Working in an office is positive on lots of levels – there are new friends, teamwork, training, opportunities for promotion and ways to expand your salary.

Unfortunately, there are also ways to widen your waistline.

The reason? When you’re working with lots of people there’s socialising after hours, shared chocolates on birthdays and, if anyone fancies themselves as a Bake Off champion, Cake Friday.

So how are you going to stay in shape surrounded by so many temptations?

After all, willpower alone is not enough to help you resist the office challenge to find that white Creme Egg.

You need our five-point plan to avoid Fat February.

 

Your lips are sealed

Mentioning you’re cutting back is counter-productive. Instead of supporting your efforts you’ll be sabotaged by offers of crisps, biscuits and fizzy drinks from the vending machine. Your colleagues aren’t being mean, there’s just something about going on a diet that provokes other people into feeding you. So stay shtum about your efforts to count calories.

 

Be the last

When the chocolates are handed round, hold back until last. All the yummy fillings will be gone and you’ll be left with the hard nougat. You cannot possibly eat more than one. Plus it keeps your mind and body alert for problem solving.

 

Be helpful

Volunteer to make the coffees (without doughnuts), pick up the printouts and distribute them. Just getting out of your seat, walking regularly and climbing up and down stairs will contribute to your daily energy burn. And you’ll finally make that annoying sports bracelet you got for Christmas stop beeping on about 10,000 steps!

 

Make your own

Not only will a packed lunch or supper give you control over diet, it will save you cash. And you can add that money to your attractive new salary for buying new clothes when your current wardrobe needs to be downsized.

 

The fun run

Stick to your guns and firm your buns with a charity run and persuade your workmates to join in. Get competitive about training, set yourself challenges and stick to them. Just think how good you’ll feel crossing that finish line.

 

Now, when it comes to a new career, just go for it. Treat yourself to a close look at not one but all of the latest vacancies on [site_name]