Working from Home and Weight Loss

There is truly no better joy in this world than being successfully self-employed. No jerk boss to bark at you, no creepy co-workers to have forced relationships with, and no one forcing you to stay in a desk all day or eat awful cafeteria food. Indeed, as a self-employed person working from home, you have the awesome freedom to eat whatever you want, and take breaks to jog or go to the gym, and live a healthy and zen-like exis...

I'm sorry. This delivery pizza is so good that I can barely type.

OK, I admit it - I'm writing an article on self-employment and weight while eating pizza. So what? I am on article number six for the day, I've been in this chair for two and a half hours, and I'm hungry. I don't want to get up and make anything because I'm on a roll, and ordering take out is so much easier. Besides, it's not like there is anyone around to watch me gorge myself.

Much like new college students gain a "freshman fifteen", I personally think that there is a "freelance fifteen." I definitely gained it when I began working from home. It really takes a lot of discipline to truly crack down and get work done without anyone telling you to do it, and food can easily become a friend and a support system to deal with stress. Unlike an office job where you can commiserate with co-workers, freelancers often have no one but their thoughts, and food is a great comforter. Until, of course, you get on the scale a week later.

I'm not going to tell you that it is easy to monitor your diet when working from home. It takes a ton of discipline. While I'm not exactly practicing masterful discipline as I write this, I have successfully lost weight while still working from home in the past. My best advice is to think about why you eat junk when working - probably because it's easy, soothing, and accessible. Have easy and accessible healthy snacks on hand at all time, even if it means prepping things in advance. Remember that warm foods are often a device we use to cure stress. Try high fiber toaster pastries or organic and low-calorie microwave dinners. Stick to healthy duplicates of the foods you often fall back on - for example, what I should be eating right now is low-fat mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce on a low-carb tortilla. That may sound like a hassle, but preparing it would have taken about a fifth as long as the pizza took to get here, for a fraction of the price. Trader Joes and Whole Foods have great healthy alternatives and substitutes, and aren't that much more expensive than most grocery stores.

Also, bear in mind that exercise is key, and a great tool when you're "stuck" on something. As a freelancer who works from home, think about what you do when you take breaks. Do you flip on the TV? Worse, do you get distracted by menial and pointless things on the internet? Reverse the habit by using walks and jogs to give yourself a break from your work. Not only will you feel way revitalized when you return, but you will see an immediate difference in your overall energy and motivation. Too cold to go outside? Search YouTube for workout clips like "8 Minute Tae-Bo" or "8 Minute Abs/Arms/Buns."

I wish you the best of luck in losing weight while working from home. Remember, you began making a living this way to liberate yourself. Remember that mind and body are intrinsically linked. As for me, as soon as I finish this pizza and this article, I am going for a long walk.

Well, OK. After this bite...