LiveScience.com - Job Promotions Unhealthy, Study Finds (http://www.livescience.com/health/090409-promotions-bad.html)


A few years ago I started cycling - this meant spending long periods of time riding with a coworker. He made an observation one day that has stuck with me. "Watch the waistline of our executives...none of them are getting healthier..."

That thought was going through my mind several months later when I had my "moment". I was heading out of town ON VACATION, to go to see my FAVORITE BAND in concert at RED ROCKS. I should have been happy, even giddy. Instead I was a raging ball of work stress, was snapping at my wife and felt like someone was sitting on my chest. I thought to myself - this is a heart attack at some point in the future if I don't DO SOMETHING.

I lost 30+ pounds in 9 weeks after that trip (there are more details in my fitness journal) and haven't looked back.

I still have all the job stressors, and I added an MBA on top - but somehow I feel great (funny though, when I get asked and I say I can do it all because of diet & exercise people look at me like I'm nuts).

So this article points out that success at work just calls for success with your diet & exercise. The mind and the body are not separable.

Link is broken, but I know exactly what you mean.

Since we've gotten married, my husband has gained about 50 pounds, and probably added about 10 inches to his waistline. He's making more than triple what he used to make, but he really has a hard time relaxing any more. I'm not sure at what point he'll decide enough is enough. He's been talking about an MBA as well, and I'm not sure what, if any difference it will make to his career or to his health.

He never really had health as his top priority, but as he's added on more hours and responsibility, I think his stress levels have affected his appetite for fats and alcohols, and fatigued him to the point where he's not as excited about non-work things as he used to be, and not as able to be physically active.

It's sort of like he can focus on only one area at a time, and as he gives more of himself to career advancement, there's just not enough left for anything else. :(

Any advice for anyone who's in the situation you used to be in? Should I try and get him fired or demoted? :p

In the months of January and February I spent every day at work, including weekends and holidays, until 8 or 9 at night at some points. I had also made a commitment to working out during lunch everyday. In hindsight, I would never have made it through those months without fitness in my life. I didn't have time for anything else, and fitness was the only thing that made me happy, and I am happier now because of it.

Link is broken

Sorry about that...fixed now.

Since we've gotten married, my husband has gained about 50 pounds, and probably added about 10 inches to his waistline. He's making more than triple what he used to make, but he really has a hard time relaxing any more. I'm not sure at what point he'll decide enough is enough. He's been talking about an MBA as well, and I'm not sure what, if any difference it will make to his career or to his health.

Oh wow - I know that story. When I was considering the MBA, I was warned about 3 things - 1)Alcoholism 2)Weight Gain 3)Adultery. You put people together under stress, add alcohol and the less disciplined do stupid things. The good news is that with the warnings I was able to make some decisions early about how I was going to approach the MBA. For example, I could have saved LOTS of money by going to a state school that is 2 hours away - but that would have meant being away from my family for at least one weekend a month. My wife & I decided very early on that the premium to attend the private school in town was WELL worth it.


He never really had health as his top priority, but as he's added on more hours and responsibility, I think his stress levels have affected his appetite for fats and alcohols, and fatigued him to the point where he's not as excited about non-work things as he used to be, and not as able to be physically active. It's sort of like he can focus on only one area at a time, and as he gives more of himself to career advancement, there's just not enough left for anything else. :(

I've been in that downward spiral. You've "made it", but also know that you have to bust ass to maintain your worth to the company. You tell yourself that the little sacrifices are justified. Then the little sacrifices add up. I didn't take a real vacation for > 5 years. My wife gave me a good wake-up call and we then did BIG vacations for a few years, now we've settled back down, but we go to the beach AT LEAST one week a year. (I'm not taking school work this year!!!)


Any advice for anyone who's in the situation you used to be in? Should I try and get him fired or demoted? :p

What usually works for me is to step back and realize that I'm working hard to support my family, but there are other ways my family needs support. They need me around and not so damn cranky all the time. My wife controls what food is in the house since she goes grocery shopping. When she makes an effort to stock the healthier things I like, I eat them more. When I wanted to do Body For Life the first time, I asked her to do it with me for the support and because I needed the food in the house to change.

The way I seek balance has changed over time. I realize now I can't simultaneously balance everything. Work, School, Family, Me - those things all take time & energy. Usually I'm neglecting one or more of them - so now I just try to shift the neglect around often enough that no one part suffers.

Right now I'm very focused on ME - but I know that investment in my health will pay dividends to my family, my employer, my MBA cohort, etc. I've hit every meal, workout, supplement etc lately - but I may not get a 4.0 in school this term. I'm ok with that.

There's more I could share in a PM if you are interested - I'd be happy to share specifics on the type of job, MBA program, etc. I'm clearly over committed...but loving it!

In the months of January and February I spent every day at work, including weekends and holidays, until 8 or 9 at night at some points. I had also made a commitment to working out during lunch everyday. In hindsight, I would never have made it through those months without fitness in my life. I didn't have time for anything else, and fitness was the only thing that made me happy, and I am happier now because of it.

For me sometimes sticking to my diet / exercise or even just maintaining my weight is proof that I still have control over some portion of my life. Its about knowing I have a great excuse, yet not taking it. I've really been working on my personal discipline - I've never been great at it, but this year its giving me new strength and keeping me from being depressed about the economy and its ripple effects. I spent too much time wallowing in the negative in 2008 and decided it was time to move on.

Right now I'm very focused on ME - but I know that investment in my health will pay dividends to my family, my employer, my MBA cohort, etc. I've hit every meal, workout, supplement etc lately - but I may not get a 4.0 in school this term. I'm ok with that.
:) That's a great story. Thanks for sharing.

I'm going to bookmark this; maybe you'll hear from me later, but I'll give all of this stuff some thought first. :tu:

For me sometimes sticking to my diet / exercise or even just maintaining my weight is proof that I still have control over some portion of my life. Its about knowing I have a great excuse, yet not taking it. I've really been working on my personal discipline - I've never been great at it, but this year its giving me new strength and keeping me from being depressed about the economy and its ripple effects. I spent too much time wallowing in the negative in 2008 and decided it was time to move on.

That is another good point. My personal discipline has gone up a ton. I no longer watch TV anymore. My time is split between work, gym, studying for the GMAT, and sleeping...and I don't feel deprived.

For me sometimes sticking to my diet / exercise or even just maintaining my weight is proof that I still have control over some portion of my life. Its about knowing I have a great excuse, yet not taking it. I've really been working on my personal discipline - I've never been great at it, but this year its giving me new strength and keeping me from being depressed about the economy and its ripple effects. I spent too much time wallowing in the negative in 2008 and decided it was time to move on.


Taking control and putting your health as a priority, even with work responsibilities, is key. It helps to build the habits and not let things tempt you.

Yes, you might have to adapt (I have gone through spells of constant travel), but not allowing yourself to get out of things done strictly for you and not your employer is important.

I've found my work hasn't suffered for me taking care of myself, it's actually improved. If I feel better, I work better. Exercise and good food help me feel better physically and mentally, so they are non-negotiable.

LiveScience.com - Job Promotions Unhealthy, Study Finds (http://www.livescience.com/health/090409-promotions-bad.html)


A few years ago I started cycling - this meant spending long periods of time riding with a coworker. He made an observation one day that has stuck with me. "Watch the waistline of our executives...none of them are getting healthier..."

That thought was going through my mind several months later when I had my "moment". I was heading out of town ON VACATION, to go to see my FAVORITE BAND in concert at RED ROCKS. I should have been happy, even giddy. Instead I was a raging ball of work stress, was snapping at my wife and felt like someone was sitting on my chest. I thought to myself - this is a heart attack at some point in the future if I don't DO SOMETHING.

I lost 30+ pounds in 9 weeks after that trip (there are more details in my fitness journal) and haven't looked back.

I still have all the job stressors, and I added an MBA on top - but somehow I feel great (funny though, when I get asked and I say I can do it all because of diet & exercise people look at me like I'm nuts).

So this article points out that success at work just calls for success with your diet & exercise. The mind and the body are not separable.

I read this article too. My manager is overweight and even though we try to get him to start walking during 18 holes of golf he just won't do it, as a result he's nearly always in a stressful state of being.