7 Ways to Work Out at the Office

Burn Fat All Day Long

Stuck at the office all day? Squeeze in a workout with these calorie-burning tips

You’ve heard that a desk job leads to weight gain, but this bad rap can be beat, says James Levine, MD, a professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic. In a recent study, more on-the-job standing and walking led workers to lose an average of 9 pounds and to lower triglyceride levels by nearly 40% in 6 months. Lose weight at the office with these 7 sneaky fat-burning tips.

1. Plan walk-and-talk meetings
Instead of sitting down at a table, take a brainstorming stroll with a colleague. If you need to keep notes, book a distant conference room.

2. Get fit on the phone
Stand up to double your calories burned while you chat. Pace or march in place and you can blast about 225 calories for every hour you rack up throughout the day

3. Use a small water glass
You’ll boost your step count getting up for refills and bathroom breaks. Bonus plateau-breaker: Use the facilities on a different floor.

4. Buy a desk stepper
Burn around 91 calories in 20 minutes (without standing up!) with an under-the-desk cardio machine that works like a mini stair-stepper. Most cost less than $50 and are available at big box chains, like Walmart.

5. Ditch your trash can
Use trash and recycling bins on the other side of the building to increase your step count and fat burning potential.

6. Start “e-mail-free Fridays”
Walk messages to colleagues as much as possible. The habit may stick the rest of the week, helping you lose weight faster.

7. Find fitness buddies
Challenge coworkers to a friendly step-count competition. Wear pedometers to see how much you walk in a week—winner gets a coffee.

By: Jessica Cassity, Prevention magazine