Are You Sitting On Your Asset?
On average, we sit for 9 hours a day. We sit while reading, eating, driving, working on the computer, yakking on the phone, watching television, writing. We sit an amazing amount of time, 9 hours, while we are awake. The rest of the time we lay down. We sit more than we sleep. We are sedentary people in this country, and overweight. That statistic isn’t getting any better.
What to do?
Stand up. One of the easiest things we can do to change this repetitive pattern of bad behavior leading to weight issues is to stand. Stand up to talk on the phone, or watch television. I have seen standing platforms for people who work at desks, with treadmills attached.
Standing burns calories. It tones the body. Sitting relaxes everything by taking the tension out of muscles. The body compresses, sinks into itself and becomes small. The joints get stiff, especially in the spine, the neck, and feet. You become a slug. A body at rest…….stays there. It takes inertia to move a body so rested.
It’s habit forming to rest all the time. No one needs that much rest. Maintenance mode (adding a little tension to the body) is also habit forming. What’s maintenance mode? Stand up. Stand up straight. Stand up when having office conversations. Walk and talk when you visit with friends. Practice putting on your shoes leaning against a wall instead of sitting down, which will also help your balance. Place a timer by your computer, and every 10 minutes, get up and do 5 jumping jacks, then resume sitting and computer time. Burning calories and practicing correct posture prolong your life. Thin people and people who move more live longer.
That’s Aging Intelligently.
So, I read the above blog, and wouldn’t you know it? – Two days later I lock myself out of my house. First, I think, “Should I climb in the window in the back?”, something I did about 7 years ago, but then I though, “Hm. That was when I was 7 years younger, before I broke my ankle, when I had a table and chair to help boost me up instead of a wobbly BBQ. No, better pass on climbing through the window.” Then I thought, “I could drive myself somewhere until my husband gets home.” No, I have a good parking spot on the street; I cannot give up my good parking spot. How about a walk to the library? Yes, that’s the ticket. The library was closed, but no matter – it was a nice walk. How about calling my friend, Kathy? Yes, that was a nice long chat, and I remembered to stand up and move around. Still no husband. OK, water the yard, pull weeds, clip those branches in the back that I never have time – or desire – to clip. Yes, yes, and yes. Finally, husband came home. Hooray! Although I did no jumping jacks, I did remember to move.