Goddess at the Diet Oasis...

Weight Woes - Romancing the Phone, The Weight Connection

With cell phones covering almost every inch of the universe these days, many of us are finding that we are spending more time than ever on the phone.

It's difficult to be active during a phone chat - and even if you do manage to get in a few hip thrusts and jumping jacks, the person at the other end of the line may assume that they have dialed up a 900 number rather than a friend or family member.

Phone chat indeed contributes to inactive minutes (sometimes adding up to inactive hours), and inactive minutes translates to a bad connection when it comes to weight loss and overall health benefits.  In fact, heavy phone chatters may be adding up not only minutes, but unwanted pounds.

In addition to the chatting aspect, phone chatters may find that they enjoy snacking while romancing the phone.  Those extra calories combined with long periods of inactivity contribute to body roll-overs. It's not pretty, especially when it happens to you.  Here are some super tips from the Weight Loss Goddess to help balance  Phone Time and Quality Time.

Rather than chat for hours on end with a friend or family member, meet and visit when possible.  Better yet - meet for a game of golf, or bowling, or shooting hoops.  Meet to enjoy a special project together - even puzzle-solving is better for the body than dormant Phone Chat.

Be cautious of making Phone Time, Snack Time.

Estimate the amount of time spent on the phone each day; see how this time works into everything that you want to accomplish for the day.  You may find that Phone Time is cutting in on quality time and keeping you from getting those special tasks accomplished.

If you are on the phone all day due to your line of work, try to make a connection with activity after hours.

During break time at work, get up and move around. Take a brisk walk - even if it's only a couple of minutes, it's better than sitting.