Working from home: a weight-loss struggle

By: Janie Porter

Pasco County, Florida – There’s a reason 45 million Americans work from home: more time with the kids, less money spent on gas and who can beat that two-minute commute?

Those were some of the reasons Teresa Jones decided last year to convert her dining room into a home office.

“It was very exciting to come home, but… my activity level just went to completely nothing,” she said.

Jones used to commute to a large call center in Tampa, where even the walk to the parking lot was significant exercise.

Now, her desk is just a few feet from the kitchen. And in the last year, Jones found herself giving in to temptation over and over.

She realized that, along with willpower, she needed more social interaction. Jones found herself yearning to interact with others who were also trying to lose weight.

So, she joined Curves of New Port Richey, a specialty gym designed to make working out an experience based on making friends and offering encouragement.

A few times a week, Jones works out at the Curves near her house. She says the key is meeting people with similar weight-loss goals.

“It’s nice to be out and be around people,” she said in between pants as she climbed a leg machine at Curves. “Since I work at home, I’m so alone during the day. And it’s so nice to come out and be motivated and see how other people are working.”

Last month, Jones was also chosen to join the Humana Health Challenge, a program that offers her a health coach and the opportunity to blog with other participants.

For Jones, her health coach became her accountability partner. Now, that weekly phone call is reason enough to stop her from satisfying her cravings.

“Because if I want to eat those potato chips that are calling my name over there,” Jones said from her desk as she pointed toward the kitchen, “I know I need to talk to my coach on Friday, so it’s so motivating.”

Now, instead of junk food, snacks like yogurt, fruit and diet soda inhabit Jones’ refrigerator.

By the end of 2008, her goal is to lose 50 pounds and get back into her size 10 jeans. But there’s more to it than that.

“I’d like to just live a healthier lifestyle.”