Sedentary Behavior and Mortality in U.S. Middle-Aged and Older Adults • Hacker News Board

Re: Sedentary Behavior and Mortality in U.S. Middle-Aged and Older Adults

#111

Post by catacombs » Wed, Sep 13, 2017, 3:44 AM UTC

touchofevil wrote: post #33

I can't recommend varidesk.com or geekdesk.com enough. A varidesk is great if your company already supplies you with a non-standing desk and a geekdesk is excellent if you work from home and get to pick any desk you want. Be sure to get a mat to stand on as well.

I've started noticing how much sitting every day.

Most of my day involves me sitting in front of a computer: Programming and designing during the day and gaming at night.

My department has a ton of people who use standing desks, but I never saw the need.

After reading through this thread and thinking about how much sitting I do on a daily basis, I'm more likely to now to ask my company for a standing desk.

I'm hoping this will make a difference.

Re: Sedentary Behavior and Mortality in U.S. Middle-Aged and Older Adults

#112

Post by ehnto » Wed, Sep 13, 2017, 4:26 AM UTC

windexh8er wrote: post #104

puranjay wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Two habits that have changed my life: 1. Waking up early and reading something significant with my morning coffee. Usually something on philosophy or theology. Not looking at any screens until I'm at work. 2. Working out for an hour each day. It's like a switch: once I work out regularly, everything else falls into place. I eat better (because I don't want to lose the benefits of the 1 hour workout I just put in). I…

Fully agreed on the screens part. I've gone back to ditching the screen at night. Previously I'd want to read an electronic book, but would end up distracted with everything else. The upside to ditching the electronic screen is focus and general avoidance of the light prior to bed. While RedShift/NightLight modes are nice, I still notice a profound difference by dumping the phone an hour or so before I turn it in. I…

Mindset is key for enduring discomfort that won't kill you. A cold shower won't hurt you, and knowing that you can assume any discomfort is unimportant, just a nerve reaponse reporting the situation. Muscle ache is similar, it is counter intuitive but that you are sore in itself won't hurt you.

Knowing what will and won't hurt you is important though. Something as simple as hydration is a lost skill in dealing with heat. I would wager many have forgotten how to walk more than short distances. You can totally walk 2km, unless you have mobility issues.

Not to take away from those with genuine mobility issues of course, but I also note that many are quick to find an ailment to define them and through that can really cheat themselves out of great experiences, assuming they aren't capable when really they are.

I am glad we are getting smarter about this kind of thing though, and the ever prolonged age of retirement is probably going to do a few favours in keeping many active and healthy. When my grandfather finally retired from the farm it was just a couple of years before his mind and body had withered away.

Re: Sedentary Behavior and Mortality in U.S. Middle-Aged and Older Adults

#113

Post by CalRobert » Wed, Sep 13, 2017, 9:35 AM UTC

overcast wrote: post #69

CalRobert wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"still refuse to get up" It's hard to be the first one to do this. I've been in some places where it would get you funny looks, some where it would get you marked as lazy (somewhat paradoxically), and some where it's encouraged. I like to do a decent swim on my lunch breaks (1250 meters these days). It was a good sign when my boss asked about how to join the same gym instead of wondering what I was gone for 50 minute…

People would give you funny looks for standing up to stretch? People need to stop caring what others think.

No, but if I left and went for a ten minute walk I would definitely get disapproving looks. At the time I was at a point in my career where I had fewer options and took what I could get.

Re: Sedentary Behavior and Mortality in U.S. Middle-Aged and Older Adults

#114

Post by CalRobert » Wed, Sep 13, 2017, 11:55 AM UTC

QAPereo wrote: post #99

overcast wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People would give you funny looks for standing up to stretch? People need to stop caring what others think.

Things like FB Snap, Instagram are heavily and successfully invested in convincing people that what others thing of them is the most significant aspect of their lives.

Things like paying rent and student loans made me care quite a bit what my boss thought.

Re: Sedentary Behavior and Mortality in U.S. Middle-Aged and Older Adults

#115

Post by QAPereo » Wed, Sep 13, 2017, 12:37 PM UTC

CalRobert wrote: post #114

QAPereo wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Things like FB Snap, Instagram are heavily and successfully invested in convincing people that what others thing of them is the most significant aspect of their lives.

Things like paying rent and student loans made me care quite a bit what my boss thought.

Did it, or did it just teach you to appear to care?