Standing Up to the “Sitting Disease”

Be honest, how long do you spend sitting each day?

According to research by JustStand.org, the average person is sedentary for about 12 hours each day. It’s actually referred to as the “Sitting Disease.”

Research by the Mayo Clinic “has linked sitting for long periods of time with a number of health concerns, including obesity and metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions that includes increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels. Too much sitting also seems to increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer.”

“Metabolism slows down 90 percent after 30 minutes of sitting. The enzymes that move the bad fat from your arteries to your muscles, where it can get burned off, slow down. The muscles in your lower body are turned off. And after two hours, good cholesterol drops 20 percent,” says Gavin Bradley, director of Active Working, an international group aimed at reducing excessive sitting.

More concerning is that research has revealed that your gym sessions and workouts throughout the week aren’t enough to offset the risks of sitting for extended periods. What’s healthier is actually to alternate between sitting and standing every 3o minutes. Simply, taking a walk to the water cooler or standing each time you answer the phone can make a huge difference in your health and overall mortality.

Resistance bands are great for working out anytime and anywhere, especially for exercising at home or at your desk. Exercise bands use your own body weight for a killer workout, plus the equipment can fit in a drawer, your purse or briefcase. Using just your body, the possibilities are endless!

Pick up your FREE resistance bands at TimeLess and implement the exercises outlined in this video throughout your workday.