It is obvious that sitting all day at a computer will not result in thousands of calories being burned. We also know that little activity will result in an increase of weight unless you eat lettuce all day. Most who led active lifestyles who end up in desk jobs see the result as their pant size increases with little wonder as to why. This is not earth shattering, six o’clock news type of information. Since I began writing and blogging my pounds have increased. I was never one to gain more than ten to fifteen pounds from not working out and just running around with the kids. Yet, once I began to sit more, I gained more. That is simply logical. Do you feel I am wasting your time yet? So why am I telling you this?
This may not seem Very important, I know. But it is. So I’m bothering Telling you so.–Dr. Suess’s Sleep Book
It is important to note that in a study in Diabetes, they found that sitting for long periods of time causes your metabolism to slow down and for fat burning enzymes to shut down. In addition, it can lower your HDL or good cholesterol. Sadly, it also states that working out later in the day will not undo all the damage. Here is the study.
I know, I know, you are still thinking that this is not earth shattering news. This is still fairly obvious, right? To me it was not obvious that my overall metabolism would slow down or that fat burning enzymes were going to shut down. I did not change my eating habits and I gained more weight sitting in front of my computer than when I led a more active yet still sedentary life. Is that proof or just another obvious fact? Perhaps. However, I found the study somewhat interesting. I also think it would not hurt to get up every 45 minutes to an hour to walk around or stand while opening the mail or talking on the phone. If anything, this is a call for you to realize that you may be sitting for an hour or two at a time. Regardless of a study that needs to be addressed. I did not realize how much I sat down once I started to blog. So, obvious study or material or not, get up every few hours and stand or walk around. Take your next phone call standing up. Every burned calorie counts.