Need Something to do While in Cubicle 8 Hrs a Day

I sit in a cubicle for 8 hours in front of the computer and talking on the phone.  There are lots of time that I am on hold and think I should be doing something to excerise my muscles.  If any one is out there that has any ideas - please I'm all ears.  Help!!! LOL:)

Try ankle weights!  Put them on and do leg raises, inner & outer thigh exercises, hamsting, etc.  while on hold or on those loooong conference calls.  Make sure you support your back properly.  These can be done sitting or standing.   Same for arm weights.  Squats are an option as well (but I HATE them...).  Ha!

I've seen people sitting on an exercise ball in the office. I am not sure how much they benefit from it but I am sure they move a little more (for stability) than sitting on a mobile office chair.... google that and see what you get  --it would be a cheap exercise!!

I also work on a computer all day long but my job is more flexible, so I am able to take a 30 minutes walk based on my work load for the day.  I also make a lot of trips to the bathroom (all that water you know...) and I don't take straight cut going there... since our building occupies the entire block, I go around when going/coming to/from the ladies' room ;-)

Exercise balls can be bought at walmart for just $10.   And yeah they make good office chairs and they work your stabilizer muscles all day long.   I don't remember the calorie burn but its atleast a couple hundred calories of core exercise.

I plan to get one as well for this but have been trying to figure out what size.   I think I'm gonna need either the 65 or 75cm one.

Thanks for all the great input.

The ankle weights are great idea.

About this exercise ball - how do you know what size to get?

My mother-in-law got this exercise tape due to her immobility.  It showed exercised while sitting down, perhaps you can google exercise for those who are immobile.  I only viewed it for a minute, but mostly you sat with excellent posture, pull your tummy to your navel, raise your ribs and try to pick up one foot and leave it there for a count of 20+.  The stabalizer sounds like a great idea, many muscles are involved in correct posture. I may have to bite the bullet and try one (My Lab will devour it).

Good Luck & Great Suggestions Everyone!

I'm not sure for the exrcise balls... but they usually are based on your height.

55cm for 5'4" and under
65cm for 5'5" to 5'11"
75cm for 6' and up

But this is not necessarily for when using it as a chair.   I tried out a 55cm ball at the gym last night and it felt a bit too low for desk work.   So the 65 or 75 is what I'll be going for.

Most of these things include a handpump as well so you won't have to sit there and blow it up with your mouth :)

I'm leaning towards the 75cm... but of the cheaper balls only the 55cm and 65cm were $10 at walmart.   Maybe I"ll get the 65 and if it doesnt' work out I'll come back and exchange it for a bigger one.

When I am at work and feel like I need to move or even when I am starting to get a little cold I like to do dips on my chair or push-ups on my desk

for the dips: put your hands on the edge of your chair and move yourself in front of the chair so your butt is off. then just dip down and back up..its great for the backs of the arms

The push ups: kind of like regular ones but leaning on the desk, put your hands on the edge of your desk in a push up position with your feet shoulder width apart so you are leaning on your hands at an angle and just do your pushup from there.

Check out this web page, this is where I got my ideas from

http://exercise.about.com/cs/exerciseworkouts /l/blofficeworkout.htm

My company occupies several floors in the building I work in, so when I have to use the bathroom (every 30 minutes it seems - thanks H2O :)) I use the stairs and go to another floor.  It may seem stupid, but every little bit helps. 

The people on the other floors may think I'm crazy, though.

I sit at a computer all day too, but frequently I'm the only one in the office. I've started jogging in place for 5 minutes at a time when there's nobody else around. Not something I would do if I was surrounded by other people though! If we had stairs, I would definitely be taking breaks to climb up and down them.

A lady on the news one night said she puts workout DVDs in her computer drive and works out in her cubicle.  I imagine they'd have to be ones that didn't require excessive movement. . . like maybe walking DVDs or something. . .

Thanks to everyone - I really like the office workout that ryanrocks suggested - they make me feel like I'm doing something positive for me and not just working for my boss - make me feel good about myself - now if they pounds could just come off.

lol