Tags
exercise, fitness, GCC, junk food, lifestyle, office eating, social eating, weight loss, weight management
It’s hysterical the way my company is in move mode. Ever since they launched the GCC (Global Corporate Challenge), people are pacing, walking in place and strolling in groups. On the phone and even during presentations, locomotion appears to be the flavor of the day.
I applaud my company’s attempt to encourage healthy behavior. However, office celebrations still entail mounds of sugar in the form of over-sized cookies big enough to eat you rather than the other way around. Pizza parties, ice cream socials and multiple cakes to celebrate multiple birthdays are the norm in corporate offices.
Although I’ve been conscientious about wearing my step tracker, I don’t find it motivating, maybe because I’m not the competitive type, and the GCC campaign is designed for people who thrive on competition. I do enjoy mobility, but fare better when I compete with myself rather than virtual teams around the world. When I hear someone racked up 24,000 steps before lunch time, I know they have to be biking to the office and that’s just not feasible for everyone.
My office recently purchased a movable stand-up desk that employees can borrow when they tire of sitting. I thought it was a great idea, which prompted me to begin some online window shopping. It seems there are different versions of stand-up desks on the market and they can get pricey. I decided DIY (do it yourself) would be a good start, so I’ve been placing my keyboard, monitor and mouse on boxes atop my desk. I like it for short periods of time; still not sure the desk is a worthy investment. I need to read more reviews.
Getting back to the food (Isn’t that always the way?), if companies really want to help their employees get healthy, they would eliminate the demonic temptations that we easily succumb to during the 3 p.m. slump. Weight management is a mindset and I know that until I set my mind to deviate from the societal norm of food-centered celebration, recognition and socialization, walking umpteen steps a day won’t make a bit of difference.
Gail's Blog 
It is interesting to read of the contradiction between the encouragement to move more in the workplace, and the sugar treaties that are the only option (usually) for workplace celebrations and gatherings. I have completed the GCC a couple of times through my work and found that it encouraged more movement and some healthy competition in the workplace. For a while. Good luck with your global walking journey!
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So good to hear from another GCC participant. Were you encouraged because you enjoy competition or did the tracker motivate you?
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It was a bit of both. I was trying to be more active at the time anyway, and the team I was in at the time was competitive in a friendly way. I enjoyed the experience but like a lot of things, it was good that it had a timeframe before the novelty completely wore off!
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Yes! I’m counting down from the 100-day end. Will be so glad to be free of this pesky tracker.
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Ah yes, the workplace sweets. They can really do a number on us. A bowl of grapes or cherries would be so much better. 🙂
Hope your summer is going well!
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Raw nuts and berries would be a welcome change. Maybe it could help us imagine we’re in a forest under trees instead of in a cubicle under fluorescent lights. So good to hear from you, Carrie! Is your next book out yet?
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Well, it’s finished and in the hands of agents (am querying). Traditional publishing moves at a snail’s pace. 🙂
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Looking forward to it!
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Thanks! 🙂
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