6 Easy (and Healthy) Office Swaps for a Sexier You!

Not having ever worked in an office myself, I can only go by what my sister, cousin, and girlfriends tell me it's like. Yes to lots of suits. Yes to very little music playing. And yes to temptation from the donut box, the cake afternoons, and the 3pm slack off when sugar cravings spike.

So in helping them out, I thought I'd throw my ideas your way as I'm sure a few of you are also working in offices and face these temptations each day, or just get stuck on healthy alternatives to what you're already doing.

Here are 6 office swaps for a sexier you ~

SWAP: A donut for a piece of fruit

Sure, this doesn't sound at all like a fair swap (even though that's a pretty perfect looking apple no?), but this will get people talking, and in time you won't be the only one munching on a piece of fruit I guarantee it. Initially you're likely to get a few party-poopers raining on your health parade, but stand strong and know that it's likely they're beating themselves up for eating donuts everyday, and that's why they're taking it out on you (coz you're just "so damn healthy" right?). And who knows... you might end up changing the workplace into ordering fruit boxes instead! Hooray! Fruit is packed with fibre, vitamins, and antioxidants to keep your skin healthy, your hair shining, and your whole body happy.

SWAP: Chocolate bar for some raw chocolate


Now we're talking! It's no secret that I'm a big fan of chocolate (and think I've got mum to thank for that one), but I am not a fan of commercial, processed chocolate that has more sugar than cacao. And I eat cacao pretty much everyday, so I totally understand if you don't want to give it up. But limit your serving sizes to 2-3 pieces a day of good quality, dark, organic, raw of you like, chocolate. There are plenty of brands available these days that tick all those boxes. But a block and keep it at home, breaking a few pieces off and putting them in a mini tupperware container in your bag so there's no temptation to eat the whole lot. Loaded with antioxidants to keep you looking young!


 
SWAP: Store bought nut bar for homemade trail mix

Raw organic nuts, seeds and dried fruits are what they say they are. Prepackaged nut bars are not. They are often more sugar, fructose, glucose syrup, honey, and vegetable oil than they are nuts. I know there are a few good ones on the market but in general, they're no better than a Mars bar. Pack your own though and you're tipping the scales in your favour to better joint health, eye health, brain cognition, mineral levels, blood sugar balance and healthy digestion. My fav's are walnut / goji / macadamia, pepita / sunflower seed / dried apricots / almonds, and coconut flakes / raisins / cinnamon / cashews.

SWAP: Subway 6-inch for rye salad sandwich

White bread does nothing for us so choose a healthier alternative loaded with more fibre, more vitamins and more minerals. Rye is perfect as most sandwich places offer it these days. Fill up with fresh salad ingredients like beetroot, carrot, lettuce, alfalfa, tomato, onion, and avocado, adding in a little chicken, turkey or egg if you fancy some of that too. Stay away from the processed sliced meats, heavy condiment sauces made from who-knows-what, and anything fried in vegetable oil, or heated in a microwave. You'll be preventing wrinkles, clogged arteries, and an upset digestive system, which will in turn give you sparkling eyes, smooth skin, and a happy heart.

SWAP: Afternoon coffee for herbal tea

Last week I wrote about coffee and the confusion we too often read about surrounding it, but when I take an individual's health into account, there can for sure still be a place for coffee - it all depends on the amount, how it's had, what it's had with, and of course the individual. Having said that, I'm not a fan of anyone drinking it in the afternoons. It stays in our system too long, and we are seeing more and more people suffering from insomnia, feeling tired and wired in the evenings, and not being able to get out of bed in the mornings. So come afternoon slump time, reach for a green tea instead. Warm up with a chai. Or a Teechino with almond milk and stevia drops (my latest fav). Or something uplifting like lemongrass and peppermint. These all help digestion and keeping the bowels healthy, heat us up internally (perfect for chilly winters), provide our bodies with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits, and don't make us crash in an hour or so. Bonus!

SWAP: Coke for kombucha

LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT! Kombucha that is. As I'm seeing less and less people around me drinking coke, I still have no doubt it's the number one fizzy drink worldwide. And it's the sugar and caffeine that has everyone addicted to it. Next time you want something to give you a little perk up whilst still being effervescent, fizzy, bubbly and uplifting (like a Coke), reach for a kombucha instead. This stuff has got to be my all time favourite drink that I now make my own. A fermented tea (and no, it doesn't taste like off tea) that is so good for your gut, your skin, your immunity, your stress levels, your adrenal health, your moods and your energy. You'll find it at good health food stores (Mojo is nation wide in Oz, and Buchi which is my fav are only along the east coast between Sunny Coast and Byron I think at the moment... let's try to change that!). Grab some each weekend and keep them in your fridge ready to throw in your handbag. I'll be posting how I make mine in about a month.


So there you go. You'll be looking sexier, feeler fab-er and glowing from inside out sooner than you know it with these swaps. Do you already make supercharged swaps at work? Please share in the comments below.

Christie xx

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