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Women who are overweight or obese have often reported feeling discriminated against at work. Now a new study claims that obesity could be interfering with a woman’s ability to move forward and get promoted. The study was conducted by Timothy Judge, PhD, at the University of Florida. Judge found that women considered being extra thin--weighing 25 pounds less than their co-workers--earned an average of $15,000 more a year than women of normal weight. On the other hand, women who were 25 pounds heavier made nearly $14,000 less than their colleagues.
This is not at all fair, but we still admittedly have an obesity problem in this country. Having been formerly obese myself, I can tell you that there were times where I too felt discriminated against. I will, however, say that many workplaces do not make it conducive to fitting in the time allotted needed to take on a healthy lifestyle. In this very economy, we are seeing people working longer days in an effort to keep their jobs. They are also skipping meals which are pertinent for weight loss, as well as workouts.
Here is some advice to stay healthy while working extra hard: Get creative in how you can fit in a walk, or a quick meal at your desk. Carry around fresh fruits and veggies in a tiny cooler and snack while you bang out emails. Wear a hands-free earpiece and keep a resistance band in your desk drawer. You can then do some bicep curls while you’re on that conference call.
On the flip side, I can tell you that when I started to take control of my health, my confidence level improved. I became more assertive in the workplace and excelled. As a former heavy person, I also was eager to please and took on way too much responsibility at work without demanding more pay. I feel that if you put your health first, your job will only get better. I also know from experience that if you put your health first, you will prosper. Health is wealth and above all something we can control.
If you feel discriminated against, do not get disgruntled as it will only be detrimental to your health and well being. You have control of how you react. Look inward and say to yourself, “What do I want to work on for me?” This can lead to so many other opportunities in life, love, and yes, work!
Joanne Sgro is a Television Fitness Expert, Certified Personal Trainer and Sport Nutritionist. She is Certified in Pilates, Pre-natal/Post-Partum, Yoga and Senior Fitness. She specializes in Weight Loss, Post-Rehab and Post Cancer Training. Joanne's fitness plans and recipes are available globally on her website www.fitnessanswer.com. She resides in the Phoenix, AZ area with her fiancé where she runs her personal training business, Fitness Answer, LLC.
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