As you know, one of the downsides to working form home in front of a computer all day is the potential to get lazy and watch the lbs attach to you like Velcro.

Does Working at Home Contribute to Weight Gain?

Working from home may have benefits, but it comes with a downside when the refrigerator calls your name. Maybe you are lonely or bored working at home which may trigger emotional eating. Some of you might be workaholics and you just don’t stop to eat a balanced meal, which might translate into eating too much later on. Here’s what you can do.

Going to the gym is a nice break I take when I feel the need to get away from this monitor and keyboard. But it does have a price. If you don’t have a gym membership it can be expensive with all the stuff they try to “tell” you, you need when you go to register. Plus if you’re like me and found a way (my big mouth at work) to beat all these sign-up charges, you’re still stuck with the monthly fee.

Lately, with the amazing summer we’re having (except for all the thunder storms) I’ve been riding as if I was training for the Tour de France. Well, not really. But what a great way to not only enjoy the outdoors, but get some exercise at the same time. Caron and I just came back from doing an 11K ride along the shores of lake Ontario and it feels great.

TIPS…

- make use of the outdoors (walk, bike, hike, run - no need for expensive health club memberships.

- take a camera along with you.

- be sure to pack water and keep a basic first-aid kit in your car on your person.

- get your family involved with you. It’s better than Nintendo Wii when it comes to interaction and role playing 

Some pics I captured this week from our biking escapades…

So you’re in line to order at a fast-food joint with your children waiting patiently for that kids-pack with the burger, fries and toy. Yippee the toy!  You nervously look at the menu hoping to find something that’s not deep fried or covered in some sort of fat-laced sauce. After-all you’re on a diet or just like eating a bit healthy. Yep, there is a fresh garden salad that you can order and feel good about eating here. Don’t forget the low cal dressing to accompany the healthy choice you’ve made.

I’m sure you’ve seen this! As adults we make choices that’s supposed to be good for us, but are we making similar choices for those we’re supposed to care for?  Wait, you got the fruit juice for little “Jimmy” instead of the “coke with ice” so that makes it all good. Shame on you!

BTW why is it the coke with ice at fast-food joints taste so much better than the ones in the can out of your fridge?

Note: I’d like to pass on my congrats to my friend Steve and his new bride Julia. All the best for what the future have in store for you newly weds.

I’ve not been to the gym in over a month. It was a week before we left for vacation and I supposedly had too much work to get done before we left. So I had no time. Then when we got back, too much work to catch up on. After that… nasty snow storm “not sure the parking lot was cleared”. Then I went back to using.. no time!

Here are a few other excuses people use not to go to the gym:

I’m too tired.

I’m too fat.

I know what to do, but can’t be bothered to do it.

I hate my thighs/tummy/self. I wish I looked like a supermodel.

Exercising is hard.

I don’t know how.

It’s too complicated.

I’m too shy to go to the gym with all the good looking people.

They must be giving something away at the gym these days! With the start of the new year and all the resolutions it seems just about everyone is trying to loose weight or just get into some sort of “shape”. When we frist started to go to this health club back in early November 2006 the only really busy time would be around 11 am to 1pm (people who slipped in for a workout during their lunch break) and again at dinner time. Now no matter what time you go, it’s terribly busy… even at 11.30 pm last night when I left.

Since we started to hit the gym one of the things we’ve been trying to do is eat a bit healthier. Easier said than done! All the stuff I like seems to be stuff I should be avoiding;

- Chicken wings (deep fried)

- Chinese fried rice (yep fried again)

- Gravy in all forms

- Fried Chicken

- Jerk Chicken (with some skin left on)

- Never liked pop (soda), now I find myself wanting a pepsi

- Love my red meat (with butter?)
- Cream with my coffee

- Cheetos

- burger and fries

I’m sure by the end of the day this would be a massive list. So now my aim is to either find healthier foods to start liking or learn to cook the foods I like, healthier.
Have a great day!

Chris..

p.s. Now I have to build up the courage to get my prostate checked.

As mentioned in a previous post, we recently got a health club membership. Since we knew how out of shape we were. BTW… pay attention to your weight gain if you work from home, I gained over 35lbs in the last few years. The early part of the week we took the mandatory fitness test that’s required to use the facilities (just another money grab) During the test we had a 30min discussion with one of their fitness “experts” and he went on to explain confuse us about nutrition and how much and what we should be eating. Long story short… to eat the foods which are recommended it would surely send me to the poor house. Why is it that all the foods without all the fat, calories, etc is so expensive? Yea, I read all the package labels the last time I was at the supermarket, for what we were told to look for and what to avoid.

Final comment on this whole watching what you eat… why is is that everyone seems to have their own opinion. What we were told at this fitness test is not the same as what’s published by the Canadian Gov’t. And I’m sure if we spoke to another personal trainer they would say something different.

Hope you enjoyed the extra hr of sleep this am. I forgot to set the clocks back, so I was up and about my usual time.

Chris….

p.s. Why is it all the foods we especially like is no good for us… hope my deepfryer does not hear

p.p.s Do you believe in Karma? A good friend (rip Rick) totally believed in Karma and I must say I’m becoming a believer.