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What happens when you sit at a desk for 13 years and also exercise

deanproxy.com

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Re: What happens when you sit at a desk for 13 years and also exercise

#101

Post by carter770 »

Amadou wrote: post #88
laichzeit0 wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Reminds me of something I read from Arnold Swazenegger: "While on maneuvers, Schwarzenegger and his fellow soldiers would use the hot spots (areas of metal over the tank’s engine) as a makeshift cooking stove, grilling up steaks and frying eggs. The eventual Mr. Universe continued his bodybuilding training even while off base, having stowed his workout equipment (plate weights, barbells, and a collapsible bench) in t…

I've had a couple of trainers -- the kind with degrees in sports-medicine, not the kind that were selling cell-phones in the mall last week -- say that Arnie was the single worst thing to happen to modern fitness. Their complaint was that his genetics are exceptionally rare. That very few people, like 1 out of 10,000, could ever hope to come anywhere close to achieving the same physique. That by becoming a sort of fi…

That's more than unfair. Arnie sparked a massive fitness craze that benefited many people. If you get disappointed, that is ultimately your fault. Arnie (as well as every other bodybuilder since the mid 60's) were on varying degrees of steroids. This is well known. They have to deny it, but ask anyone in the sport. Arnie's body is an ideal, a loooong term goal that is probably never going to be achieved naturally. But that great physique is what made a ton of people get off their butts and at least try.

If you want an achievable natty physique look up "Zyzz" on youtube. Dude teched as a shortcut, but his physique is easily attainable in 3-5 years, if you do it right. Like Arnie, he has inspired many people. And then to say that the people that are too weak-willed to follow through on workouts deserve to blame these men? That's just silly.

Re: What happens when you sit at a desk for 13 years and also exercise

#102

Post by photojosh »

kalms wrote: post #60
stevenwei wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately, as people who are tied to their computer screens for most of the day, we have very few options. Treadmill desks have been growing in popularity lately for this reason.

If the colleague next to me starts using a thread mill with his standing desk, I'll shoot him in the face. With a nerf gun. Like the violent man I am. Don't need more distractions at the office, damn'it!

Thread mill? He's sewing garments while programming? Kudos!

Re: What happens when you sit at a desk for 13 years and also exercise

#103

Post by noarchy »

awjr wrote: post #50

I would strongly suggest anyone looking at this and saying they don't have the time to invest in this to also consider the mental benefits that exercise brings. I don't feel I have time (which I know is wrong) and I particularly do not like gyms, but I cycle to work (2 miles) and on the way home I'll take a detour and add an extra 5-10 miles to my trip home. It clears the cobwebs. Cycling can be very meditative as we…

I have to concur with the exercise-as-commute routine. I also cycle to/from work. My ride home, where I keep a brisk pace with some sprints mixed in, is actually my real workout. It is quite satisfying to arrive home having already worked out, effectively. Not to mention, it is faster than taking the bus in my case.

A few catches: it does help strengthen your core, to an extent, but you aren't working your arms and upper body much. Also, I'm in Canada, and riding during most of the winter isn't possible here on a road bike.

Re: What happens when you sit at a desk for 13 years and also exercise

#104

Post by carter770 »

lutusp wrote: post #95
cema wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't physique, like, orthogonal to fitness? Bodybuilding may be a way to get fit, but working out in general does not require it at all. I think the lesson we all can take from Arnold is the mental effort, strength of will and so on, not necessarily the specific exercises he used to perform.

> Isn't physique, like, orthogonal to fitness? Not if "physique" means not being obese. If "physique" means "photogenic," then yes -- they're pretty much unrelated. > Bodybuilding may be a way to get fit, but working out in general does not require it at all. Very true, and if people thought they had to build up muscle and look like Arnold, it would set the fitness movement back.

> If "physique" means "photogenic," then yes -- they're pretty much unrelated.

Where do you get your information? They couldn't be more related. I GUARANTEE you that any physique model you see on stage or in a magazine is far more "fit" than someone who sits around all day. No, having a great physique doesn't mean that you could run a 4 minute mile, but saying that they aren't related is just ignorant.

>Very true, and if people thought they had to build up muscle and look like Arnold, it would set the fitness movement back.

So, people trying to get in shape and look good at the same time is bad for the fitness/health movement? Are you trolling?

Re: What happens when you sit at a desk for 13 years and also exercise

#105

Post by awjr »

photojosh wrote: post #100
mathattack wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"FYI before starting this I weighed about 310lb and have got myself down to 275lb within a year without focusing too much on what I eat." Keep it up!! Every incremental pound gets harder as your body gets smaller, but it's still worth it!

Have a read about the "Famine Response". You need to stop trying to lose weight to let your body adjust its setpoint, then go again.

Will look into it. I've avoided trying to eat less. I've just started a low carb diet as wheat seems to play havoc with me, but this I try not to calorie count. If I'm hungry I eat.

Re: What happens when you sit at a desk for 13 years and also exercise

#106

Post by RougeFemme »

deanproxy wrote: post #57
awjr wrote: post #50

I would strongly suggest anyone looking at this and saying they don't have the time to invest in this to also consider the mental benefits that exercise brings. I don't feel I have time (which I know is wrong) and I particularly do not like gyms, but I cycle to work (2 miles) and on the way home I'll take a detour and add an extra 5-10 miles to my trip home. It clears the cobwebs. Cycling can be very meditative as we…

Indeed. I completely understand feeling like there isn't enough time to do it. Other than my 8-10 hour days at work, I have a teenage daughter, a wife and two dogs I have to attend to. I practice guitar daily, practice martial arts weekly, kayak regularly, read/study daily for my job, started learning more about F.A.C.S and Body Language and like to get in some gaming every now and then with the daughter. I've found…

I would imagine you get a pretty good workout - at least aerobic - from your kayaking.

Re: What happens when you sit at a desk for 13 years and also exercise

#107

Post by shicky »

stiff wrote: post #93

What is missing in the discussion of this and the previous article is some reflection on physiology and why could prolonged sitting possibly be bad for you in the first place. One must know that that there are many processes in the human body that can only be executed efficiently when we move, like for example transfer of lymph or movement of digested food through the intestines (involuntary smooth muscle contraction…

seems to be the key point missing in all of this, exercising with a biomechanically screwed body = more problems. Though I certainly agree most just need to get off their butt and do something, I've had 7years of hip issues because my body essentially cheats deep hip flexion and I need to re-learn the correct way.

Re: What happens when you sit at a desk for 13 years and also exercise

#108

Post by Fizzadar »

Couldn't agree more with the standing desks - no doubt they bring some improvement, but they do seem more like the 'in-thing' and 'hip' rather than genuinely life changing. As it always has been, regular (even if short) exercise sessions are a key part in healthy living.

Re: What happens when you sit at a desk for 13 years and also exercise

#109

Post by neverminder »

leothekim wrote: post #97

Moving to a standing desk is not "futile". For myself, a standing desk prevents me from reinjuring my lower back and potentially missing out on a couple days of work due to back spasms. Others use it to help them with repetitive stress injury. And how did I injure my back? Exercising with too much weights at the gym!

Usually it's not too much weight, but the wrong posture/trajectory of the exercise that causes injuries.

Re: What happens when you sit at a desk for 13 years and also exercise

#110

Post by [deleted] »

Amadou wrote: post #85
ZoFreX wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

First sentence of the first link: "Hitting the gym every day might do little to decrease your risk of death if you spend the rest of your time sitting down, a new study suggests ." (I've emphasised the weasel words) In the realm of health you can find a study to say anything . I've seen ones that say standing all day is an improvement over sitting, others that say it's the same, and even some that say standing is wor…

Second sentence of the first link: "The results show the time people spend on their derrieres is associated with an increased risk of mortality, regardless of their physical activity level." No weasel words. Yes you can find a study to say anything, that does not mean all studies are inherently untrustworthy. There are lots of studies showing that long-term sitting is unhealthy. This idea that it is a major risk fact…

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