THE COST OF SITTING
CAN BE AS BAD AS SMOKING - LOSE YEARS
ONE OF THE TWO BIGGEST CAUSES OF ILLNESS?
Jeez! I never thought I would be writing about such detail in the area of health. And little did I realize how important "not sitting" too long was.
Indeed, from reading David Agus in The End Of Illness, plus a number of other sources, I find that sitting is one of the two biggest dangers to health. Agus identifies the two as:
1. Inflammation - And every expert seems to agree with this as the major cause of
disease
2. Sitting - Of course, if you sit too much, it encourages inflammation and stagnation.
Sitting for 5 hours a day is more dangerous than smoking. (Video, 2:42)
(Notice that when we sit, our primitive mind senses that there is nothing to build for or maintain, so it goes into energy conservation mode, shutting down, readying for the famine season that usually came in Caveman days. When we are, at least, standing it "thinks" there is something going on, so it doesn't "shut down" into a form of lethargy and not maintaining the body and mind for action.)
WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT
David Agus, because of realizing this, actually bought a treadmill desk and he walks around when he talks on the phone. (Interesting alternatives: TrekDesk Treadmill Desk or one of the more expensive ones [be sure they are adjustable!]. I didn't get one because I have multiple screens [3] that I work with.) [The trekdesk idea is one I like because then I can have a treadmill to walk on, but also one to exercise on with an ability to increase the incline, as I love to exercise while reading a book!]
I have purchased a 28" wide "desk" that pops up so I can stand at it, but it didn't really work for me as it was a bit inconvenient with a super big laptop on it (and it was a little too low for comfort for me). Update: I bought a "desk" (table-like) that will electronically go up and down as needed by me - and it holds the two computer screens plus having extra space - and I can raise the pop up desk so that I can turn to it from my raised large desk - ideal!!!!
But, as I was writing my version of what I have learned and must implement into my life, I discovered that I must also have a better way to take even more breaks and to get my body working even more, so that I truly do reach the 10,000 steps criteria that we must meet to be in sync with our evolution and caveman days. (See the link to the book in Books, Booklets, Special Summaries.)
So, I decided that it was appropriate for every non-superathlete should have a piece of equipment at home so that he/she could move sufficiently. I myself could never seem to take a walk during my breaks - for some reason it seemed boring or I didn't feel like walking around in the house. So I figured if I could just read or look at emails while exercising/moving I would be able to not be bored and to be moving for my health.
That ties in with what I've written in Making Exercise Easy And Enjoyable, which was necessary for me to keep up my exercise and to be in better shape - so I read on the treadmill in the gym and even look forward to reading. (I crank it up to an uphill climb so I can walk slowly enough to be stable enough to hold and read a book.)
I recommend that you buy that equipment for the home and to the extent possible for the office - and get moving for greater health and stop sitting for too long without movement!!!!!
And put the machine right where (or next to) you plop down to sit, so you have a better alternative, where you can keep moving at least a little!
This is, if you value your life, imperative, not optional!
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In Younger Next Year, Crowley & Lodge, M.D., it is suggested that sitting could mean to our caveman bodies that we still have today that we are in a potential famine time or going into winter with restricted food. In that case, the body will hold onto fat and also tend to shut down other body functions because of the supposed emergency conditions. And when the latter happens, the organs begin to decay. The brain shrinks.
On the other side, if we challenge our body sufficiently it will receive the signal that we are in an active time where we need energy for the hunt during the period of plenty. So it gives us more energy, makes us more optimistic (yes, actually it does), and has us feel better. And the signal has us doing the opposite of decay, it has the body actively doing repairs and growth. And new neurons are generated in the brain.
The problem is that the body does not get the signal and will continue to deteriorate if we do not have a good challenge to it - at least moving at a rate of 65% of your maximum heart rate for upwards of 20 minutes. Walking may not do the trick, unless it is fast walking.
