Working 9 to 5

I recently took a job that has me sitting at a desk for 8 hours a day. Before this, I worked in a daycare and was up and active all day. So now I'm more sedentary, and I know that if I'm not careful, I could easily pack on the pounds - especially since I now work from home and my kitchen is handy.

What I've discovered about sitting all day

Since finding myself still and sitting on a more regular basis, I am suffering from aches and pains I wasn't expecting. It could be that I need a better desk chair, but I find my hips and lower back ache from sitting all day.

I've had to make a point of getting up every hour or so and doing some stretching to help make sure my body doesn't hurt too bad after my work shift. I also find myself snacking more often because I'm not really keeping very busy physically, so I'm hit with that bored eating sensation.

How I plan to manage my weight

So, how do I keep from gaining a ton of weight? I've thought about it and come up with a few ideas.

Watch my snacking

The first is to watch my snacking. Just because my brain thinks it might be a good idea to see what's in the fridge doesn't mean I need to eat. Personally, I'm terrible about this. Bored eating gets me every time. So far, what seems to be helping me is making sure I have plenty of fluids to keep from "feeling" hungry. It seems that if I've got my water cup, I eat less.

Get outside and move

Second on my list of ideas is to go outside on my breaks and take a couple laps around my driveway (my breaks are short). I know that any movement would be helpful in keeping the calories from adding up. Not only would the movement be beneficial, but getting that sunshine would be good for me, too, as it tends to help lift the depression I suffer from.

Exercise before work or go to a class

I think I need to start trying to get 30 minutes of exercise before I work (I work a later shift), and hopefully, that will help motivate me to maintain healthier habits throughout the day. My aim is to exercise 3 times a week. While I know I should be exercising more than that, I figure if I start small, I won't overwhelm myself and set myself up for failure.

I've also considered carving out time for the gym or some personal fitness classes; that just tends to take more time out of my day than working out at home. I live 15 minutes from the nearest gym, so I'd have to allow time to get there and back, and that time adds up.

Use a standing desk and walking pad

One thing I've also considered doing once I've gotten established in my new job is investing in an adjustable desk that goes from a regular desk to a standing one and getting one of those walking pads to put under it so that I'm working and moving at the same time.

What would you do?

Are you in a working situation like mine and have a routine down? If so, I'm curious to know what works for you. What would you do to try to keep from gaining weight while working a desk job? What are some things you've implemented in your daily routine to help ensure you stay on track to either maintain or continue to lose weight? Feel free to share in the comment section below!