Like many americans working the "9-5'er" it can be difficult to stay on track at the office. Many obstacles present themselves in the form of the birthday cake for Pam in Accounting, your Manager Bill's luncheon/think tank the first monday of every month, or the all too familiar Pot Luck lunch (just because). Whatever the case may be, these scenarios are all too common in the work place and provide an avenue for tempation. These tempations are enough to have you waiver from the thin and narrow line that is your fitness journey. I like cake and pot luck lunches like any other person, and too have found myself in a compromising situation a time or two. By taking the right measures it is easy to keep yourself on track.

What's the trick you say? It's real real REAL easy. We humans are easily swayed and influenced by our environment, and we all have a sense of what we SHOULD be doing and what we SHOULD NOT be doing. That said, a solution to fitting in that extra 30 to 45 minutes of exercise in your day is looking at your lunch hour. Think about it, its an hour, and it could be as simple as walking around the block or spending 30 minutes climbing stairs. Whatever your choice of activity is, the point is to GET MOVING! Once you begin this practice watch and see how much of a following you will begin to observe. At first, yes, you may get a strange look or a smart alec remark but I guarantee that Pam in accounting and Bill your manager are probably thinking "I need to do something with my health" along with many other of your co-workers. What are they waiting for? Someone like you to take the reigns and start a routine.

Let's break it down a little further. We have established that we could utilize half of our lunch hour, what about the other half? That time is used to clean up a little and eat. What to eat, the remnants of the birthday cake? The scraps from the pot luck lunch? No, why? Because you thought ahead and packed your lunch. Packing your lunch gives you complete control on what you put in your body. You will also find that your are more motivated to make better nutritional choices after your exercise bout. Once you have your personal routine underway, it's time to "infect" the populace with your good habits. When there is an occasion that calls for food to be present, take it upon yourself to bring a healthier option for yourself and others. By bringing your own Hors d'oeuvres you now have control on what your eating. This healthier option becomes your safety net in case less healthy options are present.

Once others see you making these healthy choices it will then spread throughout the office. Within two weeks you'll be walking with other co-workes and discussing your weekend activities over your salad and tuna instead of the local fast food favorites. It only takes one person to make a difference. BELIEVE, ACHIEVE, and SUCCEED!

Further reading:

Top 10 benefits of excercise
Exercise makes employees more productive