You're probably doing your best to squeeze healthy eating choices and exercise into your work day, but are you doing it for all the right reasons? The majority of people are motivated to exercise and eat better by the desires to look better, feel better, and live longer, but did you know that adopting a fit lifestyle can actually help your career? Yep, hitting the gym can improve your work performance right along with your bench press stats.Now when you're trying to motivate yourself to go for that walk over your lunch hour or to hit the gym after work, you can tell yourself that the workout is not only for your overall well-being but it also counts as an effort at furthering your career. No more guilt that you didn't stay and work overtime or eat lunch at your desk -- you were still "working" as you ran those miles over lunch!

The concept of using exercise as a tool for job success makes sense if you think about it -- you'll hardly be your best at work if you let job stress and 'not having enough hours in the day' cause you to abandon healthy living in favor of unhealthy convenience foods and sedentary habits like vegging out in front of the T.V. in the evenings. On the flip side, though, if you take time to nourish your body with healthy food and exercise, you'll find that your brain is sharper and that you have more energy. You'll not only get more done and get it done better, but you'll run circles around all your coworkers that aren't making exercise a priority and have a much better shot at that promotion you've been dreaming about.

So next time you're stressed out and feeling guilty for leaving on time to go workout (instead of staying late for the umpteenth day in a row) or for not getting to that pile of paperwork you brought home because you're going for an evening walk instead, remember to tell yourself that you're making the smart choice -- not just for your health but for your career also!