Standing up all day?

Aleara2012
Aleara2012 Posts: 225 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Ok, here is the thing. I have a desk job. I sit all day. But, I can change the height of my desk in case I prefer to stand instead of sit. So do you think standing at my desk all day would burn more calories than sitting at my desk? How do I estimate how much more calories I would be burning? I have no HRM - is that the only way to measure the difference, if there is any difference, that is.

Replies

  • erinkeely4
    erinkeely4 Posts: 408 Member
    There is definitely a difference! My heart rate is usually around 80 when I'm sitting down, and when I'm standing up it's around 95. That difference over 8 hours would surely be something!

    I would recommend getting a heart rate monitor. They're worth it!
  • Aleara2012
    Aleara2012 Posts: 225 Member
    There is definitely a difference! My heart rate is usually around 80 when I'm sitting down, and when I'm standing up it's around 95. That difference over 8 hours would surely be something!

    I would recommend getting a heart rate monitor. They're worth it!

    Yes, I really want to get one and planned to do so this month but my daughter broke my smartphone so had to replace that instead :( Maybe next month though!
  • appi1981
    appi1981 Posts: 45
    You def need a hrm as everyone s heart rate beats at a different rate so your individual burn rate Will be different, i personally wouldn't stand as your legs Will just ache from it and stop you doing actual exercise unless you are gonna stand and do squat s or star jumps but then you'll just look nuts! Can you not run or walk to work!
  • Aleara2012
    Aleara2012 Posts: 225 Member
    You def need a hrm as everyone s heart rate beats at a different rate so your individual burn rate Will be different, i personally wouldn't stand as your legs Will just ache from it and stop you doing actual exercise unless you are gonna stand and do squat s or star jumps but then you'll just look nuts! Can you not run or walk to work!

    I can't walk to work, i have to take the train as it is too far :-/ I just really hate sitting all day, I wish I had a more active job :(
  • appi1981
    appi1981 Posts: 45
    Nightmare! Give it a go then try mixing it up doing jogging on spot things like that but get a hrm as as you'll know exactly what you've burned
  • Aleara2012
    Aleara2012 Posts: 225 Member
    Nightmare! Give it a go then try mixing it up doing jogging on spot things like that but get a hrm as as you'll know exactly what you've burned

    Thanks, that is agood advice! I was up for 1 hour just now printing and filing, I think i will try to incorporate at least 3 such hours in my 8-hour workday. I hope this will help a bit. I really would like to get out of Sedentary and into Lightly Active activity level.
  • Weighinginwithmy02
    Weighinginwithmy02 Posts: 369 Member
    I also have a desk that I can stand up at and it makes a huge difference in my energy level I noticed. Objects in motion stay in motion and I believe the same is true for objects who aren't in motion! I generally stand for an hour in the morning and probably close to two hours in the afternoon. I accomplish more work while I'm standing and at the end of the day I don't feel nearly as wiped out as I used to. It's also helped relieve the back pain I was having in my lower back. Give it a go. Even if it doesn't burn a load of calories it will help your overall being.
  • Aleara2012
    Aleara2012 Posts: 225 Member
    Thanks for this - i have the same problem with back-pain and am hoping standing up would help with that so what you said gives me hope! I guess the extra calories for me are just and indicator if I would be increasing my activity level :D
  • romoli
    romoli Posts: 43 Member
    Have you thought about sitting on an exercise ball at work. I know my sister does this. She's a tri-athlete. She says that you are constantly balancing and your posture is much better as well as your core strength.... just a thought?
  • Aleara2012
    Aleara2012 Posts: 225 Member
    Have you thought about sitting on an exercise ball at work. I know my sister does this. She's a tri-athlete. She says that you are constantly balancing and your posture is much better as well as your core strength.... just a thought?

    That is a good idea... I am not sure how it would be accepted in my company though (very strict and formal company culture :( )
  • LastTenPoundsGodDamnYou
    LastTenPoundsGodDamnYou Posts: 101 Member
    A HRM will not really help with this. It is only useful for cardio. If you go by the calls it says you burn you will be massively over eating and so will put on weight. Also any benefits you will get from standing all day will definitely be cancelled out by the aches and pains you will get from standing for 8 hours meaning you will not be able to excercise properly as you should. I say sit down and relax at work and try to be a little more active when you are not at work. :flowerforyou:
  • Aleara2012
    Aleara2012 Posts: 225 Member
    A HRM will not really help with this. It is only useful for cardio. If you go by the calls it says you burn you will be massively over eating and so will put on weight. Also any benefits you will get from standing all day will definitely be cancelled out by the aches and pains you will get from standing for 8 hours meaning you will not be able to excercise properly as you should. I say sit down and relax at work and try to be a little more active when you are not at work. :flowerforyou:

    Thank you, that is wonderful advice! Unfortunately my personal circumstances limit what I can do after work, so I have to try and create activity where I can IYKWIM...
  • kindra3434
    kindra3434 Posts: 176 Member
    I was wondering the same thing....I can actually do simple workouts and pace/walk at work. Here lately I have pushed the chairs out of they way and I stand, walk, do lunges, push ups squats. I spent a year and a half sitting all night at my post...no more.
  • LastTenPoundsGodDamnYou
    LastTenPoundsGodDamnYou Posts: 101 Member
    Yep I hear you. I have had to quit gyming it due to injury and I agree anything you can do is better than doing nowt, I just wouldn't want you to end up exhaused after work or hurting your back and knees standing. Make sure you wear good supportive custioned shoes. Good luck with it all!
  • Aleara2012
    Aleara2012 Posts: 225 Member
    Thanks all! I think I will just try to have an hour in the morning and another in the afternoon where I stand rather than sit and see ifthat works for me!
  • acresfield
    acresfield Posts: 122 Member
    A HRM will not really help with this. It is only useful for cardio. If you go by the calls it says you burn you will be massively over eating and so will put on weight. Also any benefits you will get from standing all day will definitely be cancelled out by the aches and pains you will get from standing for 8 hours meaning you will not be able to excercise properly as you should. I say sit down and relax at work and try to be a little more active when you are not at work. :flowerforyou:

    ^^^ this definitely.

    There are other ways to work a bit more into your day and get the same net result. I have a sedentary desk bound job and have found the best way for me to work a bit more activity is to use the toilets on a different floor, print to the printer on the ground floor and take the stairs etc.

    There is also a website called fitbolt, which gives you small cardio exercises to do from your chair and pops up a window when its time to do some. Its a small thing but makes a difference.

    the HRM is calibrated for doing cardio above a certain heart rate, anything below that heart rate will be misreported. I od agree with the poster near the top who said that its worth about an extra 15 or so BPM, which would only work out at about an extra 20 to 30 calories per hour, and for the discomfort you feel then there are other ways to get that same burn.
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    A HRM is only for when you are doing exercises with elevated heart rate (riding bikes, walking fast, running). If you are standing, I would make sure that your activity setting is lightly active instead of sedentary and leave it at that.
  • unsuspectingfish
    unsuspectingfish Posts: 1,176 Member
    A HRM will not really help with this. It is only useful for cardio. If you go by the calls it says you burn you will be massively over eating and so will put on weight. Also any benefits you will get from standing all day will definitely be cancelled out by the aches and pains you will get from standing for 8 hours meaning you will not be able to excercise properly as you should. I say sit down and relax at work and try to be a little more active when you are not at work. :flowerforyou:

    I'm up and walking around for almost my entire 8 hour shift, 5 days a week. Rarely, I get stuck standing behind the counter for those 8 hours. I have minimal to no "aches and pains" associated with this. In fact, I get more aches and pains sitting around all day. Standing is good for you. It's better than sitting. It allows for proper blood flow in your legs. People who sit around all day for a living are at risk of things like clots in their legs. It may not burn more calories, but it is definitely beneficial.
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    A HRM will not really help with this. It is only useful for cardio. If you go by the calls it says you burn you will be massively over eating and so will put on weight. Also any benefits you will get from standing all day will definitely be cancelled out by the aches and pains you will get from standing for 8 hours meaning you will not be able to excercise properly as you should. I say sit down and relax at work and try to be a little more active when you are not at work. :flowerforyou:

    I stand for 8 hours a day and I actually feel less achy and less pain than when I sit for long periods of time. So, not everyone has issues with standing for long periods of time. I have steel rods and a bulging disc, so I know ALL about back pain. When I can be up and moving around -- it feels better than sitting in the same position all day long.

    Just wanted to add that.
  • Aleara2012
    Aleara2012 Posts: 225 Member
    Thanks for all the input! Love to read all the different opinions, tips and experiences! :flowerforyou:
  • shar140
    shar140 Posts: 1,158 Member
    I worked as a cashier at Home Depot for a year - I think being on your feet is good, but standing in one spot on CONCRETE for 8 hours made my legs & feet achy. If I had been able to move around more, and it wasn't on a concrete floor (we had anti-fatigue mats, but weren't allowed to stand where they were placed), it would have been better. When I was in college, I worked at a movie theatre and was on my feet the entire time, but I was constantly moving and on tile or carpeted floors. That made a difference.

    Also, sitting actually puts more pressure on your lower back than standing does.
    http://www.usatoday.com/money/jobcenter/workplace/bruzzese/2011-05-25-stand-at-work-to-boost-productivity_N.htm
  • stylistchik
    stylistchik Posts: 1,436 Member
    What about getting a balance ball to sit on at your desk instead of a chair. It would strengthen all your core muscles and then you can add in your extra walking errands throughout the day?
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    There is definitely a difference! My heart rate is usually around 80 when I'm sitting down, and when I'm standing up it's around 95. That difference over 8 hours would surely be something!

    I would recommend getting a heart rate monitor. They're worth it!

    HRM's are not accurate when doing non cardio activity and wil not give you a good estimate of sitting cals burned vs. standing cals burned. You would need a Body Fit Media, or Body bugg to get this info. But you will burn more standing, probably the difference between sedentary and light active settings.
  • 5pmsomewherenow
    5pmsomewherenow Posts: 163 Member
    I also **sit** at a computer all day (9 hrs) and drive to work one hour each way! Had to find a way to get up and move at least every half hour -- made a diffrence in muscle tightness, etc (especially everyday after gym workouts...)

    I have a set-up at my desk where I can alternate between standing upright at my keyboard or sitting for a while. This strategy, as well as walking out of the office into the building, has made a difference in how I feel. Drinking a lot of water helps, too -- makes trips out of the office more frequent ;-)

    Give the standing up a try, and see if you feel better adding into your day in short spurts -- I found I like the variety, and so do my muscles!
  • KyleB65
    KyleB65 Posts: 1,196 Member
    I am at a desk all day as well.
    With out a HRM I am not certain about the calorie burn.

    One of t he things I have been contemplating is bringing to work my exercise ball and sitting on that instead of my chair. I have heard that this is good for posture and balance??

    If this is true, I would guess that it would provide some amount of "burn" as well?
  • jarrettd
    jarrettd Posts: 872 Member
    I am a control room operator and have spent the better part of 12 years holding down a chair. Sitting for prolonged periods causes multiple spine issues, feet/leg swelling, potential for blood clots, tight hip flexors, bad posture.....need I go on?

    If you have the option of standing, do it! You don't have to stand all day. When you notice yourself slumping, stand for a while. Stretch a bit, have a walk-around if you are free to. Not only are your protecting yourself from the above-mentioned risks, you'll just plain feel better. When I can't catch break to move around some, my mood suffers for it. Just 3-5 minutes each hour is enough to boost your mood, get your blood flowing, stretch out your limbs and your lungs, and feel like you are making a difference to your overall fitness and health.

    Enjoy!!
  • Aleara2012
    Aleara2012 Posts: 225 Member
    There is definitely a difference! My heart rate is usually around 80 when I'm sitting down, and when I'm standing up it's around 95. That difference over 8 hours would surely be something!

    I would recommend getting a heart rate monitor. They're worth it!

    HRM's are not accurate when doing non cardio activity and wil not give you a good estimate of sitting cals burned vs. standing cals burned. You would need a Body Fit Media, or Body bugg to get this info. But you will burn more standing, probably the difference between sedentary and light active settings.

    Thanks, this makes perfect sense! :flowerforyou:
  • Aleara2012
    Aleara2012 Posts: 225 Member
    I also **sit** at a computer all day (9 hrs) and drive to work one hour each way! Had to find a way to get up and move at least every half hour -- made a diffrence in muscle tightness, etc (especially everyday after gym workouts...)

    I have a set-up at my desk where I can alternate between standing upright at my keyboard or sitting for a while. This strategy, as well as walking out of the office into the building, has made a difference in how I feel. Drinking a lot of water helps, too -- makes trips out of the office more frequent ;-)

    Give the standing up a try, and see if you feel better adding into your day in short spurts -- I found I like the variety, and so do my muscles!

    Yes, that is exactly what I am doing today! Staying a while, than walk a bit then sit for a while... Actually feeling pretty well so far! Thanks for the wonderful advice! :flowerforyou:
    I am a control room operator and have spent the better part of 12 years holding down a chair. Sitting for prolonged periods causes multiple spine issues, feet/leg swelling, potential for blood clots, tight hip flexors, bad posture.....need I go on?

    If you have the option of standing, do it! You don't have to stand all day. When you notice yourself slumping, stand for a while. Stretch a bit, have a walk-around if you are free to. Not only are your protecting yourself from the above-mentioned risks, you'll just plain feel better. When I can't catch break to move around some, my mood suffers for it. Just 3-5 minutes each hour is enough to boost your mood, get your blood flowing, stretch out your limbs and your lungs, and feel like you are making a difference to your overall fitness and health.

    Enjoy!!

    Thank you, more brilliant advice! :flowerforyou:

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