Every office has the one person who kills it with the snacks.
It’s 3pm and the dreaded afternoon slump has hit. You’ve been so good all day, but suddenly that chicken salad you had for lunch seems like an eternity ago.
Your blood sugar is dropping, it’s been a crazy day, and those almonds that are sitting in your handbag just seem less and less appealing.
Enter the secret snack stash – because hey, life’s all about balance.
People have been sharing their secret snack stashes online, and we have to say, we’re jealous.
Okay, we’re impressed.
This wonder woman understands the value of a 3pm Crunchie.
And Jeffl understands the importance of dental hygiene…
Of course, there is always that one person who has the basics covered.
That’s almost 2 kg of gummy bears. I wonder if they’re sharing?
Well, gum is kind of a snack… we guess.
That is one organised drawer.
Remember, it’s all about balance
Don’t let one little snack derail all your hard work.
If you have an office job, it’s not only the sedentary nature of your job that sabotages weight loss. Distractedly having lunch at your desk, regular birthday cakes for colleagues, and bottomless cups of coffee are also potential fat traps.
“If you want to lose weight, or avoid gaining weight, plan for the situations you may face at work,” says Dr George Blair-West, psychiatrist and author of Weight Loss for Food Lovers.
“For example, there may be times when you decide not to be around for an office celebration if you find it too difficult to say no to the food on offer,” he says.
How to beat the afternoon slump without sugar
If you eat a big lunch you’ll get an energy dip in the afternoon as your blood glucose levels gradually drop. Avoid this by having a lighter lunch of foods that slowly release energy.
“Even going for a little walk can lift us,” says Meerding. Research at the University of Georgia found that a 20-minute walk cuts feelings of fatigue by as much as 65 per cent. “People forget to drink water and this also depletes energy levels. Most offices have air conditioning and heating, adding to our dehydration,” says Meerding.
Solution
Have a smaller lunch of low-GI foods such as wholegrain breads, salad, low-fat cheese, fish or lean meats. If you need a mid-afternoon snack good options are reduced-fat yoghurt, vegetable sticks with some low-fat dip or fresh fruit.
Keep a bottle of water on your desk to remind yourself to drink, too.
