People with sit-down jobs

My job doesn't allow for "free" exercise. The last three months I've been walking before work and during my lunch. I started out losing like crazy but it has slowed down quite a bit. What are some other ideas besides sitting on a ball. It's a professional setting so that wouldn't look good.
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Replies

  • gargisingh
    gargisingh Posts: 123 Member
    Hi,
    To begin with I wish you all the best with your weightloss journey! It is great that you are actually working hard for it despite your job demands! Congrats!
    Now, one thing that can be accommodated in any formal setting is 'smart food choices'. Personally, I have been exercising regularly for a while, but if I do not make healthy food choices, I do not lose weight. Exercise can only do so much. On the other hand, veggies can do a lot. (+I also try staying away from food with weird unknown ingredients.)
    All the best for your journey once again!
    Gargi
  • jt221990
    jt221990 Posts: 27 Member
    Get a chair without wheels and do calf lifts
  • mandiam
    mandiam Posts: 109
    your body probably just got used to walking, go for a run :)
  • LaurenAOK
    LaurenAOK Posts: 2,475 Member
    Hi,
    To begin with I wish you all the best with your weightloss journey! It is great that you are actually working hard for it despite your job demands! Congrats!
    Now, one thing that can be accommodated in any formal setting is 'smart food choices'. Personally, I have been exercising regularly for a while, but if I do not make healthy food choices, I do not lose weight. Exercise can only do so much. On the other hand, veggies can do a lot. (+I also try staying away from food with weird unknown ingredients.)
    All the best for your journey once again!
    Gargi

    Definitely agree! It doesn't sound like you have many options at work besides the walking you already do (which is great, by the way). Just make healthy food choices during your day, and exercise at night or in the early morning if you can. I also work in a professional office and I have to save exercising for times when I'm not at work. You can try workout DVDs at home, running, weight lifting, etc!
  • jrutledge01
    jrutledge01 Posts: 213 Member
    My job doesn't allow for "free" exercise. The last three months I've been walking before work and during my lunch. I started out losing like crazy but it has slowed down quite a bit. What are some other ideas besides sitting on a ball. It's a professional setting so that wouldn't look good.

    i used to work at a fortune 20 company where 1/2 of the managers/directors sat on those balls at work (though they were all ladies)
  • rudegyal_b
    rudegyal_b Posts: 593 Member
    you could try one of these

    http://www.amazon.com/Sunny-Health-Fitness-Mini-Cycle/dp/B0016BQFV0

    just google mini desk bike
  • If your in a multi level building, always take the stairs, I walk at break and go up and down them.
  • SMarie10
    SMarie10 Posts: 956 Member
    I am in cube city at my job; however, I do some exercises. When I'm on the phone and don't need to type, I do squats or calf raises. I also do some lunges on the way to the copier - it looks a little weird, but I really don't care. You can do kegel type clenches for the abdominal muscles while sitting. and lots of arm stretches to keep the blood flowing. Get creative.
  • MeMyCatsandI
    MeMyCatsandI Posts: 704 Member
    I drink a lot of water at work. So I make a lot of trips to the water cooler and a lot of trips to the bathroom. I go to the bathroom that is farthest from my office. My building is a big "maze" so I'll sometimes just leave my office and walk around the maze a couple times.
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    Exercise doesn't cause you to lose weight, eating at a caloric deficit does

    If you're not losing weight, I'd look at your diet before your exercise habits
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Diet is more important for weight loss, but if you don't want to further reduce caloric intake then Increase NEAT (Non-Exercise Activity). Fidget while sitting there, tap your foot, flex muscle, when on the phone stand up and pace, get up and take a walk to get water, the bathroom, take stairs up and down instead of elevator, etc.
  • tallvesl99
    tallvesl99 Posts: 231 Member
    I never thought of sitting on a ball...i think I would fall off! I saw an add for a treadmill for your desk the other day on the internet...sure wish companies would spring for those!!!
  • lyttlewon
    lyttlewon Posts: 1,118 Member
    Can you request a standing work station?
  • LadyBeryl
    LadyBeryl Posts: 344 Member
    Get yourself a MagneTrainer. Google it and read the reviews.

    There are cheaper systems but I prefer this one because of its quality and manufacturer support. It is really working for me and I wish I had it years ago. I was in a lot of pain a couple of months ago but I've gained so much strength along with more weight loss.
  • romach79
    romach79 Posts: 277 Member
    I come in a half hour early, take an hour and a half lunch and go to a local gym during lunch.
  • professorRAT
    professorRAT Posts: 690 Member
    Exercise doesn't cause you to lose weight, eating at a caloric deficit does

    If you're not losing weight, I'd look at your diet before your exercise habits

    true that
  • AlichiaMJohnson73
    AlichiaMJohnson73 Posts: 186 Member
    char exercises...get up and power walk every hour right in your office or cube...work up a sweat...i have a small cube and I still stretch and do exercises every so often to burn some calories when I felt I've sat to long!:flowerforyou:
  • Taking the stairs can burn some cals.
  • sammniamii
    sammniamii Posts: 669 Member
    I use a fitness ball at work as a chair, but i have back issues so I don't normally spend the whole day on it.
    I use my (2) "15 min smoke breaks" (I don't smoke) to walk laps out in the parking/receiving lot.
    And today I've decided that I'm gonna use half my lunch hour to walk off the property - got 1.7 miles in 30min today after I ate my lunch (salad).
    Sometimes if the weather is nasty, I go into the restroom and do some strength training - squats, legs lifts, wall push-ups, lunges.
  • SherryR1971
    SherryR1971 Posts: 1,170 Member
    My job doesn't allow for "free" exercise. The last three months I've been walking before work and during my lunch. I started out losing like crazy but it has slowed down quite a bit. What are some other ideas besides sitting on a ball. It's a professional setting so that wouldn't look good.

    Yeah, I tried to get my boss to approve me using a stability ball instead of a chair and he said NO!!!
  • I was also facing this problem due to long hours of sitting in front of the computer, finally got neck pain and spondylitis. I decided to change the food habits and adopt it in my daliy life to be healty and active throughtout the day
  • LisaKunz
    LisaKunz Posts: 73 Member
    I have a desk job, too. All day long...9 hours a day. I drink a lot of water, so I need pretty frequent bathroom breaks. I use the bathroom on the floor upstairs, or I'll even walk over to another one of our buildings to go. I'll do the stairs a couple of extra times in that trip. It really only takes a couple of minutes longer - I don't think anybody really notices how long I'm gone. While I'm in the bathroom, I sometimes do jumping jacks or squats or wall-sits (well, after I'm done with my business of course!). I don't use the courrier anymore...I walk my own inter-office envelopes to the other departments. I park two blocks away from work. I walk on my lunch break - even to the post office and grocery store. I make myself take the 15-minutes breaks we're entitled to, and I do the stairs and walk. It takes effort and determination and commitment, but I lost the first 10 pounds by only making those changes, THEN I changed my diet and added real exercise.
  • AprilRenewed
    AprilRenewed Posts: 691 Member
    Sometimes, when I go to the bathroom, I use the handicapped stall and do pushups and squats and stuff. You could sit on a balance ball. I knew a guy who did that. My boss keeps weights in her office, so I occasionally go in there and do a few bicep curls or something.
  • rachelrb85
    rachelrb85 Posts: 579 Member
    Keep in mind that your eating habits is the most important factor in losing weight.
    I have a desk job too, and if you're looking for exercise you can (1) wake up earlier to get a quick workout in, (2) if you have time work out on your lunch break (I prefer this option), or (3) find time after work or before you go to bed to get in a workout. It's not hard to find the time, but motivating yourself to do it is half the battle.
  • Melolicious
    Melolicious Posts: 71 Member
    I mainly sit but I have to walk down the hall to the printer/copier and to the washroom and lunch room and to be honest, I make sure I get up and walk somewhere once an hour. I also have a height adjustable desk so I raise it and try to stand for a half hour every now and then. When I'm in a conference call and no one can see me, I usually pace back and forth while others ramble on. Sometimes when my computer makes me want to punch it, I lock my door and do a little yoga, it's safer for everyone. Most companies have a wellness policy, find out what yours is :)
  • dfborders
    dfborders Posts: 474 Member
    Not only do I exercise but I have changed my eating habits. I am trying to eat cleaner and very strict Monday through Friday. I don't go crazy on weekends - still eat within my macros but it allows me to have a few treats and still lose 1 or 2 pounds a week. Depending on your diet you could have also hit a plateau in which what others have already said could help - try varying up your routine. I go to the mall to walk when the weather is bad and make sure every time I see stairs I go up them and back down - it may look strange but I don't care. I also have started to add jogging to my walk in the mornings to get the heart rate up. Not sure if I will ever run a marathon due to some health issues but even jogging for 2-3 minutes increases the intesity and burn. Good luck!!:flowerforyou:
  • umer76
    umer76 Posts: 1,272 Member
    Just keep yourself within your daily calories goal and do the lunch hour walk. I am also doing that. On top of that in the evenings if you can do some exercise 2-3 times a week minimum you will again start losing weight. Other than that you do not need to do anything fancy. I am also working at my office desk and losing weight at the same time with routine I mentioned above.
  • bowseramanda
    bowseramanda Posts: 58 Member
    Park further away
    take the stairs
    Do stretches
    Do 2 min. of air punches in the bathroom :-)
    Do 2 min. of squats in the bathroom
    Go to the bathroom every hour (see above lol)
    Stretch in your chair
    Be conscious of your posture
    Never keep junk food snacks at your desk
    Drink 4 oz. of water every hour