Building in exercise in a sedentary desk job

[Anonymous]

I have daycare drop off and pickup, plus an early rising toddler, so actual designated time to exercise is really limited right now. In the past year I switched jobs, so now I'm sitting at a desk ALL day instead of running from one meeting to another. I think that's caused my metabolism to plummet and I'm putting on weight. I'm in a cube, so can't just close my door and do some squats. I set an alarm on my phone and have started walking up and down the stairs for 10 minutes, 2-3 times a day. What else can I do during the work day that's not "leave for a two hour lunch to hit the gym" or look ridiculous exercising in an open work space. Any suggestions are appreciated!

P.S., cubes and open office floor plans are terrible.

[Anonymous]

If you have open FP, cubes are heaven!

[Anonymous]

Park your car far from the entrance.

Use the restroom / water fountain on the other end of the hall.

Use your lunch break for a long walk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have open FP, cubes are heaven!

Ha, they're the low cubes where you can see everyone's head while sitting down. Just a sea of heads in either direction. Not my definition of heaven.

[Anonymous]

During the workday? Nothing much you can do besides making things as physically inconvenient as possible. Do your firm offer standing desk options?

[Anonymous]

Your lunch doesn't have to be two hours. Go for a 30 minute run and take a 15 minute shower. You can be back at your desk in one hour. I do it all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Park your car far from the entrance.

Use the restroom / water fountain on the other end of the hall.

Use your lunch break for a long walk.

Thanks! I like this one. I can definitely go down a few floors to use the restroom.

[Anonymous]

Squats in the stall

Stairs in the stairwell or anywhere you can find them

Walk up and down hallways

Ask for a standing desk

Calf raises and arm swings wherever

[Anonymous]

Rather than a run, a brisk 30-minute lunchtime walk is one of the highlights of my work day. I'm about to go now...depending on how wet I'll get.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your lunch doesn't have to be two hours. Go for a 30 minute run and take a 15 minute shower. You can be back at your desk in one hour. I do it all the time.

Thanks. I tried doing this and it felt like too long to be away. 10 minutes to change, 30 minutes to run, 10 more minutes to change back (without a shower before it got hot outside). I usually only take 30 minutes so I can leave earlier for daycare pickup.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Squats in the stall

Stairs in the stairwell or anywhere you can find them

Walk up and down hallways

Ask for a standing desk

Calf raises and arm swings wherever

Awesome suggestions, thank you. Do the standing desks really help? I feel like my knees and hips would get tired standing all day...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rather than a run, a brisk 30-minute lunchtime walk is one of the highlights of my work day. I'm about to go now...depending on how wet I'll get.

Tee hee hee. I know I'm immature.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Squats in the stall

Stairs in the stairwell or anywhere you can find them

Walk up and down hallways

Ask for a standing desk

Calf raises and arm swings wherever

+1 I work on the 10th floor. I can work up a sweat just taking the stairs. If I were more energetic I would do squats between floors or in the bathroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Squats in the stall

Stairs in the stairwell or anywhere you can find them

Walk up and down hallways

Ask for a standing desk

Calf raises and arm swings wherever

Awesome suggestions, thank you. Do the standing desks really help? I feel like my knees and hips would get tired standing all day...

It will help marginally in terms of caloric burn, but it definitely helps with blood sugar. These standing desks are adjustable so you don't need to be standing all day. It's very important, however, to get appropriate padding on the floor if you have knee/hip/leg issues.

[Anonymous]

I stand up as much as I can at my desk, especially during conference calls (might be awkward in a cube farm, though).

I take the stairs to/from the parking garage every day and everywhere else possible

I bring my own lunch nearly ever day because that's the easiest way for me to counter-act the effects of a sedentary job. I know I'm not as active as I should be during the day, so I need to be more mindful of what I'm eating.