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Calorie burner: How much better is standing up than sitting?

bbc.co.uk

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Re: Calorie burner: How much better is standing up than sitting?

#2
I really like the idea of standing desks and have loved many of the other articles previously posted on this subject, too.

I don't know what it's like for others but being a freelancer going from hot desk to hot desk, client to client and doing most of the travel by car or train - This is very hard to maintain since everything has been designed for sitting.

I might try standing on the tube from now on though but i might look weird if it's relatively empty.

Re: Calorie burner: How much better is standing up than sitting?

#5
post #2

I really like the idea of standing desks and have loved many of the other articles previously posted on this subject, too. I don't know what it's like for others but being a freelancer going from hot desk to hot desk, client to client and doing most of the travel by car or train - This is very hard to maintain since everything has been designed for sitting. I might try standing on the tube from now on though but i mi…

if it's mostly empty, you're only going to 'look weird' to a handful of other people... who aren't burning as many calories as you are.

Re: Calorie burner: How much better is standing up than sitting?

#6
Good article. I've always wondered how many more calories are burned while sitting versus standing. I'm quite surprised by how much of a difference standing makes, to be honest.

Unfortunately, for the moment, I simply cannot use a stand up desk full time. I spend around 8 months out of the year travelling. At home, I have a stand up desk, and I really love it. When I'm travelling, though, I spend most of my time sitting while working at a desk, which isn't too good.

One thing I've found useful is to stretch for 5 minutes for every hour of sitting. People look at me like I'm crazy, but it makes a demonstrable difference. Kelly Starrett goes into great detail about the effects of sitting and how stretching can help in his book 'Supple Leopard'; it's worth picking up, in my opinion. (http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Supple-Leopard-Preventing-Per...).

The couch stretch is particularly good at counteracting tight hips caused by sitting. (http://fitnerdz.com/2013/05/31/fitnerdz-couch-stretch/). Get into position, hold it for 100s, swap legs, hold it for another 100s, and repeat for every hour of sitting. It makes a huge difference to the legs, hips, and back.

Re: Calorie burner: How much better is standing up than sitting?

#7
While not doubting the general findings I'd like to add a pointer that it is not a high level of glucose that raises the risk of getting diabetes II and heart disease, but fructose.

See this lecture of Dr. Lustig on sugars and how they are being metabolized in our body: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM

Re: Calorie burner: How much better is standing up than sitting?

#8
post #2

I really like the idea of standing desks and have loved many of the other articles previously posted on this subject, too. I don't know what it's like for others but being a freelancer going from hot desk to hot desk, client to client and doing most of the travel by car or train - This is very hard to maintain since everything has been designed for sitting. I might try standing on the tube from now on though but i mi…

Don't be so self conscious! I see plenty of people standing on public transportation when there are seats. There are plenty of reasons why I can think of:

- They have a lot or big luggage or a backpack with them.

- They are only going 1 stop or two.

- They have a medical condition where sitting down and standing back up again is difficult, so it is easier to stay standing.

- They have been sitting all day at work and want to stretch their legs.

- They want to leave the seats for other people who wish to sit if the train fills up, whereas they don't mind standing.

- Standing is more comfortable for them than sitting.

- A lot of times they are reading, so I think reading might be easier standing than sitting perhaps, but I don't know because I have never tried to read on the train.

Nobody will question you.

Re: Calorie burner: How much better is standing up than sitting?

#10
post #9

If you're going to be standing all day, stand on an anti-fatigue mat. They are used in industrial settings to reduce strain from standing, and they do make a big difference.

For anyone wondering what these are, this was the best page I could find: http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/ergonomics/mats.html
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