Re-Activating Your Lifestyle

I am great at maintaining- regardless of the specific number on the scale, my body will hold on tight without consideration of dieting, holidays or training programs.

So why has my weight jumped 4 pounds Christmas 2007 and 4 pounds Christmas 2008? "Did I really eat that much each Christmas?" I asked myself. After the gain I would try to lose the weight but the scale wouldn't budge. Like I said, I am great at maintaining. Up until Christmas 2007 I had always stayed within a specific 3 pound range.

Then it hit me.
Before Christmas 2007 I had balanced a desk job and school during the day with an intense waitressing job and social life at night. I was always moving. Christmas 2007 I quit waitressing. A lot less moving, 4 more pounds.
This past Christmas 2008 I graduated from college. No more parking 1 mile from classes and running around to catch the next. The farthest I have to walk now is from the parking lot to the front door. Hello an extra 4 pounds.
Sure I've trained and completed a half marathon and worked with a personal trainer as I was gaining weight... but it was the unintentional daily activity that really made the difference.

This more encouraging than saddening. Sure, I miss my (more) active lifestyle, but I am where I am and it's not changing yet. Hopefully one day I'll have a job away from the desk- but that is not today. And I'm not about ready to surrender to a sedentary lifestyle and welcome the pounds onto my frame.

So I'm going to do everything I can to add more movement into everyday tasks. I will finally walk to work when possible (it's only 1 mile!). I will park on the second level of Whole Food's parking garage and hike my way down to the store on the first level. I will take more stretch breaks at work.

...and I will use my new Gaiam Balance Ball Chair!

I've been apprehensive to spend so much money on a chair, but when I considered how much of my time is spent sitting in from of work's computer, I realized it is worth it.

How do you deal with a sedentary lifestyle?
Any little tricks you incorporate throughout your day? Please share them in comments!