Replace Your Chair We don't care if it adjusts or has amazing lumbar support -- lose the office chair, and invest in alternatives. The first option is a stability ball, which requires you to engage your core muscles just to sit, helping burn calories and tone your abs and back, says Michelle Ross, certified fitness trainer at E.W. Training. Just don't sit on the ball to work for more than a total of 60 minutes a day, says Amir Pozderac founder of Executive Fitness Consulting LLC. "Your core muscles will get tired and relax, so your body position will alter and cause your back to bend forward." To rest your core, work while standing or use another chair in between. Health expert Susan Schenck suggests propping a rocking chair at your desk as a respite, or use one on its own. "Rocking burns 150 calories an hour," she says.
I always watch at least one comedy show a day just to brighten my mood but now that I learned that laughing really does burn calories I probably will watch more !
I have been sitting a lot at the computer this year, because I could not do much exercise due to a bum foot. Recently, I can now walk, but as stated here, breaks to do various things are important. My foot seems slightly swollen, when all I do is sit at the computer. Not to mention being in a bad position which strains the whole body. And, I do take that coffee break, but maybe need to stretch more while sitting here. I heard elevating the leg into a different position may help.
I LOVE working out & already heed most of the tips included in this article. I LOVE the tips about laughing & keeping funny pictures or a list of funny things friends have said to keep the smiles and chuckles coming! I think that replacing the office chair with an exercise / yoga ball is a little unrealistic for most offices (Unless you are in CA & outside thinking is accepted) - I still LOVE the idea! MOST importantly - the article stresses not only the importance of keeping the body hydrated, but notes other sources of hydration other than water alone and also gives some sort of method for verification of when the body has reached the correct level of hydration. GREAT ARTICLE & TONS OF FUN!
Most of these are things I do already, but it was still fun to read--especially the estimates of how many calories I'm burning when I fidget or dance in my chair. ;-)