It sounds like a contradiction of terms, how can you be an Active Couch Potato? Do you do curls and Military Presses with your T.V. remote while watching your favorite shows?
No, that’s not it at all. Read on to discover how even a reasonably fit and active person can be at risk for early death from the active couch potato effect.
Many people good-naturedly complain how their jobs are killing them, but if you have an office or desk job you don’t know how right you are.
There is a growing body of evidence that indicates sitting for prolonged periods can be an independent factor for poor health, including diabetes, and early death.
Even if you work out most mornings and walk in the evenings your eight hours of sitting at a desk largely negate the health and longevity benefits. Our bodies are just not designed for long periods of sitting. We were born to move.
You are, in effect, an Active Couch Potato.
So what can you to fight the active couch potato effect at work? It’s not like you just can go out and get a more active job, not in this Economy, you may even like your job, despite your grumblings.
A few minor changes in your office and your daily work routine are all you really need.
First off, move your printer and fax machine out of reach so you have to get out of your chair fairly often. If you don’t use a printer or fax machine in your daily routine bring a timer to work and set it to twenty or thirty minutes and stand up and move around ever time it goes off. Even simply standing up and siting back down reverses the Active Couch Potato Effect.
Need to consult with a co-worker? Don’t email, walk down the hall instead. Not only will it be good for your health, it will give you the reputation as a go-getter.
On your ten-minute and/or Lunch breaks don’t just move and sit somewhere else, walk somewhere close or if you have stairs in your building do a flight or two.
Be inventive, I’m sure you can find a lot of productive ways to get out of your chair a couple of times an hour.
After all, if you spend your off-time staying in shape doesn’t it make sense to bring your good habits to work with you?
Stay Fit And Live Longer,
Michael Cole