Until a few hundred years ago, humans spent the first six million years on earth with their feet moving from one activity to the next. Now, we spend most of our day in a seated position. Sitting all day isn’t ideal for the body, can slow the metabolism and lead to weight gain. Extra weight may bring on other health related issues. The longer a person sits, the more their 'good' HDL cholesterol drops by 20%. Sitting most of the day causes insulin levels to drop and may increase the risk for diabetes. Even if a person is getting the daily-recommended exercise of 30-60 minutes, being inactive the rest the day is still a health risk. The best strategy is to alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day.
WHILE AT HOME:
- Limit TV time to just 2 hours a day. Watch from a treadmill or stationary bike.
- Move more to burn calories with daily non-exercise activities like folding laundry, putting things away and just standing up.
- Every 30 minutes get up from what you are doing and move around for a few minutes before sitting down again.
WHILE AT WORK:
- Take breaks every hour to get up, stretch and walk around for about 3-5 minutes.
- Stand up and walk to the printer regularly.
- Get up and stretch while on the phone or practice standing while carrying on a conversation.
- Consider trading your chair for a large stability ball to engage your muscles.
Get consistent activity throughout the day to keep your metabolism moving along in high gear.
"'It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up." Vince Lombardi