Stand Up Lose Weight

I am writing this standing up – with my laptop resting on a pile of cook books.

When I‘m working as a cook I’m constantly on my feet and although some days can be very long - too long at times - I really like being that active.

Now that I’ve taken time off to read up on nutrition and to write an E-book, I’m making a conscious effort not to sit down too much. I read and write standing up a lot of the time.

I must confess that when I’m on my own I eat standing up as well – not because I’m in a hurry but because I prefer it.

We are sitting more and more these days - often only moving our bums from one chair (train, car) to another (office chair to arm-chair in front of the telly). A lot of research is showing how incredibly bad this is both for our health and weight.

Several studies have shown that sitting down for hours on end increase the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

According to one diabetes researcher, Dr Joseph Henson, “the longer time you spend sitting, the higher the amount of sugar and fats that accumulate in your blood stream regardless of time you spend exercising”.

How sitting down affects your weight

Other scientists have found that our metabolic rate crashes to a minimum when we are sitting down. You can burn off a fair amount of fat by just standing up more during the day.

To quote JustStand.org: Standing is like walking, it increases energy, burns extra calories, tones muscles, improves posture, increases blood flow and ramps up metabolism.

I should point out that they sell height adjustable desks, which gives you the choice to either sit down or stand up by your desk. These desks can be quite expensive but there are employers who install them at their offices.

If you are not that lucky and only have an ordinary desk, try standing up whenever it is possible – when you are talking on the phone, for example. And walk around whenever you get the chance.

I don’t have a height adjustable desk. As a matter of fact, I don’t have any desk at all. But I have a lot of cook books and some are huge and perfect for stacking up on any available table.

I don’t just stand still either - even though you use more muscles standing still than sitting down – I’m too restless for that. I keep wriggling my legs while standing up. Maybe I ought to get myself the ultimate stand-up desk – a treadmill desk.

“So long as you have food in your mouth, you have solved all questions for the time being.” Franz Kafka

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