At your desk...

Okay...Im pretty new...my name is Marie, and I am trying to get in shape...

I work in an office and am mostly sedentary for at least 8.5 hours during the day.

I sit at a desk all day long, and definitely have to say 'no' on a lot of the complimentary meals my company offers to make sure it doesnt show on my hips and stomach...

I have a question...

What kind of exercises could one do when sitting at one's desk?  I would need something that I could still type at my computer for, but I need to feel less sluggish when I leave work because that motivates me to workout...

Does anyone have any suggestions?  I know eating correctly definitely makes me feel good, but I want to burn as many cals as possible while at work...

Ive also started walking around the building at my work for about 15-20 minutes per day, M-F...

Any ideas would be great!!!

I'm not too sure about desk exercises, but possibly purchasing inconspicuous weight bands to wear around your ankles may help.  I'm not sure what the dress code is at your work, or your style, however you'll be able to hide them under a long skirt and pant legs. 

I know it's not the answer you were looking for, but just a suggestion to help your walks around the building work that much better for you.

i do leg lifts under my desk & under the table at meetings. just instead of sitting with knees bent 90 degrees, straighten your legs, one at a time or both at once. you can even do small scissors or up & down motions. it's not much but it's something.

How about the old stand by, isometrics???  Contract your abs as tightly as you can and hold it for 1 min...relax and do it again...The same thing can be done with the butt and thighs....simple calf raises can be done sitting too...And if you spend time on the phone, try some overhead tri-cep extensions, or bi-cep curls...anything to keep the blood flowing...

I squeeze my butt and flex my abs. I also bounce my knees, tap my feet to music, or just move around in my seat. Research has shown that people who fidget are thinner than non-fidgeters.

I also get up once an hour and walk around for 5 minutes. If people can take smoking breaks, non-smokers can take walking breaks.

Oh, and I use the bathroom that's not on my floor so I have to walk further to get to it. I drink so much water and tea that all those steps have to be doing something!

Thanks, those are great ideas...I know I feel really refreshed after walking around for awhile, especially since my legs need the stretching after sitting for so long!

Do you work in a multi-story building?  I work on the 4th floor of a 5 story building and I walk up and down the stairs 3 times a day for my at-work exercise. 

Check out these websites:

http://www.aarogya.com/FamilyHealthLifestyle/ fitness/strength.asp

http://www.aarogya.com/FamilyHealthLifestyle/ fitness/strength.asp

(If only I could persuade my mom that it would do good to her...)