Your chair could really be messing up your posture.
Treadmill desks have been gaining popularity again among women with offices—and deep pockets.
And while they definitely can help increase your physical activity at the office, a recent study shows that they have one major drawback: decreased productivity. We found eight less distracting items to add to your office (or cubicle) if you’re looking to stay active and lose weight this summer.
Yahoo Health
7Ways To Lose Weight At Work
8 items to add to your office or cubicle if you’re looking to stay active and lose weight this summer.
1. Keep a scale under your desk. And we highly suggest you make it a smart scale. Step on the Withings smart body analyzer, $149.95, when you walk into work, then peruse its collected data—your weight and body fat measurements, Body Mass Index, pulse, air quality, weight history, and more—as you go through your work-related emails. The scale will use your office’s Wi-Fi to send stats directly to your inbox!
2. Swap your office chair for a stability ball. Balancing on a blown-up ball engages your core and back, but more important, it keeps you moving, says Heather Milton, MS, clinical exercise physiologist at the Center for Musculoskeletal Care at NYU Langone Medical Center. “You’re shifting more than when you’re simply sitting in a chair, which keeps you from being completely sedentary,” she explains. Consider splurging on Gaiam’s custom fit balance ball chair ($79.98), which gives you the option of placing the ball into a stabilized, ergonomic chair when your abs need relief.
2. …or lose your chair entirely. “Stand while you’re on a phone call, or initiate a standing meeting,” suggests Milton. (Note: Glamour staffers have a stand-up meeting every morning.) Not only will these activities kick your metabolism into high gear, they’ll “actually increase productivity, because you’re increasing your blood flow, which increases your cognitive focus,” says Milton.
3. Use a swivel footrest. It’s a great idea to prop your feet on a footrest for simple ergonomics. But selecting one such as the Webble ($149.99), which tilts, turns, and slides, keeps your lower body busy and your metabolism high—like you would on a treadmill—without losing your breath or focus.
4. Stash sneakers under your desk. You won’t be able to pop into that last-minute rowing class when you find yourself leaving work early—unless you’re prepared. So, “decrease all the obstacles that prevent you from being active,” says Milton. “The bottom drawer of my filing cabinet is filled with workout clothes and sneakers.”
5. Set a timer. “The longer you sit, the greater your risk of developing a cardiac disease or metabolic disease, or increasing your weight,” says Milton. Remind yourself to get moving—even if it’s just for a walk to the water fountain—with a timer from the kitchen aisle at your local grocery store. Or download free app Lark, which tracks your activities and prompts you to move with specific tips such as, “Your seat could probably use a rest. You haven’t moved in over an hour!” If you have an Apple Watch, this feature is built in.
6. Get handy. OK, this one has nothing to do with weight loss, but it’s important for your health. If you type on a keyboard for long stretch of time, give your hands, wrists, and tendons some relief. Even if you’re not worried about carpal tunnel syndrome right now, you can still benefit from stretches or some specialized tech. Try: Clinically Fit Inc.’s hand exerciser ($30), a glove-like tool that will build strength and flexibility from your fingers to your elbows. Slip it on here and there to help keep your muscles loose.
7. Tighten down below. Whether you’re on the phone, in a meeting, or typing up a report, you can do kegels or butt clenches—try holding each muscle for 15 seconds before releasing for maximum results—with no one the wiser!
No comments:
Post a Comment