People with sit-down jobs

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Replies

  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    One thing no one's addressed so far (not that I saw in my quick scan) is your comment that your weight loss has slowed down. This is totally normal, especially for those who are quite overweight. The first 10-20 really melt off because it's mostly water weight and some weight you may have gained right before you decided to make a change. After that, a reasonable healthy weight loss goal is 1-2 pounds per week. Don't be in such a rush - trust me, if you stick with your new habits, it will keep coming off!

    Also, I agree with those that are saying the weight loss is more about diet than exercise. Make sure you're eating properly (not too much, not too little) and continue being as active as you are. You could mix things up during your normal workout times though. Make sure you're pushing yourself on your walks. If you have a fairly flat route, try to find a different way that might be hilly. At the very least, pick up your pace and maybe think about adding in running intervals (just for 30-60 minutes at first then more as you get accustomed).
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    makes a good point
  • gingerjen7
    gingerjen7 Posts: 821 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 am a database administrator working in an office and I sit on a ball! The responses are usually "Hey, that's a good idea!" "That looks like fun" "Every time I see you, you're moving around!" etc. No one thinks it's unprofessional!

    But in addition to my yoga ball, I go up and down stairs a lot. Before I go to the bathroom, I make sure to drink all my water so I can take the bottle with me and fill it up from the tap. Makes me have to pee a lot, so I am getting up and walking around, up and down the stair many times a day. I also have to get up a few times a day to stretch a little, and sometimes to dance a little, depending on what's on my pandora and if it makes me feel like I need to dance. I've read about doing squats, lunges, jumping jacks, and desk push ups as well, but I've never actually done it myself. Well, I tried the desk push ups.
  • lydia_the_tattooed_lady
    lydia_the_tattooed_lady Posts: 324 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

    I agree with Gargi---Drink lots of water too! I usually eat a little snack or two throughout the day so I'm not starved by the time dinner comes around :) I work at a bank so I do a lot of sitting at my job too. I've heard of people taking bathroom breaks so they can do jumping jacks and stuff to keep their blood flowing too.
  • sarahharmintx
    sarahharmintx Posts: 868 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.
    Yep. Yep. Yep.
  • hughtwalker
    hughtwalker Posts: 2,213 Member
    I'm a dentist so a chair without wheels is not an option.

    Used to stand - 30 years of it - backache, neck ache = I'm sitting this one out.
  • sunshineshica
    sunshineshica Posts: 277
    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.

    ummmm aren't kegel exercises for the va-jay-jay? O_o
  • jlapey
    jlapey Posts: 1,850 Member
    I have a swivel chair at my desk.. I swivel...a lot! Keep your chest lined up with the desk and only move your lower half. I imagine this to be good for the waist line as it mimics one of the machines at the gym. I also keeps me from dozing off.
  • professorRAT
    professorRAT Posts: 690 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.

    ummmm aren't kegel exercises for the va-jay-jay? O_o

    lol. Yes, they can be but good for core too. Even men can do them (clench your pelvic floor muscles).
  • Fat2Fit4Life
    Fat2Fit4Life Posts: 599 Member
    http://sworkit.com/ is a fun little site & app.

    I have P90X band hooked under my chair and when I feel the urge pump out a couple of reps. :glasses:
  • BamaBreezeNSaltAire
    BamaBreezeNSaltAire Posts: 966 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.
    ^^^ Good ideas!
  • LALOCHA34
    LALOCHA34 Posts: 340 Member
    http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1340880/ellen_degeneres_with_her_hawaii_chair/

    Or you can always get this ^

    Personally, I just have to get my workouts in before/after work. Best of luck to you.
  • flabulous4
    flabulous4 Posts: 599 Member
    My job doesn't allow for free exercise either - I'm always either sat at a desk or driving to a meeting...where I sit at a table. I did Couch to 5K and now I run around 20-25 miles a week. That takes care of the exercise.
  • doggiesnot
    doggiesnot Posts: 334 Member
    How far away from your office do you live? I have a sit-down job and have been bike commuting. It's 8 miles each way, half of which is nature trails. Also, try this site: http://abeforfitness.com/
  • mell6355
    mell6355 Posts: 171 Member
    One thing no one's addressed so far (not that I saw in my quick scan) is your comment that your weight loss has slowed down. This is totally normal, especially for those who are quite overweight. The first 10-20 really melt off because it's mostly water weight and some weight you may have gained right before you decided to make a change. After that, a reasonable healthy weight loss goal is 1-2 pounds per week. Don't be in such a rush - trust me, if you stick with your new habits, it will keep coming off!

    Also, I agree with those that are saying the weight loss is more about diet than exercise. Make sure you're eating properly (not too much, not too little) and continue being as active as you are. You could mix things up during your normal workout times though. Make sure you're pushing yourself on your walks. If you have a fairly flat route, try to find a different way that might be hilly. At the very least, pick up your pace and maybe think about adding in running intervals (just for 30-60 minutes at first then more as you get accustomed).

    I just started walking backwards while I am at work. I take my 2 -15 minute breaks and go for a walk, while walking (when I am not in plain sight :blushing: ) I walk 1 minute forwards and then 1 backward, and so on. Its weird once you get used to is, you use all kinds of different muscles.
  • hb817
    hb817 Posts: 53 Member
    you could try one of these

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

    just google mini desk bike

    I was just going to suggest this. I sit at work all day too so were on the same boat here...I work out as much as I can whether it's before work, after work, during lunch, breaks...whenever. Even just standing here marching in place by my desk...
  • hb817
    hb817 Posts: 53 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.
    ^^^ Good ideas!

    great ideas!!
  • nofailureallowed
    nofailureallowed Posts: 51
    Someone might have said this alreay but walk around your office, instead of emailing a co-worker walk to their office. Also, wall push ups are great.
  • dayotte33
    dayotte33 Posts: 80 Member
    Very good idea. Thanks!
  • dayotte33
    dayotte33 Posts: 80 Member
    Really good point. Thank you!
  • dayotte33
    dayotte33 Posts: 80 Member
    Thanks for the pointers. I like the 4oz of water per hour. I'll do this. :happy:
  • dayotte33
    dayotte33 Posts: 80 Member
    k
  • dayotte33
    dayotte33 Posts: 80 Member
    Thanks so much for the advice. I'll try it. :happy:
  • dayotte33
    dayotte33 Posts: 80 Member
    Sorry for all the "replies" on here. Thought they were going to the people that sent them to me. Can you tell I'm new around here??
  • edge_dragoncaller
    edge_dragoncaller Posts: 826 Member
    This may not be much, but it's just a little thing I do since I'm stuck in a "Soul Sucking Gray" cubicle as well. I have two of the Grib strengtheners that I use like a stress ball. Not sure if that's the name of them, but they look lik this //*\\ .

    They may not burn a lot, but any amount is good :)
  • AmberMahfouz
    AmberMahfouz Posts: 316
    I made a rule that every time I go to the bathroom I have to do at least 50 jump-in-jacks or 50 squats or 50 lunges. I have recently also started doing push-ups on the wall. I really do think it helps and I try to change out the exercise often to keep my body guessing.
  • sandrahulleman
    sandrahulleman Posts: 31
    I walk for at least 20 minutes every lunch. I also have a resistant band at work and some exercises to do a couple of times a week.
  • karth07
    karth07 Posts: 3
    Good Idea. If you climb that stairs in your office it willl give you a work out to your body and feel energized.

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