People with a desk job

245

Replies

  • 75Juniper
    75Juniper Posts: 376
    I get my workout in before I go to work. I make a point of leaving my desk a couple of times a day to walk a loop around the building. If I have to leave my desk for any reason I take the long way or I walk an extra lap.

    Try a pedometer or Fitbit - it's a great way to see where you are at and then you can work on creative ways to add more steps.
  • newcs
    newcs Posts: 717 Member
    I take the stairs up and down 5 floors at least once a day and I walk to the train station instead of taking the subway right out front. I also try to get up and walk to the bathroom, kitchen for water, etc at least once an hour.

    Since I read a lot for my job (senior tax analyst), I do some of the exercises from this article while I'm reading:
    http://www.forbes.com/2008/09/10/health-office-exercise-forbeslife-cx_cm_0910exercise_slide_2.html?thisSpeed=20000
  • Wilson929
    Wilson929 Posts: 100
    http://greatist.com/fitness/deskercise-exercise-work/

    I have some these posted on my office wall. Some are super easy to do at your desk and I like the humor added in. :smile:
  • kristilovescake
    kristilovescake Posts: 669 Member
    Can you leave your desk for lunch and you choose not to, or you can't leave your desk? I go for a 20-min lunchtime walk almost every day and it helps.

    Otherwise I exercise before or after work (stopping at the gym on my way to or from work), or just eat less that day and stick to my lower calorie diet.

    I make sure I get up at least once an hour to either go to the water cooler to fill my cup or use the restroom and I'll stand up when doing tasks at my desk sometimes. I'll also occasionally do jumping jacks or wall pushups in the bathroom. It doesn't really burn a lot of calories, but helps get the blood flowing and helps me stay focused on the end goal so I don't eat unhealthy foods at my desk (like cupcakes coworkers bring in).
  • kenazfehu
    kenazfehu Posts: 1,188 Member
    The experts are saying that desk jobs are killer, as in they will most definitely shorten your life to a similar degree as smoking, and there is no way you can make up for that amount of sitting. You can work out before and after, which will help you to feel better and look better, but it makes no difference in the end.

    Depressing. I have a desk job.
  • mylove0mylife
    mylove0mylife Posts: 70
    Pretty much what everyone else has said. Stairs, bathroom break. Here I could go to the bathroom on the 1st floor and take the stairs...but I take my lunch and go for a walk.

    As for the one person who asked if it was illegal, most states aren't required to give lunches or breaks...I know here we give 2 - 15 minute breaks and 1 unpaid 30 minute lunch, but they can take away the breaks if the wanted to, technically.

    I use the hour to go walk for a mile + and eat my lunch, work out before work (depending on my schedule) and after work.
  • gomisskellygo
    gomisskellygo Posts: 635 Member
    I'm glad someone noticed this. Usually, you're choosing not to take a break. If not, your employer is breaking federal labor law.

    This isn't true, or atleast not in NH. As long as the employer allows the employee to eat at their desk and can prove that it would be detrimental for the company to allow the employee to leave their work station, then it is legal. I have dealt with this battle and the Department of Labor, twice. Not for me, but people I worked with.
  • slkehl
    slkehl Posts: 3,801 Member
    You don't leave your desk for lunch? Isn't it illegal to make people work without taking a lunch break?
    I'm glad someone noticed this. Usually, you're choosing not to take a break. If not, your employer is breaking federal labor law.

    Where I worked, we weren't even allowed to choose not to take a break. Breaks were not optional, and we had to stop our work and go clock out. I was lucky and worked across from a beach, so I got to take walks there every day :)
  • morningmud
    morningmud Posts: 477 Member
    I exercise constraint by not telling people to **** off!

    Love that! :laugh:
  • BamsieEkhaya
    BamsieEkhaya Posts: 657 Member
    get some ankle and wrist weights, leg extensions and whatever else i can do...
    also, also the ones where you lift your legs (whilst sitting down) like sit ups...mehh can't explain it !
  • ferrahcn
    ferrahcn Posts: 65
    I have a 1 hour lunch break so i do a 30 min arm work out with 5 lbs weights. and then the rest of the break i eat my lunch :-)
  • Yogi_Carl
    Yogi_Carl Posts: 1,906 Member
    All those who say they cant get away to take a lunch break - you know what they say - "You lose what you don't use". I say sod them and take your legal right to a break.

    And while youre at it - take a 15 minute break in the morning and the afternoon as well.
  • RellaBelle
    RellaBelle Posts: 70 Member
    8-10 hours at a desk with two 5 min breaks and a 30 min lunch, not much working out happening for me while at work. I just bust my butt doing JIllian Michaels Body Revolution once I get home, just started this past Thurs. I typically dont get to exercise until 8, sometimes 9 at night depending one when the kids stop making a raucous while falling asleep. But regardless of how late, I still do it and push myself hard since Im sitting down for the majority of my day
  • RellaBelle
    RellaBelle Posts: 70 Member
    I exercise constraint by not telling people to **** off!

    ^^LMAO.. yes! I work at an answering service this is a constant exercise. Makes you sweat to hold it in sometimes lol
  • heroyalslimness
    heroyalslimness Posts: 591 Member
    The experts are saying that desk jobs are killer, as in they will most definitely shorten your life to a similar degree as smoking, and there is no way you can make up for that amount of sitting. You can work out before and after, which will help you to feel better and look better, but it makes no difference in the end.

    Depressing. I have a desk job.

    oh my goodness-do not believe that for a minute---all civil servants and writers would be dead before 40
    :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

    cheer up----you likely will out live those dire predictions:smile:
  • elizak87
    elizak87 Posts: 249 Member
    I get my drinks and use the loo on the second floor. Other than that I just keep work outs until before or after work. I do at times eat at my desk but if I eat out I walk to the shops. Also when i file and serve court documents I carry and walk them down. It is an extra kilometer
  • Gremlinz
    Gremlinz Posts: 3,259 Member
    I make an effort to get up and go for a 15 minute walk a couple of times a day. I also go to the gym every morning (5:30am) for an hour, since I don't have time in the evenings.
  • Colonel_Brandon
    Colonel_Brandon Posts: 256 Member
    948c6_exercise-ball-in-office.jpg
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    I don't exercise at my desk... But I do have a standing desk that I use sometimes if my back is bugging me. I don't really enjoy working at it because the surface area is small.

    I just try to get up and move around often.
  • dash108
    dash108 Posts: 21 Member
    I exercise constraint by not telling people to **** off!

    lol...me too!
  • Narisong
    Narisong Posts: 191
    Chair squats :-)
  • Raynne413
    Raynne413 Posts: 1,527 Member
    I don't get a lunch or break either, and work 9/5-10 hours every day Monday through Friday. I get up once an hour, go downstairs and walk around the building for about 5 minutes, and then go back upstairs.
  • ChristyRunStarr
    ChristyRunStarr Posts: 1,600 Member
    At my desk, not much. But I'm here (at the office) from 7am-5pm (on a good day :huh: ) but I do the gym before work and if the weather is nice, I go for a run after as well. I'm able to get up from my desk though and when I have to use the bathroom, I'll go downstairs and use that one so I get not only more walking in but stairs. If I have to bring something to someone, I'll take the long way. If I'm waiting for something to print or coffee to finish in the morning, I'll walk laps around the kitchen counter (it's fairly large, we have 50+ people in my office)
  • semeyer
    semeyer Posts: 282 Member
    I work on the 3rd floor in my building and will occasionally hike down to the first floor to use the bathroom. I can usually get in about 3 trips up and down the stairs a day. I also use my lunch hour to walk. We have a walking path and a gym at work so that makes it extremely convenient.
  • penrbrown
    penrbrown Posts: 2,685 Member
    Get a part time job after your full time job that is physically demanding. :)
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    I type. Does that count?
  • Danardeener
    Danardeener Posts: 255
    I exercise constraint by not telling people to **** off!
    [/quote

    You and me both girl!
  • frj85
    frj85 Posts: 62
    I too work at a desk....its a killer...I got so fed up with my weight and how I felt, I quit, went to a factory for 6 months...in that 6 months, I lost 75lbs, doing nothing different other than working in a factory. Im not back at my desk job, and so trying to find away to lose more and keep it off
  • cdngirl71
    cdngirl71 Posts: 2,641 Member
    I have a desk job too. I do squats/lunges in the bathroom after I go pee of course, ha ha and walk around at least once an hour. I also get to go home for lunch so I do some quick exercises there too just keep the blood flowing, ha ha.
  • zaph0d
    zaph0d Posts: 1,172 Member
    I work at my desk, and exercise after work.

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