By now, most of us know that we must exercise at least 3 times a week to remain healthy. But did you know that you should also spend less time sitting? Between sitting at a desk all day and sitting on the couch at night, many of us can spend on average over 12 hours a day in a sitting position. This habit creates health problems and it has a name: The Sitting Disease.
The Negative Impact of Sitting
Exercise alone does not repair damage to our system from sitting too much. This damage can lead to longer-term health complications including obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, heart attack.
How to combat the Sitting Disease
Stand up and move more – standing increases your energy, burns more calories, tones muscle, improves your posture and increases blood flow.
Here are a few tips:
- Stand up while you are on the phone. Better yet, walk around.
- Take the stairs.
- Walk after you eat lunch.
- Stand up and stretch when you are at your computer for long periods.
- Stand up or do exercises while watching TV.
- Go refill your water glass every hour.
Remember:
When you can …Stand!
When you can…Walk!