Work It Off? - newsletter article

[Guest guest]

" and Friends Newsletter"Never Give UpVol. 7 No. 6March 2001

"Work" It Off?

It's official: Your job can make you fat! And it's not just cuz you sit at a desk or a cash register all day/ Your job is fattening cuz of something else, and that something else is: chocolate!

You thought you were the only one who snuck away for chocolate kisses in the afternoon? You thought you were the only one who kept a secret supply of fun-size crunch bars in the paper-clip container? Nope! Chocolate is a more popular solution for job stress than crying, calling in sick and a lot of other things, according to an Opinion Research Corp. International poll for Integra Realty Resources. Apparently, chocolate is workin' overtime to bring relief to 15 percent of stressed out guys and 30 percent of stressed out gals.

So you are not alone . . . and you are also not losing the weight. Let's get on the job! The job of weight loss, I mean. (Waitresses and waiters, that means even you! All the walking you do won't quite cover the megacalorie chocolate temptations in that rotating display case on the counter — you know, the Mud Pie, the Super-fudge Brownies, the Died-and-Went-to-Heaven Chocolate Mousse . . .) So here — memorize my memo on low- or no-calorie ways to relieve stress on the job:

..Cool off at the water cooler

..Crunch on low-fat crackers, an apple, or breadsticks dipped in mustard . . . Then swing your leg, tap a pencil eraser, or work out your fingers on a keyboard to start using up that adrenaline you got from being so mad.

..Soothe yourself with a warm and relaxing cup of herbal tea.

..Take a few deep breaths, then walk over and visit that friendly co-worker you like so much. That may cheer you up.

..Plan to take a mental health day tomorrow. Yep, I predict you are going to be feeling very sick in the morning, too sick to come in to work. Oh, you are so bad! And sometimes it's good to be bad.

..Write it all down on paper. Then crumple it all up and play wastepaper basketball: You're going for a three-pointer! You shoot . . . you score!

..Find an empty conference room and pound the table. (Definitely close the door this time!)

..Start looking for a new job. Sad but true, you may have to "lose" this job if you want to lose this weight. Oops, you left the Help Wanteds open on your chair! Well, maybe your boss will see them and think twice about the treatment you've been getting. It can't hurt if you're ready to bolt, anyway.

Okay, let's practice. Here comes the boss saying "Don't you have that ready yet?" Or a customer is giving you a hard time at the register even though you have nothing to do with setting the prices. Or it's the end of the day and the cash in the drawer doesn't balance with the receipts again. Is this your cue to go clean out the candy bar section of the vending machine all by yourself? No. Is it your cue to visit the treat table near the coffee machine? No. It's your cue to pat yourself on the back, remind yourself that everyone has problems . . . and remember that chocolate or any other food definitely won't solve them.