Beware the Dreaded Sitting Disease
Ladies and gentlemen, take heed.
We are in the throes of a "sitting epidemic.
" This is what it's all about: we sit too darn much.
Those of us who have office jobs sit behind a computer screen all day long.
We drive to work, (not easy to avoid if a long commute is involved) then drive to the corner store instead of walking.
After sitting at our desks for much of our workday, we come home and sit in front of the television or yet another computer screen.
It's not only adults that are affected, mind you.
Our kids are just as guilty, spending hours playing video games, texting their friends, or watching the latest Walking Dead episode.
I've also noticed that some of us have an interesting habit of sitting in our garages, watching the world go by.
My sister-in-law actually has a living room set in her garage! What's up with that? So what's the bottom line here? All of this sitting is simply not good for us.
For one thing, some researchers assert that it slows down our metabolism, hinders our circulation and even takes a toll on our spine health.
Other experts have even stronger words against this sitting epidemic - they've concluded that it's deadly, leading to obesity, heart attacks, type 2 diabetes and even certain cancers.
We're shortening our lifespan because of that formerly innocuous piece of furniture, the couch.
The experts do say that more extensive research is needed to gain additional insight into the implications of the "sitting disease;" let's hope the researchers are standing up while they delve into this subject.
Do you recognize symptoms of this disease in yourself? Ask yourself these questions: Is there a big dent in your family room couch? Do you only get off the couch to grab yourself a snack? Is your thumb, the one that's using the clicker, the only part of your body that's getting any exercise? If you have any of those symptoms, here's what you need to do: First, push yourself up into a squat position.
Second, keep lifting yourself up from the couch or recliner until you're in a standing position.
Third, get up and do something! Your body, not to mention your couch, will thank you.
Here are some simple cures for the sitting disease: • Buy a game system such as WII that offers active games.
• Instead of watching a television program, buy a fitness DVD.
• Buy a pedometer and count your daily steps - health experts suggest a goal of 10,000 steps a day.
• Get outside with your kids and play an outdoor game.
• At work, stop by a co-worker's desk instead of telephoning or sending an email; take a walk during your break time or at lunch.
We are in the throes of a "sitting epidemic.
" This is what it's all about: we sit too darn much.
Those of us who have office jobs sit behind a computer screen all day long.
We drive to work, (not easy to avoid if a long commute is involved) then drive to the corner store instead of walking.
After sitting at our desks for much of our workday, we come home and sit in front of the television or yet another computer screen.
It's not only adults that are affected, mind you.
Our kids are just as guilty, spending hours playing video games, texting their friends, or watching the latest Walking Dead episode.
I've also noticed that some of us have an interesting habit of sitting in our garages, watching the world go by.
My sister-in-law actually has a living room set in her garage! What's up with that? So what's the bottom line here? All of this sitting is simply not good for us.
For one thing, some researchers assert that it slows down our metabolism, hinders our circulation and even takes a toll on our spine health.
Other experts have even stronger words against this sitting epidemic - they've concluded that it's deadly, leading to obesity, heart attacks, type 2 diabetes and even certain cancers.
We're shortening our lifespan because of that formerly innocuous piece of furniture, the couch.
The experts do say that more extensive research is needed to gain additional insight into the implications of the "sitting disease;" let's hope the researchers are standing up while they delve into this subject.
Do you recognize symptoms of this disease in yourself? Ask yourself these questions: Is there a big dent in your family room couch? Do you only get off the couch to grab yourself a snack? Is your thumb, the one that's using the clicker, the only part of your body that's getting any exercise? If you have any of those symptoms, here's what you need to do: First, push yourself up into a squat position.
Second, keep lifting yourself up from the couch or recliner until you're in a standing position.
Third, get up and do something! Your body, not to mention your couch, will thank you.
Here are some simple cures for the sitting disease: • Buy a game system such as WII that offers active games.
• Instead of watching a television program, buy a fitness DVD.
• Buy a pedometer and count your daily steps - health experts suggest a goal of 10,000 steps a day.
• Get outside with your kids and play an outdoor game.
• At work, stop by a co-worker's desk instead of telephoning or sending an email; take a walk during your break time or at lunch.
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