Get Fit Don't Sit Day

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

 

People spend an average of 5 hours and 41 minutes per day sitting at work each week. An average american is sedentary for 21 hours and only active for 3 hours. Excessive sitting is cited as a key risk factor in 4 of the top 7 U.S. killers: heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers. It’s also linked to obesity and early mortality rates. Daily exercise is not enough to counteract excessive sitting. Metabolism starts to slow down when we sit down. After 20 minutes of sitting, our metabolism slows to a halt. It’s an epidemic.

So what to do?

The American Diabetes Association recommends that everyone, including people with diabetes, limit the amount of time they spend sitting.

On National Get Fit Don't Sit Day, Wednesday, May 6, 2015, make sure you get up and get moving at least every 90 minutes.

How, you ask?

Stretch.

Do chair exercises at your desk. Here are some links:

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/no-excuses-chair-workout (I do not endorse Dr. Oz, but this video is by a trainer. And the workout is great – I tried it!)

http://exercise.about.com/cs/exerciseworkouts/l/blofficeworkout.htm

 

On a conference call? Put your phone on speaker and walk or stand during the call.

 

Suggest a walking meeting.

 

Take a walk on your break instead of sitting. 

 

Trade in those work shoes for sneakers and get moving. 

Whatever you do, just move!!