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Sitting down too much is doing more harm to your body than you can imagine

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Re: Sitting down too much is doing more harm to your body than you can imagine

#41

Post by sdrothrock »

cyberferret wrote: post #29

I find that routine is important to getting regular exercise and movement. I am one of those programmers who likes getting into a 'flow' state and working for large blocks of time, so my strategy is to try and get a 1 hr walk in the morning when I wake up. Much as people like to check their Inbox first thing to get it out of the way before starting productive work, I find that getting my walk in the morning before I…

> I took up Kendo about 18 months ago, and the regularly scheduled classes and training sessions are good for forcing me off the computer and go work up a sweat. I especially love the little 30 second meditation we do at the start and end of each class.

Mokuso was integral to teaching me to relax and focus; I try to continue meditating even though I haven't done kendo for years, but some days I just want to be sitting in my keikogi in a chilly dojo listening to someone shout "MOKUSOOO~" -- something about that environment was conducive to relaxing.

Re: Sitting down too much is doing more harm to your body than you can imagine

#42

Post by dvcrn »

cup-of-tea wrote: post #27

I regularly go to the gym to lift weights and I keep my body fat under control by strict control of eating times (I fast for hours every day). I'm very strong and look good. But I'm constantly battling with finding enough time for everything. I basically want to have all my time to code, but I also want to do other things (I also play guitar and cook, and I sleep at least 8 hours a day). I don't think this feeling wi…

I'm resonating with this a lot. The thing that helped me a lot was starting my day earlier. I am trying to move all my 'mandatory' tasks to the morning and try to set timeboxes for them, so that after work I have enough time to do other things and don't get distracted. For example, I searched for a 24h gym around my place and go every Monday, Wednesday and Friday before/at 6am for 1h (+10 minutes stretching). It's sometimes tough but that's why I leave enough time between workouts and skip the weekend so I can recover or catch up on sleep if needed. Then afterwards I have an hour for chores like cleaning, dishes, etc.

I also replaced my train commute with a bicycle for some extra health points (and post-work motivation. Full trains depressed and demotivated me)

Same as you, I do IF and try to eat my last meal at ~6pm and don't think about food until next days lunch.

Other things that helps me a lot with being more motivated is trying to leave the office while it's still bright outside. I want to leave earlier because I'm happier and at the same time have more time+motivation for other things.

Re: Sitting down too much is doing more harm to your body than you can imagine

#43

Post by darkerside »

alansammarone wrote: post #5

Every time I read an article like this, I get a bad feeling and I say to myself "I'll definitely exercise more - I don't wanna be all buggy when I get older due to my lifestyle - I'll do this NOW!". Then a couple of hours later, I'm back coding happily seated. I'm sure this is the case for many of us. I wish our brains could keep this bad, guilty-like feeling that makes us take action around for longer.

Don't rely on that bad, guilty-like feeling. We're hardwired as humans to get out of that state as soon as possible. That can happen in one of two ways. 1) You actually get some exercise, feel better, and now you don't have guilt to motivate you, so you lapse into old patterns. 2) You learn to ignore it and go about your day (as described in your post).

Discipline trumps motivation every time.

Re: Sitting down too much is doing more harm to your body than you can imagine

#44

Post by mmsimanga »

abledon wrote: post #36
mmsimanga wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I had to try it to come to a conclusion. I guess you going to have to give it a shot to know. Another reason I decided to try it out is that when I am comfortably seated I can spend hours on HN. Yes it is ironic that I am standing and posting on HN but truth be told in 10 or so minutes I will be tired and forced to take a walk. I am hoping to curb some bad online habits by standing.

Trying alternating 'Tree pose' Standing. It __really__ makes my ankles burn, a type of workout that I can't get out of just standing. https://standsteady.com/blogs/standing-by-day/what-to-wear-s...

Thanks for the tip. Will definitely try it out.

Re: Sitting down too much is doing more harm to your body than you can imagine

#46

Post by Tharkun »

sdrothrock wrote: post #41
cyberferret wrote: post #29

I find that routine is important to getting regular exercise and movement. I am one of those programmers who likes getting into a 'flow' state and working for large blocks of time, so my strategy is to try and get a 1 hr walk in the morning when I wake up. Much as people like to check their Inbox first thing to get it out of the way before starting productive work, I find that getting my walk in the morning before I…

> I took up Kendo about 18 months ago, and the regularly scheduled classes and training sessions are good for forcing me off the computer and go work up a sweat. I especially love the little 30 second meditation we do at the start and end of each class. Mokuso was integral to teaching me to relax and focus; I try to continue meditating even though I haven't done kendo for years, but some days I just want to be sittin…

Mokuso, 黙想, "idea of silence", pretty much translates to "meditation".

Re: Sitting down too much is doing more harm to your body than you can imagine

#47

Post by Retr0spectrum »

snarfy wrote: post #14
alansammarone wrote: post #5

Every time I read an article like this, I get a bad feeling and I say to myself "I'll definitely exercise more - I don't wanna be all buggy when I get older due to my lifestyle - I'll do this NOW!". Then a couple of hours later, I'm back coding happily seated. I'm sure this is the case for many of us. I wish our brains could keep this bad, guilty-like feeling that makes us take action around for longer.

You have about 5 seconds before your brain shuts up those ideas like "I'll definitely exercise more...". It's an awesome idea, life changing even. 5 seconds later your rational self catches up with the idea and starts to counter with 'but I don't have enough time', 'it's too hard', 'maybe tomorrow', etc. The next time you get the idea to exercise more you need to stop what you are doing right then and there and do so…

Is it really the "rational self"? Personally, I think it's just my lazy instincts kicking in.

Re: Sitting down too much is doing more harm to your body than you can imagine

#48

Post by reallymental »

cup-of-tea wrote: post #27

I regularly go to the gym to lift weights and I keep my body fat under control by strict control of eating times (I fast for hours every day). I'm very strong and look good. But I'm constantly battling with finding enough time for everything. I basically want to have all my time to code, but I also want to do other things (I also play guitar and cook, and I sleep at least 8 hours a day). I don't think this feeling wi…

I'm facing the exact same situation, except I cannot care less about food, which frees up some cooking time.

How do you manage your social life along with these activities? I find that it gets in the way of things I do, but on the other hand, not keeping in touch with friends (who don't do the same activities as you) just drives them away.

Re: Sitting down too much is doing more harm to your body than you can imagine

#49

Post by cube00 »

When you need to ask a colleague something, walk up to his/her desk instead of dropping a message (you might strike up a wonderful conversation in the process)

Awesome so now I have no choice but to get immediately dropped out of my zone to answer your question. Go for your walk but go back to your desk and send me your message so I can add it to my queue of other questions that I'll get to once I've debugged this block.

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