30-Minutes or Less Sitting Challenge…
A great article in Huffington Post came out a few years ago called “Sitting Is the Smoking of Our Generation” – and they couldn’t have been more right.
Sitting down for brief periods of time can help us recover from stress or revive us from intense exercise bouts….but today, our lifestyles cause us to sit much more than we move.
In fact, you’re probably sitting down to read this right now. However, our bodies aren’t built to be passive for long periods of time.
We have over 360 joints and around 700 muscles that enable us to move easily and stand up straight against the gravitational force pulling us down.
Our circulatory system relies on movement to circulate our blood properly. Our skin is elastic, which means it’s made to move and bend with motion.
It’s not a surprise that a LOT of health studies have revealed that sitting is very bad for us and should be avoided whenever possible.
Prolonged sitting will:
- Slow down your metabolism
- Put a lot of pressure on your spine & can cause lower back pain
- Reduce circulation
- Impair brain function
- Increase your risk for developing heart disease and diabetes
Because of the damage sitting can do to your body, this week’s challenge is to NOT sit for longer than 30 minutes at a time!
If you sit at work, make sure to get up, stretch, and move around a bit every 30 minutes! Set the alarm on your phone to help remind you.
Yours in good health,
Heather
Health Coach & AFAA Certified Personal Trainer
FitEffex@gmail.com
(508) 523-6143