How You Can Combat the Inactivity Epidemic
Sitting around all day is not good for you. In fact, over the last few years several studies have come out that showed that the sedentary lifestyle lived by many Americans is contributing to an epidemic of inactivity. This is what is responsible for the rise in heart disease, diabetes, obesity, hypertension and overall poor health.
So, what can you do to fight this epidemic? Aside from seeing your chiropractor on a regular basis to get counseled on exercise, diet and get adjusted, there are some things you can do every day to not become a causality of this epidemic.
How Your Body Consumes Energy
There are three main ways that your body consumes energy. Each cell in your body requires energy to function. For the cells in your muscles that means flexing and contracting. For the cells in your liver it means producing enzymes.
As your whole body works together you need energy to move. This covers everything from brushing your teeth to what is called active energy, like riding a bike or taking a yoga class.
Your body also consumes energy through non-exercise activity thermogenesis. This is a fancy way to define the energy that your body uses during everything you do through the course of a day.
How to Avoid Excessive Sitting
If you work behind a desk all day it’s up to you to change your environment to avoid excessive sitting. You can do this by doing something like switching out your normal chair for a fitness ball or using a standing desk. Also, try to include a pedometer in your day to measure your steps. This will help you to see how active you are being through the course of the day and help you set goals to improve over time.
You can also walk and talk while doing business at work. When you’re on the phone, stand. In a meeting, you can walk around the room. There are things you can sneak in to make sure that you’re not just sitting there.
It’s also really important to take breaks throughout the day. Every 20 minutes or so make sure you stand up and stretch. Take a walk to the water cooler or the bathroom. Just make sure that you get up and move.
Just remember that one hour of physical exercise a day is thought to be able to counteract the impact of sitting for six or seven hours a day, so get out there and move! If you need some more tips or want to talk in more detail about a strategy to employ, talk to your chiropractor!
Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of William Warby