Standing Desks has anyone seen results?

asmylie80
asmylie80 Posts: 60 Member
edited November 2 in Health and Weight Loss
My work just gave us all Stand Sit desks so now we have the option to stand and work throughout the day. I was wondering if anyone has made this change and made it a part of their work routine to Stand for all or some of the day and what changes have they seen in themselves?

Replies

  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    The calorie burn between standing and sitting is minimal. It's better for your back to stand if you also have good shoes and a soft floor. Even the new treadmill desks have minimal exercise value because you have to go so slow in order to be able to work.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    One of my former coworkers requested a standing desk because she thought it would make her more fit/lose weight.

    She promptly got pregnant, had swollen feet, and requested a barstool so that she could sit at the standing desk.

    Neither of us work there anymore, but she's become super fit and runs marathons now. hehe Not because of the desk (she is a stay at home mom).

    I work in an office environment where I could sit at least 90% of my day, but I purposely get up every half hour and faff about the office doing something or other. If we're really, really dead I will do mini laps around the (large) office. Sometimes I do tasks for extended periods (15-30 minutes standing) when I could easily complete them from a seated position. It's just one little way to get more movement in my mostly sedentary work life.
  • asmylie80
    asmylie80 Posts: 60 Member
    The stats that I have seen is that you will burn an extra 150-250 cal per day if you stand most of the day... That's pretty good in my opinion! That's a pound a month!
  • junoja
    junoja Posts: 25 Member
    I had work change my desk to standing from sitting about a month ago. I think it has helped me a lot. My back feels much better, I don't notice the afternoon slump (tiredness mid afternoon). Did take me a few days for my feet to get used to it.
  • wild_wild_life
    wild_wild_life Posts: 1,334 Member
    I think it's awesome and am impressed with your workplace for being ahead of the curve. It definitely burns more calories, but more importantly it keeps your muscles active due to slight weight shifts, increases NEAT, and improves biomarkers of health. There have been studies showing that sitting for long periods is linked to increased risk of mortality.

    I think a situation where you can either sit or stand is ideal.

    http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertglatter/2013/02/09/why-sitting-increases-your-risk-of-dying-sooner/
  • scottkjar
    scottkjar Posts: 346 Member
    I have a standing computer desk next to my regular sit-down desk. I asked my employer to provide this particular set-up, and my employer authorized the purchase.

    I keep the laptop on the sit-down desk, and I attached a large monitor, keyboard, and mouse on the standing desk. I find myself standing and sitting throughout the day -- stand for a while, sit for a while. If I am working on the computer or talking on the phone, I am almost always standing; if I am reviewing documents or making notes, I am more likely to sit down.

    When I first got the standing desk, I thought I would lose weight, but that was not the case. However, although I did not see any particular effects on my weight from the standing desk, I do feel better. After sitting all day, my back often hurt. Now, if my back aches a little bit, I can just stand up and keep working.

    I like the standing desk so much that I bought one for my home. I also got a high stool at home, so I can stand at the computer, or I can sit on the high stool at the computer. (I am standing now.)

    Be aware that a hard floor might be problematic. Lots of people buy extra cushioned mats to stand on at their standing desks. I have not needed this because the carpet at work and at home is thick enough.

    Also, shoes are important. If you are going to stand for several hours each day, make sure your shoes give you comfort and support. Otherwise, you will have sore feet, sore knees, and a negative outlook on the whole thing.

    So while I can't say that I have seen any weight loss effects from my 2 standing desks, I like them and intend to keep using them.
  • benpoepen
    benpoepen Posts: 20 Member
    I'm using a standing desk at work and at home. It's only recently that I've been able to stand all day if I want (I do try to take 15 minutes sitting-breaks every 3-4 hours).

    Here are two screenshots of my Fitbit log today. Guess what time I had a seated meeting and what time I've been standing behind my desk

    TKAS5J1.png
    XB32Owl.png


    (according to the graph, standing let me burns 19 Calories per 15 minutes vs 7 sedentary. That's 76 per hour vs 28.
    I stand like 6-7 hours a day, so that's an avg of 330 calories extra per day. Just at work. That's 1680 calories in a workweek. Or about 2 pounds per month extra weightloss.

    According to just stand, standing would give me a surplus of 2200cal per week. Which might be a tad exaggerated.
    )
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    I tried one, not as a 'fitness' thing so much as a 'wellness' thing. I actually found standing was distracting while trying to work.
  • successgal1
    successgal1 Posts: 996 Member
    I stand all day at work, not optionally. I have stronger legs, and tendinitis in my hips and groin from it. Its harder to come up with the interest in exercising when your legs are sore and they need rest. I think its wise to have the option, since I guess too much sitting is all kinds of bad for you, restricting circulation etc. But you won't find any awesome weight loss results by simply standing. Its still sedentary.
  • debrakgoogins
    debrakgoogins Posts: 2,033 Member
    I have a sit down/ stand up desk. It's hydraulic and I can adjust it up or down as I choose. I try to stand up at least 2 hours a day. I find my back and neck are less sore if I do that. Plus, I got a stability disk and switch off balancing on one foot at a time while I'm standing. It hasn't helped my weight loss much but it has helped my balance and strength.
  • benpoepen
    benpoepen Posts: 20 Member
    Need2Exerc1se wrote: »
    I tried one, not as a 'fitness' thing so much as a 'wellness' thing. I actually found standing was distracting while trying to work.

    You have to condition yourself to it. Just like any change in activity.

    It took me like 3 months before I can stand while doing work which needs concentration. It took me half a year to be able to stand a full day.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    benpoepen wrote: »
    Need2Exerc1se wrote: »
    I tried one, not as a 'fitness' thing so much as a 'wellness' thing. I actually found standing was distracting while trying to work.

    You have to condition yourself to it. Just like any change in activity.

    It took me like 3 months before I can stand while doing work which needs concentration. It took me half a year to be able to stand a full day.

    Or, I could just sit down to work and make sure I move on my breaks. ;)

    I'm not sure standing in one spot all day is all that great for circulatory health.
  • uconnwinsnc1
    uconnwinsnc1 Posts: 902 Member
    Standing is better for your back and can help keep you awake+concentrating at work. People sit too long too often.
  • benpoepen
    benpoepen Posts: 20 Member
    Need2Exerc1se wrote: »
    benpoepen wrote: »
    Need2Exerc1se wrote: »
    I tried one, not as a 'fitness' thing so much as a 'wellness' thing. I actually found standing was distracting while trying to work.

    You have to condition yourself to it. Just like any change in activity.

    It took me like 3 months before I can stand while doing work which needs concentration. It took me half a year to be able to stand a full day.

    Or, I could just sit down to work and make sure I move on my breaks. ;)

    I'm not sure standing in one spot all day is all that great for circulatory health.


    Thing is, you can sit motionless for hours, days. But it's quite a feat for ordinary persons to stand motionless for more than a few minutes (I bet Royal Guards have a long training period). You'd have to shift your weight, hop around, etc. It's these little movements which keeps things burning. NEAT if you will

    It's OK to sit down and move during breaks, it's even better to move all the time and move even more during breaks ;)
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