to-Go Community Manager

Caitlin is the Diet-to-Go community manager and an avid runner. She is passionate about engaging with others online and maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle. She believes moderation is key, and people will have the most weight loss success if they engage in common-sense healthy eating and fitness.