Desk jobs and exercise

rachaela06 · April 2012

I worked retail for years, now I have a desk job, plus an hour commute one way to work. I never had an issue with anything, until I took a desk job. I try to workout in the morning and later in the evening after the kids are in bed. I've really changed how I eat also. This is the one thing I miss about a retail job, at least I always felt like I worked by the end of the day.

IslandGirl072906 · April 2012

Thanks Tai!

kfle018 · April 2012

Oh man, story of my life. Before my current job as a lending consultant I was a teller in the bank. SO different even though they are both relatively lazy jobs. At least as a teller I was running out to the safes/consultants all the time. But now I have my own office I rarely leave. I have started walking to work, which is great, but because we are looking to buy our first home, I find I dordle a lot and what should take me 15mins to walk takes me 30. When I get home i'm lazy, hardly getting out, just sit and watch TV. In 4 months my work uniform is already ridicuously tight. So now I'm having to cut my favourite foods for the sake of my uniform. I think I need a change in job- considering I am university qualified as a surveyor and environmental consultant- so i should be out in the field all day measuring and running around *SIGH*

KatrinaG2012 · April 2012

Bump from a two desk job girl whose waist got bigger than her boobs since she sat down to work 20 years ago.:sad:

RmYWarrioR · April 2012

I am active duty military and have been stuck in a staff position for a little more than a year. I cope by walking everywhere I can when moving printed documents and going to and from meetings outside of my building. I go to Unit Physical Training in the mornings and in addition I go to the gym and strength train at lunch. I also, do cardio at home with my wife. We do a combination, rotation of Insanity, Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred and 6 Week 6 pack and invterval running. It works really well for me. I have dropped from 214 to 193 pounds since Christmas.

Xiaolongbao · April 2012

I'm not in a strictly desk job (teaching) but since getting my fitbit I've realised just how sedentary it actually is. That's one great thing about the fitbit, it shows you how much/how little you are moving around in your every day life.

I've added in all sorts of little extra bits to try and get my count up. Being less efficient basically. So I don't do all my photocopying at one time. I walk to other offices more. I take a longer route to get to and from the photocopier. I take weird routes that involve stairs when I need to get to other places in the building. I visit the toilets that aren't the closest to where I am.

I walk to and from work but not by the shortest route.

It all sounds a little silly but it does add up and of course with the fitbit I can see the difference it makes.

LemonSnap · April 2012

I sit at a computer all day and have been doing these 5 minute desk-side walks five or six times throughout the day. Makes a huge difference to how I feel - less stiff shoulders and numb bum, etc. - and I seem to be losing weight more rapidly since I started doing them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=PnsfbneFQ_8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bot9ma_sIh0

eta: Oh, yeah (@Xiaolongbao) apparently they are about 500 paces.

rachmass1 · April 2012

I am tied to a computer 8-10 hours a day. A couple months ago I bought a desk that sits over my treadmill and now walk while I am working between 2-4 hours a day. It is a life saver and has virtually eliminated my back problems. I am fortunate I work from home though instead of an office.

In your situation you could try drinking a lot of water so you have an excuse to get up and move around every hour.

lacroyx · April 2012

I work a desk job. My shift is Graveyard 11pm-7am. I have periods of downtime I take advantage by going outside for 15-20 min walk breaks. I also work on the weekends and it's even less busy then. I'll sometimes head out for up to 45 mins on the weekends. Other than that I hit my YMCA in the morning after work. It's nice because at 8am during the week, it's not crowded at all.

rockette7 · April 2012

I feel your pain. I was a waitress for a while, and used to wear a pedometer to work. My average mileage per shift? About 8 miles? I was at my slimmest then, despite the weird way shift work makes you eat!

Now I have a desk-job and have gained nearly half a stone and can't fit in my clothes anymore. I'm finding little ways to up my activity level at work.
I walk to and from work, which takes about ten minutes each way. Could you park a little further from work, or get off the bus a stop early and walk the rest?
Don't email your colleagues, get off your butt and go visit their desks. Forget the lift, use the stairs.
I go out of the building for lunch a few times a week, and make sure to walk at a brisk pace to wherever I'm eating. It all adds up. Does anyone in your building get heavy deliveries? We get regular deliveries of boxes of leaflets, and I always help out with the getting them in and putting them away. That's some strength work with the lifting, and cardio with walking to and from the delivery van!

lorihaug · April 2012

Try to get up and stretch or walk a little at least once an hour. Take 10-15 minute breaks (if you can), and walk during those, or get some sort of exercise in over your lunch break. Also, this may sound and look silly, but try sitting on an exercise ball at your desk. You will burn some calories keeping yourself upright. If your job requires a lot of phone work, you could try attaching a stretch band to your desk or wall, or use a 5-10 lb weight and work your arms while you sit. If none of those things are feasible, you will have to make time for exercise somewhere else in your day. Hope this helps, GOOD LUCK!!!!

Desk jobs and exercise

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