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Sitting. It’s Killing Me, How About You?

By on March 3, 2014
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I have played competitive sports, done many triathlons, pushed, squatted and pulled my body weight, ran so many 10 km races that I lost count a few years ago, and nothing has sent me to physio more than sitting at my desk.

Canadian adults are now spending about three-quarters of their time sedentary. We start the day seated at the breakfast table, only to go sit in our cars to then go sit at our job for 8 hours. After that it’s back on our rear-ends and into our cars again for the ride home so that we can sit at the dinner table and finally end the day seated on the couch.

Not great for our bodies or our health and all of this sitting has some serious consequences to both.

How To Die Faster – Sit

How serious? In one study, researchers found that being sedentary boosted the inflammatory marker, C-reactive protein. An increased level of this protein is related to many major diseases, including coronary heart disease.

In another study that compared adults who spent less than two hours a day in front of the television or other screen-based activities (like the computer), to those who logged more than four hours a day found that the four-hour a day group had an almost 50 percent increased risk of death and a 125 percent increased risk of an event associated with cardiovascular disease, like angina or a heart attack.

Sitting, A Buzz Kill

Those who sit will also have decreased metabolisms, because our bodies will only expend energy when energy is used, leading to weight gain and the host of problems associated with being overweight.

Sitting is also a buzz kill for the musculoskeletal system, like the legs, knees, low back, hips, shoulders and neck.

This has been my problem. My low back, neck and right shoulder (termed “tech neck” because it’s related to using a mouse) are killing me because of all of this computer work. But, I have to work, so I came up with a plan – I won’t sit, I will stand instead.

You Want How Much?

After Googling standing desks and seeing the average desk was about $1,200 I knew that I needed a back up plan, so I enlisted the help of loving husband (who actually has a local business called the “Handy Husband”) to find a solution for me.

He found one on the internet and he turned my existing desk into a standing desk for only $25 – the perfect budget for anyone.

These are the tools that you will need: an IKEA Lack Side Table ($14.99), (2) IKEA Ekby Valter shelf brackets ($2.50 each), and an IKEA Ekby Viktor shelf ($4.99).

Go Fit Gals’ $25 Standing Desk

gfg standing desk

How did he do it? He placed the Lack side table on top of my existing desk, attached the Ekby shelf on the front of the Lack side table for my keyboard and mouse to rest on, and viola, I now have a standing desk.

Now, this didn’t solve all of my problems. In fact, standing all the time sent my low back and hip flexors into major spasms – I guess that’s why professionals recommend a 50/50 combination of sitting and standing.

So, it was back to the Handy Husband to build me a little step to lift one foot up while I stand (easier on the low back), and I then ordered an anti-fatigue mat to stand on as well from Staples.

I now sit half the time (by simply removing my new “standing desk” – it’s quite light and takes seconds to lift off my desk), and stand the other half. If you sit in front of the computer for any duration I highly recommend this easy and economical solution for you too.

go fit gals tight head shot white shirtsThe Go Fit Gals are your experts in fitness and nutrition for women from new mommies to menopause. They provide the coaching and the inspiration to get their members strong, healthy and confident through our unique online programs based on eating clean and training dirty.

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