Activities of Daily Living > At Work | Printable Version |
Are You an Active Couch Potato?
Sitting all day whether in the car, in front of a computer or TV means you are not activating your muscles and this could be increasing your chances of developing disease. “Active couch potato” is a term used to describe a person who finds the time to exercise but spends much of the rest of his or her day sitting or reclining. Many people believe that if they get the recommended 30-90 minutes of exercise each day they are in the clear, but more evidence is showing that breaking up periods of inactivity (sitting still) is just as important for preventing disease. It is important to realize that that too much sitting is distinct from too little exercise.
In a recent study published in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, researchers report that men who sat the most had the greatest risk of heart problems. Men who spent more than 23 hours a week watching TV and sitting in their cars (as passengers or as drivers) had a 64 percent greater chance of dying from heart disease than those who sat for 11 hours a week or less. What was unexpected was that many of the men who sat long hours and developed heart problems also exercised; their workouts did not counteract the ill effects of sitting for so long!
There is good news though! Based on the results of another study, the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study, it appears that we can decrease the risk caused by so much sitting by… moving! The researchers observed that those who had many mini breaks in sedentary behavior had beneficial associations with metabolic biomarker, meaning that they potentially decreased their risk of developing disease. Behaviors that were considered breaks included, transitioning from sitting to a standing position or from standing still to beginning to walk, nothing too crazy there.
The bottom line is that despite your best efforts to fit in exercise, not sitting for too long whether at home in front of the TV or at work in front if computer can be harming your health. So get up and move!
- Nutrition Guidelines and You
- What’s All the Hula Hoopla About?
- Cooking up Fruits and Vegetables
- Give and Take—It Keeps you Healthy
move
Activities of Daily Living
Walking | VIDEO
Walk For Fun!
Seven Ways to Walk More
Walking for a Cause
Brain Boost
Weekends | VIDEO
The Weekend Outdoors
Don’t Undo Your Hard Work
At Home | VIDEO
Six Tips for Getting Stronger Without Leaving the House
Cardio At Home
Fitness Videos
At Work | VIDEO
Are You an Active Couch Potato?
Four Tips for Moving More at Work
It's NEAT | VIDEO
It’s NEAT, Not Exercise
NEAT-EN Up Your Day
On the Road | VIDEO
What to Pack to Stay Active
Making Exercise a Priority
Finding a Place to be Active
Hot Topics
Exergaming
Exergaming for Fun
Exergaming for Health
Dance Dance Revolution™
Nintendo Wii-Fit™
Core Stability | VIDEO
What IS Your Core?
Three Simple Exercises for Core Strength
Tools for Building Core Stability
Techniques for Building Core Stability
Gadgets and Gear | VIDEO
Nike and Apple, a Match Made in Heaven
Tools for Tracking More than Just Weight
Fuel and Hydration | VIDEO
Fueling Your Workout
Tips for Staying Hydrated
Dehydration
Sports Drinks and Electrolytes
Functional Training
What IS Functional Training?
Resistance for Cardio
Weight Training for Cardiovascular Health
Short Circuit
Aerobic Health
Water Fun | VIDEO
A Wet Workout
Five Reasons to Move Your Workout to the Pool
Cycling | VIDEO
Spinning- Your Bike Doesn't Move, But You're Headed for Healthier You
Bike Tours
Play | VIDEO
Not Child’s Play
What’s All the Hula Hoopla About?
Get Going | VIDEO
Heart-Healthy Benefits of Exercise
Why Aerobic Exercise?
Exercise Intensity- Are You Pushing Yourself Too Hard?
What is Your Target Heart Rate?
Health Club 101 | VIDEO
Gym Etiquette
Choosing a Gym
Flexibility
Stretching | VIDEO
Simple Stretches
Dynamic Stretching
Static Stretching
Stretching at Work
Yoga | VIDEO
Types of Yoga
Yoga for Beginners
Yoga for Health
Savasana
Equipment | VIDEO
Foam Rollers
Stretching Strap
Pilates | VIDEO
Pilates for Your Core
Get Going
Stretching- Timing it Right
Strength
Benefits | VIDEO
Move! Toward Better Bone Health
Weight Bearing is Bone Building
Four Benefits of Strength Training
Rest and Recovery | VIDEO
How We Build Muscle
Timing is Everything
Get Going | VIDEO
How to Increase Resting Metabolic Rate
Muscle Loss Leads to Fat Gain
Get Going- Weight Training Really Can be Simple!
Health Club 101 | VIDEO
The Basics- Weight Lifting Machines
Blogs
That Certain Glow
Blog 1
Blog 2
That Certain Glow