Most of us sit for the majority of the day. It’s not an ideal situation, but our busy lives or spreadsheet creating, email sending and hopping from one meeting to another forces us to live a sedentary life—unless we take back the control. It’s time to burn extra calories whether you’re at the office, or at home with the kids. Here’s how to do it!
Refuse to Take Shortcuts
Don’t take shortcuts during the day, whether you’re at home or at the office. The more you move, the more calories you burn. If you’re working at an office, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park your car in the furthest spot from the entrance as possible—that way, you’ll get some extra steps in. Walk during your lunch hour. Take a much deserved ten minute break every 90 minutes, and walk briskly around the office building a time or two.
If you’re working from home (or a super busy stay-at-home mom), continuing to move throughout your day is just as essential. Switch the side you carry your child on from time to time; bend with your knees instead of your back; cook your own food (as opposed to getting in the habit of eating out.) Working from home will give you the flexibility to work at your leisure but if you don’t continue to make movement and overall good health a priority, you’ll find that the extra calories will quickly stack up!
Focus on Your Form
If you’re sitting at a desk all day (and many people are), it’s important to acknowledge the important of form. Your form, posture, stance (or whatever you want to call it) is just as important when you sit, as when you stand, workout, or dance your heart out. By insisting on sitting straight, you’ll elongate your abdomen muscles—and look thinner as a result!
Drink More Water
Did you know that when you are dehydrated, your metabolic rate can take a major nose dive? Sad, but true. And when your metabolic rate goes down, that means it’s even harder to lose inches around your middle, and show off all the hard work you’ve endured at the gym! Start drinking more water throughout your day by following this rule of thumb: before and after each meal, drink a tall glass of water.
Don’t get bogged down by the eight cups of water a day. If that seems like a drastic change you have to adapt to, simply take a new approach. When you drink water before a meal and after it, you’ll consume less calories (water makes you feel full) and keep your metabolic rate where it should be!
