Enjoyed this article, especially the commuting ideas as I spend hours and hours in cars. Usually just use this as down time to relax and think because things are so hectic at home, but I don't need to use ALL that time that way! I also enjoyed the ideas people commenting on this post shared.
Thanks Jennipher, I already do some of these, but you sure have given me more "moves" for my arsenal. I am a foreign language teacher, and for the first few weeks of school I get my students to stand, sit, jump, reach for the ceiling, raise their left/right hands-but I haven't figured out how to do it with more of my lessons. This is to be one of my goals for my students and myself this year.
Great article--I never thought of some of the stuff for driving or even some of the household chores (and since I have a LOT of cleaning to do over the next week, I'm really glad I read this!).
I rarely sit completely still just naturally...my leg(s) is always bouncing under the table (and at this very moment, in fact) just because I can't stand being totally still for too long...if I do, a lot of chairs hurt my legs anyway so it's a win-win. :P
BB2DYNTMRW
6/5/2011 11:19:38 AM
This article definitely helps me eliminate some guilt when I am doing housework, gardening and helping my mom with her chores. I wondered how many calories were burned from all the lifts, and pulls I did -now I have some information. I usually did try to put some extra oomph! into it to burn a little more. Squatting down and then lying down to reach under childrens' beds seems to put the burn in too!
There was a similar article here: http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/art icles/050221/21diversions.htm. And I can attest to the maintenance effects of doing the extra little activity, especially taking the stairs and walking everywhere you can (mandatory, as a carless college kid, but hey, it works).
JUSTCALLMETEA
3/17/2011 6:57:25 PM
I know that these aren't real exercise but, I make sure that i never sit still. When i'm at my desk or using the computer i constantly move my legs, you know the "gotta pee jiggle"? that's sort of what i do. When i'm at a restaurant or driving, or around other people i do kegels. When i'm waiting in line at the grocery store, i rock back and forth on my heels and the balls of my feet. I just find little ways to move instead of just sitting absolutely still.
Some of these suggestions are awesome, but I have to admit that I find some of them to be pretty unrealistic. Doing lunges while you push your grocery cart seems a bit excessive, and probably a 1-way ticket to the loony bin if my husband caught me at it (although on the plus side a straight jacket would be a great tool for some 'active resistance' training in my arms).
My old man used to have one of those hand exercisers hanging by the spring on his turn signal stalk and would use it whan stopped in traffic. I don't do that but I suppose its one other thing to do if you are so inclined.
This is a solid article with some excellent suggestions. I commute a great deal, and will take to heart the suggestions regarding posture and stretching while driving. I'm also going to put my exercise ball in front of the television so I can at least sit up straight to work on my core, and, if I'm feeling ambitious, do some crunches as well. :-)
I LOVE these suggestions! Especially getting some exercise during tv time and while shopping (both weaknesses of mine :P) I have been watching the Tone It Up girls youtube videos lately too. They're super fun and only take a few minutes, but I always feel the burn!!
PAMROPER
11/4/2010 2:13:50 PM
Some of the suggestions REALLY made me laugh, but some of them are right on. If you have two restrooms at work, go to the one further away. I march in place or sometimes hula hoop during commercials, pushups against the sink while the water is warming up, take the steps whenever possible. It all adds up in a good way.
You are so right, Kitty. I've been wearing a pedometer to get a baseline idea of how many steps I use in normal daily activity aside from "formal" exercise. I had to spent a day doing work largely at my desk and only did about 600 steps that day--a normal day runs between 2000 to 5000 steps (and I am relatively inactive). It looks like the only thing that burns less calories than a desk job is staying in bed in a coma.
Killyrmasters I think it's because office and desk jobs are the most sedentary. If you're not sitting at a desk to do most of your job then you have a lot more opportunity to work in exercise, such as a teacher who walks around and through the classroom while teaching, giving tests or just checking on the students while they read, for instance. I had one of those and while it's good for the teacher and probably keeps the students focused on work it did make me nervous. LOL and prevented me from reading a fiction book while I was supposed to be reading the chapter.
