An interesting field has recently emerged in the physical activity world, the study of sitting. A major study published last year found an association between the amounts of time spent sitting and mortality, even with an hour a day of structured activity. It is estimated that on average, people who sit too much shave a few years off of their lives.
A 14 year study by the American Cancer Society showed that women sitting for long stretches, more than six hours a day, were about 40% more likely to die during the course of the study than those who sat fewer than three hours per day. Men were about 20% more likely to die.
So don’t drop your daily gym visit, but get up and move as much as possible during the workday and your leisure time activities, such as watching TV and reading. Here are some tips from exercise scientist Dr. Len Kravitz, to help you burn calories and keep your metabolism up throughout the day:
- Take a short walk around the office every time you take a coffee break
- Do 5 squats every time you take a drink of water
- Pace while you talk on your cell phone
- Make an effort to walk quickly at the grocery store, into the office or during other errands
- Get up briefly every 30 minutes and gets the blood flowing
What are some ways that you keep moving throughout the day?
