Trying to burn calories at my 9-5 Office Job

Calves- I tend to work on these when I sit at my desk with some weights on my knees.

I hope this doesn't sound snotty (it may) but when I see posts about people doing exercises at their desk/cubicle I just think it sounds kind of absurd. I definitely agree with walking around as much as possible throughout your work day...I too have a standard desk job, so I know it can be a challenge at times but you can always find ways to get a BIT more movement into your day. But for me personally, buying an under-desk cycling device or doing exercises at/near my desk would just feel embarrassing and strange...why not get in a workout before work or in the evening instead?

I drink water at my desk all day and every time I go to the bathroom I do a set of squats.

In the same boat, I work an 8-5 desk job AND I have a 60 minute commute as well (adding an additional 2 hours in my day that I am sitting down).

I thought about going outside for a walk on my lunch break, but I am in a shady part of the city so I don't want to chance getting mugged or raped or kidnapped.

I use bathrooms on different floors of the building. I'm on the top (third) floor. If I'm crunched for time, I'll walk down to the second floor; if I'm OK on time, I'll go to the first floor or basement. In all cases I take the stairs both down and up. To help ensure enough bathroom breaks throughout the day, I aim to drink at least 35 oz. of liquid throughout the day -- not much by some standards, but for me, it's fine.

I admit that I do have an under-the-desk cycle. During slower work periods, where I'm reading background material or something not terribly serious, I'll cycle for maybe 20-30 minutes. It helps that I have an office, though I did the same when I had a cubicle.

I hope this doesn't sound snotty (it may) but when I see posts about people doing exercises at their desk/cubicle I just think it sounds kind of absurd. I definitely agree with walking around as much as possible throughout your work day...I too have a standard desk job, so I know it can be a challenge at times but you can always find ways to get a BIT more movement into your day. But for me personally, buying an under-desk cycling device or doing exercises at/near my desk would just feel embarrassing and strange...why not get in a workout before work or in the evening instead?

+1, also maybe walk at lunch? It's simple, you probably won't get sweaty, and it's pretty good for your all around health.

+2

Take the stairs if you work in a multi-level office building. Lunchtime walks, and walks during your breaks are beneficial too.

I park my car on the top floor of my parking garage, take the stairs all 6 floors down, take the stairs up to the tenth floor of my building, take stairs down and up when I want a snack down at the cafeteria, walk during lunch, and take the stairs back up to the 6th floor of the parking garage when I leave.

I hope this doesn't sound snotty (it may) but when I see posts about people doing exercises at their desk/cubicle I just think it sounds kind of absurd. I definitely agree with walking around as much as possible throughout your work day...I too have a standard desk job, so I know it can be a challenge at times but you can always find ways to get a BIT more movement into your day. But for me personally, buying an under-desk cycling device or doing exercises at/near my desk would just feel embarrassing and strange...why not get in a workout before work or in the evening instead?

I have absolutely no time before work to exercise because I have 2 children that I must get washed, dressed, and dropped off at school. THEN I drive 30 minutes to my office. I could walk on my lunch but I only get 30 minutes and I live in Missouri where the weather yesterday was 50 degrees and last night we had a snow storm. Could I work out after I get home? Probably, but I have MS so the evenings are exhausting for me. We do home work, cook supper, clean house...etc. Please tell me how someone like me can be more like you...LOL

PS I work in a rural area. The building I work in has not one step.

Ahh, a rural area! So you have lots of space to get out and walk when you're at work. If you're too exhausted when you get home from work, you could wake up before the kids do and do a brief workout. And what's wrong with 50 degrees outside? People are training for marathons and such in weather colder than that, with snow, rain, or blasting wind (that's what I'm dealing with today).

Besides MS, which I know virtually nothing about, it sounds like a bunch of excuses. With that said, you don't have to exercise to lose weight. But I imagine if you really wanted to, you'd make time for it.

Desk jockey dad of an 18 m.o. and 4 y.o. here with a 60 minute each way commute to work. I make time for exercise and if that means I go out and ride my bike at lunch when it's cold and the wind is blowing so be it; I do that three days out of the work week...the other two I make sure I get out for at least a 30 minute walk; rain, snow, wind, or shine. My wife and I also alternate evenings at the gym two nights per week and we both go on Sundays and take the kiddos with us. On the nights I go to the gym my wife picks up the kiddos and gets them home and fed, etc...on nights she goes to the gym I reciprocate; our health and overall well being is important to us and we're also setting an example for our kids in RE to how important this is. We're actually to the point now where we are considering dumping the gym and converting our garage so we don't have to bother.

Beyond that, I just make every effort to improve my NEAT (Non Exercise Activity Thermogenesis)...even though I'm the CFO, I take the furthest parking spot from the office. I work on the third floor and always take the stairs (even when I have my bike, I just shoulder it and haul it up the stairs). When I need to use the restroom or re-fill my water bottle I do so using the 1st floor facilities which requires me to go down stairs and then back up. When I go to the grocery store, I forgo "rock star" parking and seek out spots further away from the store. Little things like this go a long way.

I hope this doesn't sound snotty (it may) but when I see posts about people doing exercises at their desk/cubicle I just think it sounds kind of absurd. I definitely agree with walking around as much as possible throughout your work day...I too have a standard desk job, so I know it can be a challenge at times but you can always find ways to get a BIT more movement into your day. But for me personally, buying an under-desk cycling device or doing exercises at/near my desk would just feel embarrassing and strange...why not get in a workout before work or in the evening instead?

I have absolutely no time before work to exercise because I have 2 children that I must get washed, dressed, and dropped off at school. THEN I drive 30 minutes to my office. I could walk on my lunch but I only get 30 minutes and I live in Missouri where the weather yesterday was 50 degrees and last night we had a snow storm. Could I work out after I get home? Probably, but I have MS so the evenings are exhausting for me. We do home work, cook supper, clean house...etc. Please tell me how someone like me can be more like you...LOL

PS I work in a rural area. The building I work in has not one step.

Ahh, a rural area! So you have lots of space to get out and walk when you're at work. If you're too exhausted when you get home from work, you could wake up before the kids do and do a brief workout. And what's wrong with 50 degrees outside? People are training for marathons and such in weather colder than that, with snow, rain, or blasting wind (that's what I'm dealing with today).

Besides MS, which I know virtually nothing about, it sounds like a bunch of excuses. With that said, you don't have to exercise to lose weight. But I imagine if you really wanted to, you'd make time for it.

Wow, judgmental and full of snark.