I have read several SPARK articles explaining the hazards of a sedentary lifestyle and the need to move more. It was a real surprise to me to find out that just exercising 30 or more minutes a day just is not enough. I know I am more active now than I have ever been, but I am not where I need to be. I still can sit for long stretches when I am doing computer things, reading, or watching a movie. Not good. The phrase "sitting is the new smoking" keeps running through my mind, and I know that it is a weak link in my efforts for living healthy. I know that I need to be aware of too much sitting, but, until just now, I didn't have any specific guidelines in mind.

Today I came across a link for an interview and an article about Gretchen Reynold, Phys Ed columinst at NYTimes and author of The First 20 Minutes, whereby she explains why sitting down for long periods of time is unhealthy and how standing up for two minutes every twenty minutes has consequences like increasing calories burned. www.npr.org/2012/05/09/1
52336802/stand-up-walk-aro
und-even-just-for-20-minutes I am thinking that this would be a good book to read from cover to cover, but, for now, I can easily follow the basic guideline of standing up for two minutes every twenty minutes. It doesn't get any easier than that!

My 20 minutes of sitting is up, and I am moving on (at least two minutes!).