Desk sitting

[SusieTee]

I sit all day at a desk, if I leave for lunch someone is always looking for me.  What can I do inside an office for exercise.  Sometimes literally hours pass before I get up.

[lang007]

I just walk the stairs on my breaks

[FitKnight]

I purposely block my breaks and lunches on my Outlook calendar; 99% of the time, people work around it. I also go to the gym at lunch, to get up and away from my desk for 30 minutes. The world won't end while I'm gone, and if it does, oh well...I won't sacrifice my health for it. 🙂

[Carson]

If you're not using both hands all the time, how about lifting weights with the free hand? I often do that when I have a hand free.

[Sprattakus]

I am fortunate enough to have stairs at work, and work on the 2nd floor, so everytime I need to use the restroom or get a drink, it's downstairs. I don't get many steps during the day, but my number of floors gets up there, which is nice. On top of that, I do get up and take breaks to just stretch my legs and clear my head after an hour of looking at a monitor.

[SunsetRunner]

A friend of mine sets her fitbit alarm to go off during her workday to remind her to get up and move around or walk.

[LCHFmom]

• I set my fitbit alarm to go off everyday at the same time - to ensure the reminder is above and beyond that of a meeting request pop-up. 
• Im on 2nd floor - so I take the stairs
• I take the long way to the bathroom 
• I drink about 60 + ounces of water a day - so  Itake the long wat to the breakroom for each refill 

When the weather gets nice - i will walk around my building a couple times a  day. 

[missb726]

I have the same issue with sitting at a desk the greater part of my day. Our office is kind of big so I try to take the long way to the pantry and the bathroom. Sometimes I also just get up and stretch and walk back and forth for no reason. Some of my coworkers think I'm crazy cause I'm the one they see the most walking throughout the day

[MadamePlatinum]

I take a very short lunch - eat at my desk - and then I walk to a coffee shop which is about 1,500 steps away.  I walk back sipping my coffee and enjoy a bit of the weather (not today, though, it was 14 degrees here in DC!).  Also, I try to walk to all of my outside appointments (doctor, dentist, hair dresser).  Finally, I try to use the stairs whenever possible (if I'm not wearing heels that day).

[trefeneils]

I've only been at a desk job for two years now and it's been really hard to get used to. I want to escape my desk a few times a day and not ruin my work performance. So every two hours I leave my desk and quickly go down then up the flight of stairs by my office. It's a compromise. I can feel good about the fact that I moved without feeling like I'm a bad employee. I also take the stairs to and from work and the long way to the cafeteria, rest room and parking lot. I figure every little bit helps 🙂

[damurray]

I also work at a desk job and for many hours seem to be tied to my phone.  I worked out an understandint with my employer where I could walk 2 miles twice a day in lieu of taking a 1 hour lunch.  Because a lot of my work is "on call" emergency could arise while I am walking so I do take my phone with me and use an ear faub to talk so I can continue walking at the same time.  As a reminder I set the silent alarm on my Flex to remind me that it's time to get some steps in.

I think the point is to find a routine that can work for your environment and dedicate yourself to that end.

I would also like to endorse Fitbolt! as an add-on that have help me add to my daily burn. 

[SeeleyAnne]

I didn't read all the comments, so I'm not sure if this has already been said, but I suggest replacing your desk chair with an exercise ball! I did it while I sat at my desk job (while pregnant, even!) and it helped me a lot!

[badminton]

You can find "deskercise" videos and directions online... might want to consider doing some of those.  I also park 1/2 mile from work, and walk in. Then I have to walk back as well. If I want to leave for lunch it adds another mile in. 

[shoeshine12]

If you have stairs, make sure you take them. Also, a regular 1 minute break run up the stairs and down again is a lot more quick and effective for waking up your muscles than just strolling around

[ChaelAZ]

I do 1 mile walks on my 15 minute breaks. I am lucky enough to get out on most days to workout for lunch becuase I can eat at my desk durning the day while working. On days I cannot get away I dor stretches and simple 10 rep sets of callesthenics.

[bespokeprints]

Hey LadyMousie!

I'm new to fitbit (just got it today) and decided I'd dive right it so I can get the most from it. I saw your message and I have a few questions...

1. Your standing desk sounds awesome. Does fitbit track the extra calories because you're standing? WOW if it does!

2. I have SEVERE hip pain and I didn't know standup desks could aleviate this. Maybe it's a solution for me. Where is your hip pain? Lower Exterior or elsewhere? I'm just wondering if you have the same problem I do as I sit for long periods of time too.

THANK YOU!!

[LadyMousie]

The standing desk is great. Fitbits can't track calories burned apart from your BMR unless you are moving, but the Ftness guy at work asked me to log the times I am standing as an activity on my fitbit you can get an estimate of the extra caloried burned. I haven't done it for a while as I decided that the standing calories could be extra or a bonus :).  I think from memory you would be burning double the amount than sitting but really cant remember.

I have tendonitis in my hip that is exacerbated by running and walking long distances.  Standing seems to be ok for me. 

[twilightbloom]

I work in a call center.  It's a big no no to get up except for breaks and my half hour lunch. When I arrive at work I park far away from the door.   

Fortunately I work 2nd shift.  I walk on my breaks and after I eat.  If it's too cold outside I walk around the building.  It's pretty quiet at night so I can get away with this.  I try to walk before I go into work. Again when it's cold outside I just do walk away the pounds by Leslie Samsone.  

I try to stand up when I can and stretch.

[badminton]

I also have a standup desk. I find my back and hips feel better, but I do have to be careful not too start resting on one hip, as that can also make hip pain flare. My right hip tends to be the one I start leaning into - and that leg is better muscled because of it -- but, I really try to watch that habit, as in the last year that is the hip that tends to bother me when I am not mindful of my posture and balance. I recommend having both a standup desk AND a fitness ball that you can balance and sit on when you get tired of standing.  It does take about 2 weeks to get accustomed to standing up and using a computer, and I keep the office phone in easy reach - but it is still a step or two to the phone. I have the only stand up desk in my building. A few other people have the balance balls, and their regular desk chairs as well. They tend to rotate back and forth between the two.

[Jabrat]

Just visited my chiropractor and helped me immensely for back pain

[Jabrat]

Always get up and walk around - try on your lunches