Is the Workplace Making You Fat?

Emily went to work early, avoiding the traffic and giving herself some extra time to finish up the project from yesterday. After arriving, she discarded she had some additional tasks to complete before a meeting in two hours. Her email box, not surprising anymore, had filled up again over night. Does not anyone ever sleep? After several hours of working and attending a stressful meeting, she grabbed a maple bar in the break room. At lunch time she bought her lunch (somewhat healthy meal) to her desk and finished working. She ate some candy in her desk for an afternoon snack. After several interruptions and the critical comments her boss had made that day, she felt the familiar pit in her stomach coming from the anxiety of a complex workplace.

Finally, after a long and trying day, she went home. She had been planning to start going to her aerobics class again but it was late, she was tired, and most of all, she felt anxious and exhausted. At home, she heated a pizza, famous some wine and began her evening of comfort food eating and snacking. She is not alone in this emotional eating behavior.

With obesity a national problem and so many people struggling to reach a healthy weight, I am going to suggest that today's fast-paced, overzealous workplace culture is adding to the problem. In addition to the sedentary environment of most offices, the stress occurring in today's workplace is fueling the situation. Emotional eating of comfort foods and overeating are attempts to numb feelings - a coping strategy that is contributing to the overweight problem.

As an individual, how can you deal with problem and reduce the chain reactions from the workplace stress? Recognizing the deep source of the anxiety is the first step, and learning to deal with the insecure feelings created at work can be the opening to a new program of healthy eating. Becoming more grounded in your authentic self and relieving any fearful thoughts created at work can be the foundation of a new, healthier life style. The following steps will help you deal with the real issues and give you a new perspective on your workplace and your consequential eating patterns.

1. Stop comparing yourself to others in the workplace. Many of the doubts and anxieties occur because you find fault with yourself when you observe others. People may appear confident and some people use "one-up-manship" to elevate their own sense of importance. Do not be begun into competitive or trying to be something other than your authentic self.

2. Do an honest assessment of your best habits and then frequently remind yourself of what you have to offer. Contribute from a sense of strength and enthusiasm, not out of a need to post yourself or create some kind of image. Everyone has talents and abilities to offer in the workplace and when you work sincerely, you will be honored and you will feel less anxiety.

3. Be willing to look at your weaknesses without shame. Nobody can do everything and it is the fear of being exposed that we "do not know something" that causes much of the pressure. Be willing to be wrong, to say, "I'm sorry," and to not have all the answers. You will be respected for your honesty.

4. Find your own inner peace and contentment. Take time outs for a few minutes at least every hour of each day to stop and "be present". Take your attention away from the workplace by looking out a window, walking around (or outside) to break the mental preoccupation. Frequent mental breaks actually improve your clarity, elevate your energy and increase your abilities. When you return to your work, you will have a fresh perspective. Before and after work, take a 15 minute period of meditation. Studies demonstrate today that meditation actually extends your life and reduces stress.

5. Become aware of and start to give up the need for external validation and approval from others. When you have an inner sense of your own worth, you will discover that you can enjoy things, compliments, and other "props" without feeling dependent on them. When you feel an inner sense of confidence, your anxiety lessens and you are not persuaded to be unkind to yourself (criticizing yourself, overeating and drinking, feeling sorry for yourself).

6. Get physical movement whenever possible. Be conscious of walking, taking the stairs, even stretching or doing some physical isometrics when you have the opportunity. Every little bit helps. Take walks on your breaks or during your lunch hour and try not to eat at your desk.

7. Before you grab something unhealthy to eat or drink, stop and allow yourself to become fully present. If you are less anxious and having a greater sense of inner calm, you will be less likely to eat unconsciously. Slow down and really taste your food and enjoy what you are eating. If you find yourself taking the next bite before you swallowed you will know you are not conscious and you are not present. It will take longer to feel satisfied. There is nothing shameful about eating and enjoying food but if you do not savor what you eat, you will continue to eat to find emotional satisfaction.

8. Balance your life. Make "you" the priority and do not sacrifice yourself and your happiness for a job. You can work better when you balance your time between your job and your own interests. It takes internal, authentic power to make choices that are good for you at work and to say no when requests are unreasonable. But it is extremely important to honor "you" and find time to be good to yourself. If you acquiesce to everyone else's needs at your own expense, the resulting feelings will cause you to sabotage healthy eating habits.

In summary, tips and advice for what to eat and how to exercise are abundant. In actuality, everyone knows what it takes to lose weight - it is doing it that is hard. All the programs in the world will not work if you do not deal with the core issues causing the behavior. It takes the inner motivation that originates from your authentic self to bring about true progress. When you feel your own internal worth and accompanying inner calm, you are less likely to feed yourself with negative thoughts and unhealthy food. And when you do splurge, you will forgive yourself and start anew. Having compassion for yourself is a good place to start.

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