Turn your Office into a Gym – Simple Exercises

Obesity and other modern health problems are not only caused by our personal diets but could also be attributed to a sedentary lifestyle. Office jobs or jobs that require long periods of inactivity make us soft and prone to weight problems. We often end up spending countless hours buried in our office seats racking extra pounds of fat every day.

Yes, a sedentary lifestyle can kill you. When you sit down in an office for long periods of time without walking, your muscles become stiff simply because they have nothing to do. Blood circulation also gets affected so that there is inadequate supply of blood and oxygen to other parts of the body. Coupled with the consumption of junk food and a high fat diet, lack of exercise often leads to health problems such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer's and osteoporosis.

So, how do you exercise inside the office? Here are some tips:

Look Forward to Standing

You should look forward to opportunities that will make you stand. This is because standing may cause you to burn more calories than sitting. You can stand while talking to the phone. You can also use standing desk, a high table or a counter which will cause you to stand sometimes. You may also opt to eat your lunch while standing up. Instead of talking on the phone or instant messaging, walk to other offices or desks.

Take Breaks

In between your work, why don’t you take a brisk walk and get coffee or a snack? You can also some stretching in between working hours. When you stretch, be sure to position your face straight ahead and lower your chin to your

chest. Or, you may do this stretch while standing: grab one of your ankles or your leg and bring it up towards your buttock. Hold this stretch for 15 to 30 seconds and then repeat when needed.

Sit On a Fitness Ball

This probably sounds crazy but you can actually trade your office chair for a fitness ball. Choose a fitness ball which is firmly inflated or stable to turn into a chair. Make sure that you can safely balance on the ball. With this, you may be able to improve you balance and work out your core muscles while you are sitting on your desk. You can also use this fitness for other exercises you may do during the rest of the day.

Place Gym Equipment on Your Office

If you think that fitness equipment only belongs to the gym, you may be wrong. You can bring resistance bands that offer resistance when pulled. Or you may bring in small weights which you can use all throughout the day. You can actually do arm curls in between meetings or work.

Walk For Lunch

You can actually walk with other people during lunch time. This offers you and your officemates some regular exercise. It is also fun to bond with your coworkers in between working hours. It’s not only during lunch when you may walk. You can also walk during meetings or during brainstorming sessions. You can also hold your meetings while walking outdoors.

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