Sedentary—Exercise
Last week I blogged about my job and my concerns about how sedentary it is. I’ve worked to change my work habits, and I have been successful.
Start Exercising
First, I reduced the amount of time I sit. If I’m on the telephone, I stand up and move around so far as the phone cord allows.
Second, instead of sitting and editing, I print the edits and ride the exercise bike or stand at the kitchen counter and do leg raises. An added benefit is, I’m getting more fiction writing done.
Third, I’m investing in a standing desk, but that is still a few weeks out.
While I’m pleased with the changes, I still have to remind myself to get up and move.
Exercise Sources
I also went in search of some exercises and came up with three great suggestions.
The first was Rebecca J. Clark, author of The Checklist Diet. Rebecca suggested:
- Sit and stand from a chair
- Standing side leg lifts (already on my list!)
- Get up and down from the floor
“You don’t ever want to be the person who’s ‘fallen and I can’t get up’,” Rebecca said.
Next, I was sent some great links for yoga from Toni Patrick, a yoga instructor and speech therapist.
I tried one from each and love them!
Kickboxing Aerobic instructors Gloria and Dana Warren offered these suggestions:
- Seated or standing calf raises
- Pushups off the desk
- Squats
- Stand on one leg then the other (good exercise and a great way to build balance)
Gloria says, “Almost any exercise can be incorporated into this, depending on how much time the person wants to spend, and how many disruptions they are willing to allow.”
Deadlines
As I was putting this blog together, I was interrupted with a two hour edit that was a high pressure deadline, but I was determined to limit my sit time. I incorporated leg lifts from Rebecca J. Clark, yoga poses from each of the yoga sites recommended by Toni Patrick and squats and calf raises from Gloria and Dana Warren.
How I worked it was, I sat for 30 minutes, then I had intended to take a break and a few exercises, but instead I found I could do 30 minutes of exercise while I edited from the computer. I just stood in front of the monitor and read while I did leg lifts, calf raises, squats, and shoulder and thigh stretches.
After the 30 minutes of exercise, I sat again, but got up and moved around every 30 minutes and the time flew by. I got the edits done and off, and best of all, I felt great afterwards instead of exhausted like I normally would.
I am finding this easier to incorporate than I anticipated, and I’m excited to continue on this new quest of my weight loss journey.
How about the rest of you? Did you have any success this week?