Getting fit while at work!

Hey MFPers,

Just wanted to here some of things you guys do to squeeze in some fitness at work. I use to play chess at lunch, now I play football with my technicians. And walk.

But, a majority of my day is at the desk.

Your thoughts?

Thanks:ohwell:
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Replies

  • Xiaolongbao
    Xiaolongbao Posts: 854 Member
    Stairs. My building has a lot of stairs and I purposely take routes that involve more than strictly necessary. When I started it was hard work but 20kg later it's become a habit and I don't even think about it that much, I just naturally choose the route with the most stairs.
  • Spook_Nuke_Em
    Spook_Nuke_Em Posts: 408 Member
    Stairs. My building has a lot of stairs and I purposely take routes that involve more than strictly necessary. When I started it was hard work but 20kg later it's become a habit and I don't even think about it that much, I just naturally choose the route with the most stairs.

    Good call. We have one set of stairs into our parts room loft. I'm gonna make some trips up there for no reason. lol. Thanks
  • bastgoddess7
    bastgoddess7 Posts: 64 Member
    I speed walk around the river or the block.
  • Snipsa
    Snipsa Posts: 172 Member
    Definitely stairs - we have 6 floors in the hospital where I work, and I try to go up to the 6th floor at least 3 times per day (I work on ground floor).

    Other than that, I like to do some basic stretches at my desk, will go for long walks during lunch break, and have been seen to do some sit ups and pushups on the mats we have in our department ;)
  • Have a row with your boss. Raises heart rate
  • sabimausl85
    sabimausl85 Posts: 219 Member
    i do steps while sitting at the desk. its like stationary bike, but you have to lift your feet instead of using the swing/sweep/drive from the bike.
  • I drag my employees out once or twice a day to do a 20 minute walk. It gets us up and away for stress relief and exercise. I als have access to agym at work. Their hours are not great but I can some times squeeze some time in before work or onmy way home. In my office, I pace around a lot when I am on the phone. I make at least 4trips a day to te waer fountain tofill me bottle. I get out of the office once an hour to make rounds with my staff and other co-workers.
  • annams76
    annams76 Posts: 161 Member
    I do a couple of things. Instead of sitting on a chair I get a stability ball and sit on that. I also use pain cards once an hour. Take a regular deck of cards and on each card write down an exercise. Shuffle the deck and once an hour flip a card and do the workout. My other thing is my job allows us an hour a day in the gym so I do that also.
  • michaelalouise3915
    michaelalouise3915 Posts: 124 Member
    Haha, I'm a psych nurse and I work in a unit for patients with challenging behaviour with dementia type illnesses. Where currently in a new building because our normal one is being refurbished. So last night on my night shift, all patients where asleep and I was alone in the lounge. I started squatting and after a while realised we have cameras in this building, I'm mortified someone will see and think wtf is she doing haha.
  • annams76
    annams76 Posts: 161 Member
    Haha, I'm a psych nurse and I work in a unit for patients with challenging behaviour with dementia type illnesses. Where currently in a new building because our normal one is being refurbished. So last night on my night shift, all patients where asleep and I was alone in the lounge. I started squatting and after a while realised we have cameras in this building, I'm mortified someone will see and think wtf is she doing haha.

    Or you will motivate someone else to get fit because look at what you are doing. =)
  • jimmie65
    jimmie65 Posts: 655 Member
    I've just ordered one of the Gaiam stability ball chairs. I've thought about a standing desk, but not sure how to re-arrange for that given the number of files I usually have spread out.

    Most days, I take a workout break every 2 hours and do push-ups, squats, etc. or run the stairs. I've got a pull-up bar I can put up but the only doorway I can hang it in is in a very central location so I only use it when I'm by myself (not that anyone would care, but it would be a little distracting).

    I also cycle to work 2 or 3 days a week, weather permitting, and walk during lunch.
  • mazdauk
    mazdauk Posts: 1,380 Member
    I walk too and from work - and I've noticed the time it takes is getting less as I lose weight! I've also started doing a walk at lunchtime (unless its raining). other than that I do a short workout to a DVD before breakfast, and another before my evening meal. That gives me over an hour exercise a day even if it is raining, 1 1/2 hours if its fine.
  • Spook_Nuke_Em
    Spook_Nuke_Em Posts: 408 Member
    Haha, I'm a psych nurse and I work in a unit for patients with challenging behaviour with dementia type illnesses. Where currently in a new building because our normal one is being refurbished. So last night on my night shift, all patients where asleep and I was alone in the lounge. I started squatting and after a while realised we have cameras in this building, I'm mortified someone will see and think wtf is she doing haha.

    Or you will motivate someone else to get fit because look at what you are doing. =)

    LOL. Good stuff! And I love the card idea! Thanks everyone:wink:
  • wannabfit34
    wannabfit34 Posts: 23 Member
    I walk and take the stairs I also do desk push ups and standing abdominal exercises. If possible you could bring a exercise band to work and do exercises as well.
  • I sit all day for my work too (security dispatcher) when I'm at work I'm glued to the desk - I need to monitor all radio transmissions, phonecalls and cameras.

    I take public transportation to work and get off a stop early, I have a high desk so I use it for standing push ups and I try to use half my lunch break for walking around.
  • Haha, I'm a psych nurse and I work in a unit for patients with challenging behaviour with dementia type illnesses. Where currently in a new building because our normal one is being refurbished. So last night on my night shift, all patients where asleep and I was alone in the lounge. I started squatting and after a while realised we have cameras in this building, I'm mortified someone will see and think wtf is she doing haha.

    Or you will motivate someone else to get fit because look at what you are doing. =)

    LOL. Good stuff! And I love the card idea! Thanks everyone:wink:

    As a person who has to watch those cameras - I'm always proud when I see people exercising. haha.
  • juliemouse83
    juliemouse83 Posts: 6,663 Member
    I sit on a stability ball, I take a 10-15 minute walk during the day, or if am really feeling motivated, take the stairs from the ground to the 8th floor. (It doesn't go any higher than that.)

    And I look at the clock a lot and urge it to hurry up so I can get home and do the real work out.
  • alikat2986
    alikat2986 Posts: 72 Member
    I work at a clinic that has a physical therapy department that's never used..So I get free reign on the treadmills, bosu balls, weights, bowflex machine etc...Lucky I know but theres a lot more people NOT using it than there are using..
  • tommiirugby
    tommiirugby Posts: 52 Member
    some tips i use at work - i sit at my desk all day

    park as far away from the office as you can
    when you need the loo go to the toilet in furthest away and make sure you need to go downstairs
    keep your lunch in the car
    always use the stairs
    get water from the furthest away drinks machine.
    stand up as much as you can
  • First thing in the morning I walk 11 flights of stairs to my office, if I need to go to any of the other floors that my department covers I walk instead of getting the elevator. although I only do all 11 once a day its a killer

    I have access to the University gym - lift heavy 3x a week and cardio twice
  • purplekty
    purplekty Posts: 57 Member
    We have a gym on site so I go in there on my breaks and lunch...or if the day is nice I walk around the parking lot...
  • alikat2986
    alikat2986 Posts: 72 Member
    I work at a clinic that has a physical therapy department that's never used..So I get free reign on the treadmills, bosu balls, weights, bowflex machine etc...Lucky I know but theres a lot more people NOT using it than there are using..

    I take two 15 minute breaks, one in the morning and one in the afternoon and typically just jog on the treadmill for 10 minutes. Have to keep it low intensity though...Being super sweaty at work isn't a good look haha!
  • beaches222
    beaches222 Posts: 437 Member
    I walk on my lunch when I drive in office but when I work from home I grab the DVD's or go outside and play basketball.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    My last job was 17 miles from home so I cycled in once a week aiming to do it in just over an hour.

    Current job has a staff gym in the building so that's where you will find me at lunchtime. Frees up so much more time in the evenings and weekends so a double bonus.
  • mixedlollies
    mixedlollies Posts: 58 Member
    I always go up stairs two at a time. And as the nearest ladies' toilets are up a flight of stairs and I drink water and green tea constantly I tend to have to do that a lot...
  • miracole
    miracole Posts: 492 Member
    I love to get in a good run at lunch and try to take the stairs as much as possible. As soon as all the snow melts and the temperature gets above stupid cold I'll start biking to work again, 17km each direction.
  • xidia
    xidia Posts: 606 Member
    Every time I make tea, go to the ladies, or realise I've been sat on my backside for 2 hours, I walk along the corridor to the stairs, down a floor, all the way along to the other end of the building, up two floors, back along the length, down a floor and back to my office, then repeat. (We only have the three floors in this building).

    I have a Fibit and aim to have covered 15 flights of stairs before I leave for the day. It burns, according to Fitbit, about 30 calories per 2 circuits, which over the day adds up to a glass of wine with dinner...
  • jayche
    jayche Posts: 1,128 Member
    Kegelling
  • kelleygi
    kelleygi Posts: 583 Member
    Like most everyone else, I take stairs instead of the cursed elevator, for the afternoon part of my job I stand instead of sitting, fat free half and half instead of full strenth and my favorite.....when I get good and ticked off I will drop and hammer out some push ups until I am too tired and/or sore to be ticked off much anymore. Believe or not, just these few things have helped SO MUCH even when I am not actively exercising or dieting......
  • kelleygi
    kelleygi Posts: 583 Member
    Oh and this....... :laugh: