I used to think that Hollywood was just making fun of computer programmers by making them all similarly-shaped portly men, with receding hairlines and tons of soda cans piled high upon their desks. The character of Nedry in Jurassic Park is a classic interpretation of how the public thinks of computer programmers. And it’s not far off.
The problem computer programmers face is they are tied down to their desk all day. Their entire livelihood depends on writing one more line of code before lunch, or before going home. That, with extreme deadlines for projects, lead to the consumption of sugar and caffeine. So how can programmers wage their own war against obesity By being smart.
The first and obvious choice would be to switch from normal soda to diet. The very thought for some people of switching from Mt. Dew to Diet Mt. Dew causes many programmers to scream in agony, but getting rid of the consumption of 240 calories (for a can!) at a time could be all you need. Those calories add up during the day, and some programmers can cut 1,000 – 2,000 calories of basically pure sugar by simply switching to diet. Of course, cutting soda out of your life and replacing it with good old fashioned water is the best solution.
Bring snacks. Bringing something healthy to snack on instead of raiding the company vending machine will not only save your belly, but your wallet. Almonds (raw, not honey coated) are a great substitute for sweets. They fill you up, give you energy, and provide some great health benefits. If you aren’t quite ready to go with almonds or other fruitsvegetables, ease into it by having a healthy granola bar. Again, it fills you up, and is a great substitute for a candy bar.
Get up and move around! Schedule an alarm every hour so you can program an hour, and then get up and walk around the office for a couple of minutes before continuing work. Not only will your body like a break, but your brain will probably enjoy the rest session as well. A break can work wonders, especially if you are struggling with a piece of code.
Be smart. Don’t buy that bag of licorice at the grocery store to put on your desk. Don’t buy the container of cookies saying you’ll share them with the whole office. Leave the junk at home or don’t buy it at all! Think with your brain, not with your gut.
Tags: candy bar, computer programmers, diet mt dew, granola bar, portly men, programmers guide, pure sugar, receding hairlines, soda cans, vending machine