This is a topic I’ve been going back and forth on regarding whether or not I wanted to discuss it here on Freelance Parent. On the one hand, it’s not the most “professional” conversation I’ve ever had on this blog; it’s not going to help you find work or write better. On the other hand, it is certainly an issue I address on a personal level; therefore, I assume it’s one everyone else considers, at least from time to time! So I’m going for it.
As a 20-something female living in the United States, I am, of course, cognizant of my weight and appearance. I typically stay within ten or so pounds of my “ideal” weight. However, since I started working from home, that ten pounds or so has doubled (much to my dismay).
I know exactly where it all came from. I work from coffeeshops when I’m not at home (hello lattes and bagels). My days are so filled that I rarely sit down to eat actual meals, instead opting to share my daughter’s macaroni and cheese or snacking almost around the clock. I can go days on end without getting dressed or leaving the house, so a gym is the last destination on my agenda. And, perhaps most importantly, eating is a wonderful way to procrastinate when I know I should be working.
There are countless diet tips and articles about dieting at work. They all say basically the same thing: Don’t keep candy on your desk. Avoid pastries with your coffee break. Go for a walk on your lunch break. Bring your own meals from home. Keep healthy snacks on hand. Blah, blah, blah.
On a cognitive level, these same steps should work at home. Our homes are essentially our offices, so we should be able to simply keep the bad foods away, stock up on fruits and veggies, and take breaks to go walking.
On a realistic level, that simply doesn’t work. I am constantly at the whim of my computer and my daughter. My computer tells me that I don’t have time to cook healthy meals or go for walks. My daughter tells me that cookies and chocolate milk are a great afternoon snack. And I believe them both.
I think the main problem is my lack of daily structure. One of the reasons I love freelancing is because each day is different. Some days, I blow all my work off and go somewhere fun. Other days, I’m at the computer for eight straight hours, making up for the day before. I might find myself spending an entire afternoon to myself when my daughter takes an unexpectedly long nap. I might even decide to spend a whole morning baking because of a recipe Paula Deen shared with me the night before. This kind of lifestyle, while enjoyable, is not conducive to either productivity or a slim waistline.
I know all the rules about weight loss and exercise. I know what works for me (insert Weight Watchers plug here), and what doesn’t.
It’s just so hard to do when you’re at home all day long. Is this yet another obstacle freelancing parents face, or can we turn this around to work to our benefit?
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Ok, I’ve been dealing with this too and as I type I’m now sitting on a stability ball instead of my very comfy desk chair. I’m making efforts now because I’ve seen my typical Christmas 5lbs turn into 10 and warm weather is (hopefully!)so with that comes bare legs!
I bought a rebounder (mini trampoline) and put it beside my desk. Either msyelf or my 3 year old bounce on it. I bounce on it when I’m downloading really slow files, etc and he bounces on it sometimes to my dismay for long periods of time while Mommy is trying to write
I was rigging up my stationary bike in front of my monitor and balancing my keyboard on the handlebars as well for a while but haven’t tried that trick lately.
None of these are quite working for me yet but I am making an effort at least!
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I’ve been freelancing for almost 6 years now and have managed to avoid gaining weight (although it is a constant fear of mine). I, too, have a varied work load and changing schedule. But, I do keep a couple of things constant: my general food intake and exercise. You don’t have to go to the gym; just plan that every day at 7:30 am (or whatever time suits you) you take a 20 - 30 minute walk around the neighborhood or do a stint on your exercise bike - the earlier the better so that you reduce your opportunity to put it off. As for eating, get rid of the tempting stuff. Be ruthless. No cookies, donuts, ice cream, crackers. If it’s not in your kitchen, you won’t eat it. Instead, keep fruit on hand for snacks. One other tip: invest in a kitchen scale. I routinely weigh portion sizes to make sure that I don’t allot myself too much of a food. It’s easy to go overboard and not even know it!
Working from home has so many benefits, but structured eating is not one of them. I’ve had to rid the entire house of anything carb and sugar-related (I’m not exaggerating). I don’t have kids, though, and I know kids like carbs.
The other thing that works for me is cooking a batch of soup and freezing it in little pyrex bowls so I always have healthy food at the ready. You can get the bowls at Target or a grocery store- each holds about 2 cups which is a small but reasonable portion. A big pot of soup can make up to 10 servings.
I love the stability ball idea!
Thanks for writing such a honest post. My problem is that when I am consumed with work, I tend to skip meals. I’ll eat dinner with my family, but it’s always been every man for himself as far as breakfast and lunch go. Malnutrition in the form of not eating proper meals is beginning to wreak havoc on my skin, not to mention my frame of mind. You forget how important exercise and diet are until you’ve been taking shortcuts.
I’ve been working from home for 13 years when my oldest was just 3. I actually gained weight at first because my office was right next to the pantry & kitchen (bad move, but good for watching kids while working). I’ve since moved my office upstairs to an unused former sleeping porch…the upstairs has a “no food” policy in our house, which I adhere to. So it is inconvenient for me to snack while working (although I do have coffee and tea). And when I do go downstairs for a snack at least I’m burning some calories by walking down an up the stairs! I also try to walk every morning — 20-30 minutes — with the dog.
Marcia
http://www.backporchpublishing.com
oh man am I with you all! My business got very intense from October to December, so I was at a disadvantage before Xmas! Another issue is that your sleep patterns can affect your metabolism, so try not to do that all-nighter stuff!
I signed up for a 5k in april. It is perfect timing because you can start with jogging as little as .5K to start, and then just keep increasing it until April.
I also keep a treadmill right next to my desk and like to put my reading up there while I walk. We all do reading, right? Print it off and put it up there!
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I like the idea of putting some sort of exercise equipment next to the place I work. I think I’m going to start perusing my local Craig’s List to find treadmills for sale. (I’m assuming the initial January fitness fervor is dying down and people are regetting their purchases!)
What an excellent post I think many of us can relate to!
I have found myself with some extra pounds the last few years due to my working and munching all day long.
Last month I got treadmill and made a rule that when ever I am on the phone with a conference or training call, I will walk the entire time. The funny thing is, that I normally have about 3-5 conference calls a week with clients and have lost some weight!
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