Stuck behind a desk all day...

Walk on your lunch break, take the stairs all the time, park the farthest you can from the office everyday.

I make sure I have healthy snacks in my desk to avoid eating whatever is in the break room! I also do air squats each time I go to the ladies room and often do lunges down the back hall. Drinking lots of water during the day causes me to have to visit the ladies room and therefore I end up doing more air squats than normal.

I work on the 9th floor and I take the stairs up and down as well as park in the furthest spot away in the parking garage. Walking during lunch when the weather is tolerable is really nice as well.


Planning exercise into your day (before or after work) is really the best way to get in a legit work out, but if you cant just try to be active at least 30 minutes in the day.

Good luck!

My friend and I walk for 40 minutes at lunch almost every day! Then, I try to coerce my hubby into walking again with me in the evening, at least for 30 minutes.

who is going to know that you are doing a thiighmaster under your desk??

i've heard of people sitting on those big workout balls instead of their desk chairs you'll be working your core all day./

We've got a gym at the office that a lot of people use on their lunch break. I don't have time for such things, as I can't take a long lunch because of my position, so I just try to walk as much possible. I try to see people in person instead of email when practical, volunteer for those tasks that require someone to leave the desk, etc.

Good luck!

I have the same problem. I work 6-3:30 behind a desk all day. My office is in the basement but I never take the elevator. I pretend the elevator is always broken (and it's literally right outside my office) and opt for the stairs every time. I also park out farther in the parking lot.

Drink water, then you have to go for a walk. Have good protein for breakfast and lunch to help w/the late afternoon crash. I use to do 10 squats every time I went to the restroom.

I "attempt" to take a 10-15 walk breaks in the morning/afternoon but I'm usually to busy then to break way from work. At lunchtime however I eat and then I go for a 30 min. brisk walk. Sometimes I'll eat at my desk and walk about 45 mins at lunch. I may come back all sweaty but I feel great afterwards. :bigsmile:

I get a sweet tooth at 3:30pm everyday like clock work. I usually bring a mango, strawberries or something from home to eat during that time. And I drink water all day.

Oh I also take the stairs up and down within floors (3 floors) - every little bit counts and adds up.

Drink lots of water....the benefits here are obvious, but the side benefit is that you'll have to get up to go to the restroom frequently...so you'll get some walking in (try to avoid on days with many meetings) : )

Stand during conference calls

Get up and stretch a couple times an hour (not a long break...just enough to get your blood pumping a bit more)

Avoid big lunches (obviously), and keep some fruit handy for the mid afternoon snack. It's likely you are running low on carbs at that point in the day.

Try to maintain good posture, I find this keeps me a bit more awake vs. getting my slouch on....

i work in chicago so we walk to the lake at lunch and we also walk the stairwell 2 times a day (200 stairs each time)... at 10:30 and at 3:00. easy, free workout solution while stuck at work!

i too have a desk job, and sit here from 7am-3:30pm every day. I am a CAD engineer for a pretty popular company, so it's a good job, but the sitting on my butt doesn't help.

I drink a TON of water while here, and probably have to make 5 or so trips to the restroom. I have an office on the second floor, and i always walk to the furthest restroom on the first floor and jog my stairs coming back.

Also, I am out on the floor a lot to get data to put into my CAD drawings, so i use that excuse a ton to be away from my desk and up and walking around.

I know a lot of people don't have that luxury though. i'd say, if you have a private office, maybe bring in one of those pedal things you can sit under your desk and use your legs and pretty much bicycle while working, or you could bring in a balance ball and sit on that as a chair (although i've only seen that happen on TV commercials, i don't think i've ever heard of anyone actually doing that).

hang in there, and avoid overeating!

I walk to work and home for lunch, sometimes i work out on my lunch and eat real quick or bring food back. I also drink about 13 cups of water a day at work so i run to the lady's room a lot. If i start getting too tired i get up and walk around the office, go say hi to someone or check the fax machines. I'm starting to work out before and after work so we'll see if that just tires me out more or gives me more energy. I also have healthy snacks like granola bars at my desk so i can snack on one in the afternoon about 3

This is going to sound like it makes you more tired but it gives you energy through out the day. Wake up an hour earlier and get you workout done first thing. Trust me I use to not be a morning person but I no longer have the 3pm head nods anymore.

I second the fitness ball. It engages core muscles, so even if you don't feel more active, you are in fact keeping your muscles busy.

Any chance you could modify your desk so that you could stand while working? I just started using a filing tote under my monitor and keyboard to allow me to stand (photo here: http://shutherupwithchocolate.com/stand/), but I work from home, so I don't have to worry about how "professional" it looks or how "professional" my footwear looks.