These simple tweaks can help you lose weight that you might have gained during the holidays.
1. Fuel yourself with breakfast
Don't slide back into your old habit of skipping breakfast as you rush out the door. A 2020 analysis in Obesity Research & Clinical Practice found that skipping breakfast was associated with overweight and obesity.
Plan ahead, both by having high-protein breakfast foods on hand and by waking up earlier so you have time to eat. Eating a breakfast packed with protein, fiber and healthy fat will not only help you concentrate better at work, it will also prevent dips in blood sugar and carb cravings later in the day.
Aim for roughly 8 to 10 grams of fiber and 20 to 30 grams of protein at breakfast. This combo, along with some healthy fat, slows digestion and leads to a steady rise in blood sugar, giving you energy for hours. Oatmeal, berries and whole-wheat toast are full of fiber.
Getting enough protein can be more difficult. Add a small scoop of protein powder into your coffee for an extra 5 to 10 grams. Or make 2 eggs, which together have 12 grams of protein. Pair with avocado toast on whole-wheat bread for healthy fat and fiber. An 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt packs about 13 grams of protein. Try 2% or whole-milk Greek yogurt to stay full longer, and choose brands that are lower in sugar.
2. Bring your lunch
You are probably already in the habit of making lunch due to work-from-home life. All you have to do now is get a nice well divided lunchbox, pack it up and take it to work. Yes, this will require a bit more time and preparation, but it could save you hundreds of calories at your midday meal. Restaurant and café lunches serve up bigger portions than what you'd make at home, which means more calories, carbohydrates, fat, sodium and sugar.
This doesn't mean you can't ever eat out. But both calories and money will add up if you do it every day. Choose one day each week that you'll scoop up your favorite salad from a nearby café, and then bring lunch from home the other days.
Don't know what to bring? Leftovers make life easy. Bagged salad kits are a convenient way to get vegetables in: just add an easy protein source like edamame, beans or tuna.
Sandwiches are simple too; just be sure to pile on the vegetables like arugula, tomato and cucumbers. Opt for a whole-wheat bread or wrap for a boost of fiber.
3. Take a walk
Don't fall prey to TikTok diet crazes and detoxes before trying this simple habit: walking. One reason people gained weight during the pandemic was because pre-2020, they were racking up 7,000 to 10,000 steps per day without even realizing it. You'd walk to the train or car, walk into work, walk around the office, walk to get lunch, walk to the car, walk from the parking lot to the gym and so on and so forth until you got home. When COVID-19 forced many of us to work from home, people's steps plummeted to 2,000 to 5,000 per day, and they lost daily calorie burn they didn't realize they had before.
Before you get overwhelmed by the prospect of going from 2,000 to 10,000 steps per day, take comfort in a recent study that showed the sweet spot may actually be closer to 7,000 steps per day. This won't be as hard to get as you think once the office opens up.
4. Schedule your workouts
Scheduling workouts is always important if you want to increase your chances of doing them. But it will be even more crucial when you return to the office. That's because you're unfortunately going to lose time in your day due to commuting again.
First, decide what you are going to do. Will you return to taking classes at an exercise studio? Will you hit up the gym? Or will you continue doing at-home workouts? Next, decide when you will work out. If you now prefer to sleep in and exercise in the evening, go for it. Whatever time you will do it is the best time to schedule it.
5. Be aware of your booze intake
Now that you're back to work, you may find yourself with endless invitations to meet up for drinks. Be mindful that calories from booze can add up quickly. One 150 ml glass of wine have around 120 calories. And then there's the food that comes alongside—typically refined carbohydrates like chips and fries that can get stored as fat when eaten in excess. Here's a not-so-fun fact: when you drink alcohol, your body stores calories from the food you're eating because it's prioritizing getting rid of the booze.
While you don't have to abstain altogether, put systems in place to make the healthy choice the easy choice. For example, perhaps you limit yourself to a certain number of nights during the week that you go out. Enjoy one cocktail instead of two or three. Pack a healthful snack you can have in the afternoon before going out so you don't show up starving to a table of tasty apps. And remember to drink water throughout the day and when you're out.
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