After-Holiday Workout

After the almost nightly parties, the seemingly endless spreads of delectable but cholesterol-laden food, overflowing wine and alcohol, not to mention the boxes of chocolates and sweets we received as presents, it's back to work for most of us corporate slaves. We stopped counting the calories during the Holiday festivities and gorged on whatever is on the table. Now, we are bearing the brunt of overeating and if we don't do something fast, we might not get to wear those fab clothes we got as gifts. Worse, we keep a 9-to5 job that keeps us deskbound.

Don't fret office girl! There are ways to get rid of the bulge without going out of the office and disrupting your work. It won't be easy but if you are determined to loose some inches and get fit, you can do it. The trick is to insert a few minutes of exercise at a time at various points of the day.

Start by walking. It is the easiest, cheapest and most convenient form of aerobic exercise that anyone can do. A five to 10-minute walking sessions before work, during lunch break and after work will lead to a healthier, slimmer you. Climbing the stairs burns approximately 8 calories a minute so take the stairs as often as you can. It will be painful for the leg muscles at first but as you get fitter, you'll be able to climb five to eight floors without much effort. Every office building is equipped with this built-in exercise machine so don't just stare at it, use it!

You can bring dumbbells or just use bottles filled with water and give your arms some workout during coffee breaks. You can also stand up and slowly bend over to reach your toes. This will stretch your muscles and even help in preventing the aches, pains and tightness that office workers commonly complain of. Exercise your lower body by doing leg lifts while on the phone or reading emails and memos. But more importantly, eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water and have a happy disposition.