Office Diets

Office Diets

Swallowing a tapeworm, not eating for days, and drinking nothing but lemon juice combined with maple syrup and cayenne pepper, while these may seem like stunts on the adventure-themed Survivor, were actually methods of weight loss that characters on the NBC hit comedy show "The Office" participated in. While this very comical approach was taken on the extremes to which people will go to lose weight, it brought light to the fact that most of the population is overweight, and that the office environment is a possible contributor to that fact.

It is our home away from home, spending forty hours or more a week at work is a large chunk of our time. Even though our intentions to lose weight may be strong at home, will power may be lost when co-workers tempt dieting intentions with candy, doughnuts and other empty calorie treats day in and day out. Changing the whole eating and exercising mentality at work is the message that show ultimately conveyed. Engraining healthier lifestyles through a contest was the ultimate goal of the show. The following tips can be used to start an "office diet" that won't backfire.

Labels

Avoid labels to a contest that encourages unsafe and harmful practices by the participants. Labels can often lead to an unhealthy competitiveness between co-workers. Example, swallowing a tape-worm, not such a good idea, however balancing diet and exercise combined with an appetite suppressant such as hoodia gordonii, (to help fight the temptation of giving into the box of doughnuts in the break room) is a much better alternative.

Be Sensitive

Being sensitive to the feelings of others is important. Singling out select people for liposuction is not the most tactical approach to encourage weight loss, instead good advice on changing eating habits is. Encouraging people to park in a further away spot or taking the stairs as opposed to the elevator is also a better form of encouragement.

Safety

Finally realizing that losing weight is more about lifestyle change than a one time event with a prize will be most beneficial. Using tools to help expedite weight loss is a great motivator, however if abused even the best diet pills can be dangerous.