Sitting is the new smoking.
The human body was developed for movement.
A sedentary culture of sitting is taking a major toll on people’s health. When sitting for long periods of time, our bodies become less efficient. Sitting more than six hours a day puts you on a very unhealthy path—even if you exercise.
Sitting for long periods of time can actually make bottoms bigger because sitting down puts a large amount of force on the body tissues that make fat cells. People who sit for prolonged periods throughout the day are predisposed to developing diabetes as well as other health problems. In addition, lack of movement increases a propensity for depression and feeling blue.
Here are a few suggestions to resist the adverse effects of sitting too long.
Set your computer clock to announce the time every 15 minutes. Take just a moment to stand and stretch. The stretch that I engage in most often is standing, arms outstretched behind me at shoulder height, and breathing slowly six times. This short stretch forces my sternum to extend—allowing for more efficient breathing and reversing the collapsing posture of sitting.
Although a treadmill desk is a new approach for beating the “sitting all day blues,” it’s not always practical. The next best thing is a standing desk. It’s also cheaper than a treadmill desk.
You can attach some type of blocks to lift your desk, raising it about 10 inches. Getting off a bar stool at your desk is easier than getting off a chair.
Do whatever it takes to reverse the negative effects of sitting for long periods of time.
Tip: When sitting at a desk, stand and stretch every 15 minutes.
