If there was ever an argument for getting off your tuckus (pronounced TOOK-us: that’s good old New York-Yiddish slang for your rear end) it’s this latest study from The American Cancer Society.
The 14 year long study showed that people who sit less during leisure hours have longer lives. It gets even better if you don’t sit all day for work as well. Sitting more throughout the day leads to higher rates of cancer and heart disease. Read the full article on WebMD here…
I didn’t know this information until today, but it makes sense. I’m reminded of my first corporate job working in media planning at a big advertising agency. I had always been active growing up, and rode my bicycle throughout college to class and work. I started to feel sluggish and was gaining a few pounds after my first few months of this new desk job, and came up with a way to get exercise throughout the day, at work, for free.
I called it bathroom aerobics. Sounds funny, but it kept me sane and increased my energy. Here’s how it works:
- Do 20 pushups against the bathroom sink (make sure to dry it off first – don’t want to slip and chip a tooth)
- Do the wall sit against the door inside the bathroom with your knees at a right angle, for 2-5 minutes at a stretch (make sure it’s securely locked – don’t want to tumble out backwards!)
- Bend over and touch your toes, allowing your head and arms to hang for 30 seconds
If you’re brave or certain no one will walk into the bathroom while you’re doing these “toilet trainings” you can do sets of jumping jacks, lunges, and more stretches.
Get moving! You’ll feel so much better, and you probably won’t need that afternoon coffee break because your energy will be up and moving the more you are.
Be well, Alex
