Less gym, less food, more input

Subsequently, I joined a gym that is opposite my office and started eating a far more healthy diet and avoided alcohol during the week. Three months on, I am now looking pretty good. I am at the gym most lunchtimes and having salads for lunch. However, my boss is not as keen on my new healthy regime and has told me that I am not doing enough entertaining at lunchtime. How do I do my job without impinging on my fitness programme?

A It is very commendable that you have decided to start looking after yourself. A close female friend complimented
me on the fact that I appeared to have lost some weight recently.

She thought I was looking so trim that I could probably get into her jeans. To be honest, after a couple of Bacardi Breezers and a bottle of pinot grigio, that's never been a problem in the past, so I wasn't entirely sure if it was a compliment or an offer.

It's important to make sure you look after yourself, but there's no reason why you can't do this and keep your lunch call rate up at the same time.

Rather than going every lunchtime to the gymnasium, why not book out two lunchtimes a week for the gym and then pick one or two mornings a week to come in early and hit the gym.

Top tip here is to come briefly into the office beforehand, answer a few e-mails, making sure you have cc'ed the boss on any that you send out and then go to the gym.

This way, not only do you get brownie points for starting early (well it will appear that way from the e-mails you have sent out), but you have also managed to get a workout in. And there's also no reason why you can't do a similar scam in the evenings.

When you do go for lunch, there are a few things you can do to prevent the waistline from re-expanding. Don't eat the bread roll, avoid anything fried and don't be tempted by dessert.

No one will be offended if you don't drink alcohol, but if you feel that you must, then stick to one glass of wine.
Strangely, afternoons are a lot easier to bear when you have not had a "full on" lunch.

Now, if only I could just follow the advice I am giving out to you, I would still be able to get into my own jeans.

This article was first published on mediaweek.co.uk