Let’s face it, exercise is important! It improves lipemia, glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, all of which acutely improve cardio metabolic heath and reduce the risk of disease. But did you know that new data suggest that getting exercise isn’t enough if we are sitting too much?
Yes, sitting “is” the new smoking.
Research is now showing that being sedentary (e.g., sitting at a desk all day or walking less than 4,000 steps/day) creates a condition whereby people become “resistant” to the metabolic benefits of exercise. Eek! You want that workout to really count towards your health, right?!
With a little bit of attention and ingenuity, you can reduce the amount of time you spend sitting—and improve your health and extend your lifespan in the process.
Try some of these ways to integrate more standing and walking into your day:
- Get a standing or treadmill desk.
- Take walking meetings.
- Park further away from your destination and walk a little extra.
- Take the stairs, rather than the elevator or escalator.
- Take breaks during your workday to do a “mini workout” (e.g. air squats, lunges, jumping jacks, etc.)
Exercising is one step we can take to prevent and reverse disease but getting moving during the day is also a must!
-Amy Poshusta, CrossFit Coach
