Weight Loss in a Stationary Job

[KathrynAragon]

Pack your own lunch and healthy drinks in a cooler.

Get up and walk for an hour a day.

I know I may catch flak for this, but here's a hint that works for me when I have the munchies (the type that are induced by boredom): I eat a sucker - one of those big round ones that's about the size of a large marble. They last about 45 minutes and are about 50 calories and zero fat. Sure, they're sugar, but they satisfy a sweets craving without piling on calories and fats. They keep your mouth "busy." It works for me.

[Subie2]

Originally Posted by Charles

Also, whenever you can, get off the graveyard shift. Other than smoking, there are probably fewer more unhealthy habits.

Night Shift Makes Metabolism Go Haywire | Wired Science | Wired.com

Shift Work Can Lead to Increased Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke - Forbes

While I appreciate the suggestion, I've been doing graveyards working in a hospital before this for years so my routine is set. Not everyone is a day person and in my job days are saturated with drivers.

[Dayton Sux]

Need to avoid fast food (bigtime) and pack yr own stuff.

If I'm driving I'd do the B & O thing....Banana and Orange...for a snack (I do this when I do long road trips), or chop up some carrots and celery and put some sesame sticks chips on them to give it more a salty/spicey taste (I get those small bags at Walgreens and put it on the celery).

[Wartrace]

I think the common theme is to make sure you watch your calorie intake and exercise. As an example- I am a 6'6' 49 y/o male requiring 1960 calories a day to maintain my weight. For every 3500 calories in excess of my daily intake I can expect to gain 1 pound of fat. If I wish to LOSE the one pound of fat I put on I will have to create a 3500 calorie deficit.

Lets look at the typical fastfood meal like a double whopper with cheese, fries and a coke.
Double Whopper with cheese = 990 calories.
Large Order of fries = 500 Calories
Large Coke = 310

In one "meal" you have eaten 1800 calories If I ate a meal like this every day I could only eat another 160 calories all day if I had any hope of maintaining weight.

It is Soooooo easy putting it on, let me tell you about taking it off. I have to walk an hour a day just to burn 500 calories. I have to walk an hour a day every day of the week in order to burn the required 3500 calories to lose one pound.

Right now I have a "calorie bank" of 157,500 calories. (45lbs) I will have to keep my calorie intake below 1960 calories and walk 315 hours in order to get back to where I should be.