Wednesday at work I had a revelation.
I was sitting on my butt, per usual, noticing the pain in my hip flexors and upper back. So I started calculating the number of hours I sit each day.
Okay so my day usually lasts from 8am-11pm… wake up and sit down to eat breakfast… sit during 1 hour commute… sit at office… stand for half an hour at lunch… sit during 1 hour commute home… workout for an hour… sit during dinner… sit and mess around on computer… SIT SIT SIT.
Hours sitting: 11
Hours standing/moving: 4
OMG
I’m surprised I’m not dead yet. According to this infographic, sitting for 6+ hours a day makes you 40% likelier to die within 15 years even if you exercise. Crap. For all my love of fitness and health, I am certainly doing a poor job of walking the walk. Since I am usually not walking at all.
So I am taking a stand.
At work I found a box and put my laptop on top. Voila! A standing desk! I certainly got plenty of stares and plenty of questions from my coworkers. But as I stood working, my hip flexors stopped hurting, my feet started aching, and I was tired! The small exertion of standing was already exhausting my body! Maybe I am not as fit as I think beyond the hour I actually exercise.
It was eye-opening. And exciting! Now I pledge to stand during my workday. I will not become a statistic. And I urge you to do the same. Even if you exercise regularly, there are still many more hours in your day. Take advantage of those hours and take a stand!
Daily Workout
After standing all day I was pretty wiped. Crazy! So I did a quick 20 minute yoga session to stretch out my sore legs and was done. I had to get to my Fifty Shades! (Scandalous).
And I happened to have a tasty dessert.
Blueberries, coconut flakes, and chocolate chips. Next time I’ll melt the chocolate for some chocolate covered coconut and blubs.
Yes please!
Kirsten Captures 
Dave recently set his desk up at work to stand too. Even though he could raise his actual desk, it’s awesome you are using a box. 🙂 Now, when he needs a “break/rest”, he sits for a minute (or walks outside). He brought up a good point: when you need a rest from sitting, it’s not like you can lay down at work – without getting a lot more looks & questions – plus, like you brought up, it’s pretty bad for our hips & health in general. I usually stand at the bar when I’m on my laptop at home, & have realized a sitting/desk job is really not for me. I think you’ll notice a difference in a great way.
Dave is so right! Taking a break by lying down is silly. It’s so great that you do not have a desk job and also stand while working on the computer. Honestly I don’t think desk jobs are for ANYONE but most people don’t see the alternative. But there is!!