Working from Home in P.J.'s: Easy on the Wardrobe, Hard on the Waistline

Working from home sounds like a dream job. No need to face a long commute in your car, no worries about being "late" to the office. And who cares what you wear - you can even go to work in your pajamas!

The problem: using food for all the wrong reasons! Let's say you're working on a tough project. You finally achieve the half-way point. To reward yourself, you head to the kitchen and open up the fridge. Leftover pizza looks good, with a tall glass of lemonade.

An hour later: you're stuck on the same project. You're feeling anxious, bored, worried.

Obvious solution: take a break. Unfortunately, that break often involves going back to the kitchen. Oh, look, a carton of cherry ice cream with chocolate chips. And that container of whipped cream would be so good on top of it.

Is it any wonder that so many telecommuters complain about weight gain?

The good news: there IS a solution!

1. Make a schedule for yourself. For example, perhaps you decide to take two breaks in the morning, followed by lunch, then two breaks to fill out the afternoon.

2. Plan non-food diversions. Consider meeting a friend for a walk, or heading out for a quick trip to the library or store.

3. Include exercise in your life. You don't have to join a gym or take a class. For example, you might want to have a few different fitness DVDs on hand, from yoga to dance to strength to cardio, or get an exercise bike, put it in front of the TV, and pedal away the calories while you watch TV.

4.Don't work in your pajamas. It's too easy to feel as if you "don't have to go out," and get into a mode where you're indoors all day. It's fine to put on sweat pants or other casual clothes. The trick: wear attire that you're comfortable with wearing outside. That way, you can get out and about, giving yourself a break that doesn't involve food.

5.When you are hungry and want a snack, keep it healthy. Prepare healthy snacks ahead of time, and put them in the front part of the fridge, such as cut-up fresh veggies with low-fat yogurt dip or fresh fruit and low-fat string cheese sticks. When possible, combine low-fat protein with fresh fruit or veggies for a filling snack.