We all know that bad posture can be damaging in the log run; yet we still find ourselves slouching 80% of the time. It’s hard to become aware of our posture all the time, and when we work desk jobs or jobs that require sitting for long periods of time, our concern for good posture fades away.
Allow me to refresh your mind and give you some fresh motivation for fixing that posture and taking better care of your body during work hours. Remember fitness is a LIFE STYLE not just a hobby.
“Don’t be a sitting duck for cardiovascular disease.”
The American Heart Association states that the average adult spends at least 9-10 hours a day sitting. Sitting for long periods of time causes muscles to burn less fat and blood flows more sluggishly. Both these issues can increase the risk of high blood pressure as well as heart disease. Oh, and just in case you were thinking that mile you ran after work would make up for the 8 hours you just spent sitting at your desk; allow me to burst your bubble. I hate to break it to you but you can’t out exercise the effects of sitting too much. There is no comparison.
This is Your Body on SITTING!
How Sitting to long can affect your body:
*Heart: Blood flow moves slower, & muscles burn less fat making it easier for fatty acids to clog your heart; making risk of heart disease higher.
*Pancreas: Just one day of excess sitting affects the way your body responds to insulin. This causes your pancreas to produce more and more insulin; sitting more than 8 hours a day has been linked to type 2 diabetes.
*Cancer: Excess Sitting may increase risk of different types of cancer such as Breast, Colon, Endometrial, Lung, as well as Uterine. The body produces excess insulin which encourages cell growth; and taking away regular movement decreases antioxidants in your body that would normally fight off cancer-causing free radicals.
*Digestion: Sitting down after you eat compresses your abdominal contents, which slows down digestion. This can lead to cramping, bloating & heart burn.
*Brain Damage: When you sit for long periods of time your brain functions slows down due to lack of fresh oxygen & blood flowing in. You need that fresh flow to release brain and mood enhancing chemicals to your body.
*Posture Problems: We tend to lean our head & neck forward when sitting and staring at a computer, this can cause strains in the neck and shoulders. In addition, sitting puts pressure on your spine, not to mention how much worse it is hunched over at a desk. When you sit too long, over time the discs in your back loose flexibility due to the lack of nutrients it can absorb when in motion.
* Muscle Degeneration: Standing makes you tense and engage your abdominal muscles, sitting too long causes your core muscles to weaken. Your hips also take a loss becoming tight and losing range of motion since they are rarely extended. You will definitely feel these effects when you are older.
*Varicose Veins: Those nasty little veins that love to pop up unwanted have been linked to prolonged sitting. Poor circulation are the culprit to blame in this situation.
Your body is designed to be active! Of course brief periods of sitting here and there are normal, but prolonged periods of inactive sitting day in and day out can seriously affect your health. Again, your body is designed to be active. Your muscles don’t burn calories if they are not being engaged.
When you have been sitting for a long period of time and stand up you active a number of body functions. For example, when you stand up the muscular and cellular systems that process blood sugar and cholesterol are activated. Therefore one can reach the conclusion that prolonged sitting can be a factor in higher your risk of developing high blood pressure, becoming obese and diabetes.
Undo The Damage Before It’s Too Late!
Fix Your Posture!
Try to make time to get up and stretch every 1-2 hours!
Step wide to the side and be sure to your butt back into the lunge; keeping the other leg straight. Be Sure to keep your chest up & don’t lean forward.
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