Sitting here, typing as I work on my new novella, I realized that I have become a slug. I spend waaay too much time sitting. I recently read an article about how that affects your health and it set me to thinking. In the Huffington Post, the writer discussed studies that say diabetes, obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease can be attributed to just sitting. Whoa! And there I was thinking I was doing better with eating healthy foods and losing weight. Now I have to worry about sitting?
According to the article, if you take less than 5,000 steps a day you are in danger of these diseases. If you sit more than six hours a day, a person runs an increased risk of death, more so in women. Sitting includes: sitting at a desk; sitting in a car; and sitting at a table eating. The article suggested getting up every couple of hours and moving around, taking at least 500 – 1000 steps. The object is to keep active.
I know that we writers tend to get engrossed in our stories, never moving until we finish that scene or that chapter. It shocks me sometimes when I look up and see that three or four hours have passed without me noticing that I have not moved from the computer. I need to make myself take a break whether I want to or not. Sometimes when the writing is slow, I will get up and walk around, trying to clear the log-jam of ideas. I also know that I am guilty of not exercising enough ( I make the excuse that I work around the farm but it is not the same as sustained exercise – drat). So what do I need to do? I find running boring and I don’t like to work out on machines. Can someone out there make any suggestions about working out? Do you like Yoga? What else is there out there that an old woman who’d rather be sitting can do? What do you like to do that keeps you active? Give me your suggestions.
Hey Cheryl, interesting post. The idea is to keep active, right? You can do as Christine does. She sets a timer, writes that amount of time, then gets up and moves around to either get some exercise or get a snack/drink, whatever the situation warrants.
ReplyDeleteI'm like you. I tend to sit and time passes by before I realize how long I've been sitting in front of the computer. This is a good reminder that we all need to pay more attention to how we spend our time. ;)
Very interesting. After I first read this earlier,I counted my steps in my normal early morning short routine--making the bed, going downstairs, making coffee, getting breakfast. I was careful to not make extra steps to inflate the number. It was almost 400. So this shouldn't be hard to do. I intend to implement the 2 hours/500-1000 step plan.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cheryl, for good advice!
Kathy, I like the idea of a timer. I need something to jog me from the computer. I think I will try that.
ReplyDeleteJean, I stole my husband's pedometer and I usually take around 1000 steps in the morning but then I stop and write for a while. I think, like you, I need to do the every two hour method.
This is kind of scary, I admit. When on deadline, I do a lot of sitting. I have a way to work on my treadmill, but haven't done it yet. Think I really need to, at least for an hour a day. Basically, I have a table leaf that will fit across the bars of the treadmill. Big enough to hold a laptop. The idea is to turn the treadmill on very low, like 1 or 2, and walk slowly while working. I've been meaning to do it. This convinces me I need to be more proactive about it.
ReplyDeleteWe all sit too much, I suppose. :-/ I'm definitely guilty. I don't like to walk outside alone, and the treadmill is boring. I'm good with DVDs though. Richard Simmons, and the newest -- Zumba. If there's music, I can make myself move a while. However, I think I need to start that every two hours thing, as well. I will get up while I'm watching TV at night and just move. Yoga, sit ups, a few pilates moves I remember -- anything to keep me moving. I just need to do that more. -- LJ
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a good idea Lynn. I have a tread mill and I am sure I could figure something out like that. I need to walk and if I could type (here goes coordination - walking and chewing gum time) while I am doing it, that would be great! Hmmm...maybe I can do it!
ReplyDeleteI walk outside LJ but just not enough. I agree the treadmill is boring but Lynn's idea had piqued my interest. I would dearly love to learn Yoga. You are right, I just need to keep remembering and moving.
Wow, y'all had such a good discussion going on yesterday and I missed out. I think any moving is great. When I manage to get my best exercise in I am at the gym. I find it interesting to get on a machine like treadmill or elliptical and then watch the people while I work out. Oh, sure there is also a t.v. on the machine but the people are more interesting!
ReplyDeleteCheryl, thanks for a great post!