Q: I never thought that this would happen to me: Another day has passed, and I am sitting at my desk, not working out. Help!
A: In his book The End of Illness, Dr. David Agus warns that “sitting for long periods of time, even if you exercise rigorously once during the day, has biologic effects that are surprisingly worst than imagined…worst than smoking.” OMG! I read his book after a bout of sciatica—a condition that I had never even heard of, that reduced me to tears. What a wake-up call: I not only discovered the negative effects of prolonged sitting I also discovered a legion of fellow sciatica sufferers. Trust me—you do not want to be a member of this group, so think broadly about how you incorporate movement into your day. Think broadly about getting your exercise. Ask:
- What is my current mix of physical activities: walking or driving to work? Stairs vs elevator? Morning, afternoon or evening workout?
- If evening, how often does work interfere with getting my work out? If 80% of the
time, consider a different time of day. - Do I enjoy or dread my activity? Remember, it’s your choice! Pick something you enjoy—if you’ve had it with lifting weights, try salsa dancing!
As for me, I work at a standing desk and log 10,000 steps at minimum on my Fitbit each day. What can you do to be creative? Remember: if you don’t have your health, your ability to work will be impaired. It’s a trade off not worth making.