Sitting on my butt all day

Re my hip snapping - I tore, I think, a tendon. I can't remember the exact problem. I was taken to A&E where they knocked me out with painkillers, x-rayed me and put me on crutches. They thought I had done some kind of damage to the bone because the snap (pop) was extremely loud when it happened. Prior to that, I had noticed that my hips were becoming very stiff, so I do kind of feel like an old lady!

You mentioned a bad back - what is your chair like at work? Is your posture correct? These things are important to get right. Speak to your employer, get a risk assessment of your desk area. Ask for a better chair, or an under desk foot stool. Take regular breaks from your desk, if you can, so you aren't just sitting in one position for hours. And make sure you warm up before exercising.

I still think you should visit your doctor, however.

I feel your pain, I have the same sort of thing. I just try to get up and do "a lap" every now and again.

Depending what you have to actually do at your desk... Can you stand? Get one of those laptop desk stations with adjustable height, they don't take up much room...and then for at least some periods throughout the day, stand instead of sit. You could even get some movement and stretching in as you work if you're standing. Also, there are those chairs where you put some of your weight on your knees. From what I've read, it's not JUST the sitting that causes issues, but sitting in the same way for too long. If you had a few alternatives to switch up during the day, that might be helpful.

Eta: of course if it's your weight you are concerned about and you are exercising all you can, you need to eat less. But it seems that you know that, and are concerned with the effects of sitting on your butt all day...which is what my response is meant to address, obviously

Okay, but I'm not just talking about weight loss.

Yeah, I'm going to respectfully disagree with the "eat less" posts.
The non exercise activity is a large part of our metabolism.

Do take those walking breaks, even park your car away from your work to get in 15 minute walks a day, work standing or schedule breaks to do something active during the day. It can make a huge difference.

Being active is more than just weight loss.

Have you actually read her post?

"I exercise intensively most days - either lifting heavy weights and doing plyometric training or in dance rehearsals." - An hour or two hours of intensive exercise

"I've tried so many things to help with this. Walking up all the escalators at the tube stations, taking a walk at lunchtime, stretching in my office a few times a day"

The OP is far from not active.


OP, as for your other problems, I don't know exactly what you mean by your hip 'snapping', but if it's a serious issue, visit your doctor. A desk job isn't going to cause that, plus you are 27, you're hardly an old lady! I have a desk job and it doesn't give me health problems.

Yes, I "actually" read her post. I saw that she was complaining about inactivity for 22 hours a day. Aside from planned exercise, NEAT is a major part of metabolic function and clearly implicated if the OP is feeling stiff from inactivity.

Spending hours at a desk, remaining inactive, is an unfortunate health risk or so would the various studies make us think that associate it with increased disease risk (causation and correlation aside). People that are more active, and specifically take breaks away from 6/8 hour sitting spells (Rosencranz Kansas State study - can't make that name up) are generally healthier.

I understand what you are saying, but my point is, the OP is doing all she can to increase activity. She has already said she gets up at 6:45am and is not home till 12am, she does 1 - 2 hours of moderate activity daily (including strength training), she goes for walks on her lunch break, she move as much as possible on her commute, she stretches during her working hours. There is no more time for additional exercise.

There is no doubt that people with a more active job are healthier, but without a career change, there's not much that can be done about that!

I am still convinced there is an underlying problem and/or that the OP is eating too much, Exercise is beneficial for health but not actually necessary for weight loss.

The OP states she's tried various things to increase her in office activity, I have no way of knowing if she does these consistently (she states she tries) or just every once in a while. Rather than assume, I'm underlining how important these may be. Even if she has an undiagnosed medical condition like fibro - it makes senses to continue to take planned breaks away from sitting.

Unlike you, I'm not convinced about anything here, the suggestion to see a doctor does seem valid, to identify the root cause of an injury. And while exercise is not needed of weight loss, NEAT actually has a much greater impact on weight loss than just exercise and the OP is complaining about inactivity. NEAT addresses both.
The OP complained about 10 lbs gain in 6 months that's slightly less than 200 cals per day. One can eat less, exercise more or increase NEAT. Any of the three are valid or a combination of them. In a situation where someone complains of activity level if makes sense to increase it, if possible (without increasing exercise).
Now the thing about eating less is that it actually decreases your NEAT, so whenever possible it makes sense to look at everyday lifestyle elements as part of the overall view of things and not just call out to "eat less".

Edit:You'll also notice that the OP has stated that she finds it very difficult to eat less. Why insist on that if this leads to binging for her?

:flowerforyou:

Hey

I have a desk job so have a few tips...

Instead of eating, have a drink - I've just started having green tea when I'm feeling like I need something. Before I was drinking lots and lots of water which I found very boring.

Get up at least once an hour (if your boss is okay with this) and have a walk round your office. I drink so much I'm constantly getting up for a pee so I take the long way round to the toilets. Or if your boss isn't so happy with that find an excuse to print something so you have to walk to the printer or walk to someone instead of calling?

Also when I have to commute on the train, I choose to stand. Depends how long your journey is! Mine's 45 mins and I'm happy with that.

Good luck

Okay, but I'm not just talking about weight loss.

Yeah, I'm going to respectfully disagree with the "eat less" posts.
The non exercise activity is a large part of our metabolism.

Do take those walking breaks, even park your car away from your work to get in 15 minute walks a day, work standing or schedule breaks to do something active during the day. It can make a huge difference.

Being active is more than just weight loss.

Have you actually read her post?

"I exercise intensively most days - either lifting heavy weights and doing plyometric training or in dance rehearsals." - An hour or two hours of intensive exercise

"I've tried so many things to help with this. Walking up all the escalators at the tube stations, taking a walk at lunchtime, stretching in my office a few times a day"

The OP is far from not active.


OP, as for your other problems, I don't know exactly what you mean by your hip 'snapping', but if it's a serious issue, visit your doctor. A desk job isn't going to cause that, plus you are 27, you're hardly an old lady! I have a desk job and it doesn't give me health problems.

Yes, I "actually" read her post. I saw that she was complaining about inactivity for 22 hours a day. Aside from planned exercise, NEAT is a major part of metabolic function and clearly implicated if the OP is feeling stiff from inactivity.

Spending hours at a desk, remaining inactive, is an unfortunate health risk or so would the various studies make us think that associate it with increased disease risk (causation and correlation aside). People that are more active, and specifically take breaks away from 6/8 hour sitting spells (Rosencranz Kansas State study - can't make that name up) are generally healthier.

I understand what you are saying, but my point is, the OP is doing all she can to increase activity. She has already said she gets up at 6:45am and is not home till 12am, she does 1 - 2 hours of moderate activity daily (including strength training), she goes for walks on her lunch break, she move as much as possible on her commute, she stretches during her working hours. There is no more time for additional exercise.

There is no doubt that people with a more active job are healthier, but without a career change, there's not much that can be done about that!

I am still convinced there is an underlying problem and/or that the OP is eating too much, Exercise is beneficial for health but not actually necessary for weight loss.

The OP states she's tried various things to increase her in office activity, I have no way of knowing if she does these consistently (she states she tries) or just every once in a while. Rather than assume, I'm underlining how important these may be. Even if she has an undiagnosed medical condition like fibro - it makes senses to continue to take planned breaks away from sitting.

Unlike you, I'm not convinced about anything here, the suggestion to see a doctor does seem valid, to identify the root cause of an injury. And while exercise is not needed of weight loss, NEAT actually has a much greater impact on weight loss than just exercise and the OP is complaining about inactivity. NEAT addresses both.
The OP complained about 10 lbs gain in 6 months that's slightly less than 200 cals per day. One can eat less, exercise more or increase NEAT. Any of the three are valid or a combination of them. In a situation where someone complains of activity level if makes sense to increase it, if possible (without increasing exercise).
Now the thing about eating less is that it actually decreases your NEAT, so whenever possible it makes sense to look at everyday lifestyle elements as part of the overall view of things and not just call out to "eat less".

Edit:You'll also notice that the OP has stated that she finds it very difficult to eat less. Why insist on that if this leads to binging for her?

:flowerforyou:

No-one will know how active the OP is apart from the OP. I can only base my answer on the details she has provided - which indicates there is no spare time for additional exercise, which is what you seem to be ignoring. You can throw around 'NEAT' as much as you like, but this still stands, therefore, the only other option is to reduce calorie intake.

The OP has said she struggles on a lower intake, but I did actually ask her to open her food diary, mainly because people often struggle because they are eating the wrong types of foods - especially when working at a desk, because you tend to pick rather than eat filling, high protein meals.

As it happens, the OP has now said she only weighs her food a couple of times a week and has 'reckless weekends'. Looks like it is a calorie intake problem after all - what a surprise.

OP, pre-plan meals, cook your lunches and dinners at the weekend for the following week if need be - the freezer is your friend. Weigh and measure everything - the fact you don't is why the weight has stuck.

If you love dancing and feel like being still all day is damaging your health, why not train to be a dance teacher? I've seen good Zumba instructors teach classes of 50 or so in a large hall at 5 pounds per person.