How to burn the calories while at work?

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Jellyphant
Jellyphant Posts: 1,400 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I work in a bookstore the majority of the week and it's pretty sedentary if I'm not stacking shelves, managing my inventory or servicing customers.

I try my best to incorporate the little things like standing instead of sitting and lifting heavier things, ect ect, but I don't know what else I can do to avoid sitting on my butt all day, while I see all the amazing amounts of calories my friends are burning!

I know I do the back leg lifts while I reply to my emails and sometimes squats, but if you're willing to share what you guys do at work to burn off extra calories, I'd appreciate it tons! :happy:
Angie

Replies

  • RedHotRunner
    RedHotRunner Posts: 850 Member
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    I walk on my lunch break. 2-3 miles at a quick pace, unless it's too warm outside.
  • deniseg31
    deniseg31 Posts: 667 Member
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    Seems to me like you are doing the most you possibly can while at work. I'd love to have one of these "mini desk bikes" at my desk.

    http://www.amazon.com/Mini-Exercise-Bike/dp/B0000X0XJU

    I too have a sedentary job (law firm).
  • Panda_Jack
    Panda_Jack Posts: 829 Member
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    I walk on my lunch break. 2-3 miles at a quick pace, unless it's too warm outside.

    I walk on my lunches approx 45 minutes everyday.
  • snockers3112
    snockers3112 Posts: 190 Member
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    I drink a lot of water at work which in turn makes me require the toilet which is 5 flights of stairs down. I try to make a point of briskly walking/slight run all the way back up. I must go about once an hour..lol
  • tiffanygarrett
    tiffanygarrett Posts: 17
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    I also walk on my break at work. I have a smart phone and downloaded a cardo tracker and it gps's my location counts my steps, and allows me to listen at music while I am walking...it is a good way to releave stress at work and normally I burn a quick 60-100 calories. Hopet his helps and good luck....
  • nmterp
    nmterp Posts: 74
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    I park as far away from the building as possible. I've also banned myself from using elevators and only take the stairs. I walk or go up and down the stairs on my lunch as well as my OSHA mandated breaks. Also, if you have a desk or work station, why not keep a free weight in the drawer and do some strength training during the slow times. Finally, can you switch out your desk chair for a ball? That would force you to engage your core and balance as you sit. Good luck!
  • Jellyphant
    Jellyphant Posts: 1,400 Member
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    Seems to me like you are doing the most you possibly can while at work. I'd love to have one of these "mini desk bikes" at my desk.

    http://www.amazon.com/Mini-Exercise-Bike/dp/B0000X0XJU

    I too have a sedentary job (law firm).
    Yeah.. I love my job, but staring at the computer screen drives me nuts when I want to do nothing but work out. I DID find this pretty cool workout machine that's actually small enough to hide it behind my desk.. lol.
    Its called the Stamina InStride Electronic Stepper!
  • Jellyphant
    Jellyphant Posts: 1,400 Member
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    I drink a lot of water at work which in turn makes me require the toilet which is 5 flights of stairs down. I try to make a point of briskly walking/slight run all the way back up. I must go about once an hour..lol
    Lucky! I drink tons of water at work too, but the bathrooms' right across the hall. :(
  • anubis609
    anubis609 Posts: 3,966 Member
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    I do random prison workout routines in my office during downtime. It involves a small circuit of burpees, knee thrusts, tricep dips, various ab routines, squats, and lunges. If you can, you could bring in a resistance band for light strength/resistance training for back, bicep, and shoulder routines. I perform these just short of producing a hard sweat. But that's most likely to be done at your own discretion given the kind of privacy you have from working in a bookstore. :tongue:
  • kent4j
    kent4j Posts: 391 Member
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    I sit all day too. It depends what your building is like but I;
    *Walk on my lunch for 30-45 minutes. Sometimes I can only squeeze in 10 minute intervals but it breaks up the day and keeps me focused
    *every hour I go up and down the stairs at least once ( I work on the 3rd floor)
    *I brought in some weights so i do arm exercises when no one is looking :)
  • Jellyphant
    Jellyphant Posts: 1,400 Member
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    I sit all day too. It depends what your building is like but I;
    *Walk on my lunch for 30-45 minutes. Sometimes I can only squeeze in 10 minute intervals but it breaks up the day and keeps me focused
    *every hour I go up and down the stairs at least once ( I work on the 3rd floor)
    *I brought in some weights so i do arm exercises when no one is looking :)
    I have an hour for lunch, so I'm going to try and walk around the whole building and see how much distance I can get. :) I wish I had flights of stairs to use, though. We only have the ground floor. :/
  • Pande
    Pande Posts: 33
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    Do some stretches! http://www.womenfitness.net/top10_everyday_stretches.htm
    Get a hand gripper, you can work out your fore-arms with one of those at least.
    Walk around the store when you have the chance.

    Standing does burn more calories. At work I do nothing but stand for 8 hours straight ringing people's orders making drinks, grabbing their food, stocking etc.

    You can burn about 100 calories an hour standing.
  • MrsSanthoff
    MrsSanthoff Posts: 272 Member
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    I walk at lunch too...45 minutes. I do leg lifts/crunches at my desk and I pee a lot, but the restroom is 10 feet away!

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