You're sitting at your desk, whether it be at work or home, and you feel completely drained. As if sitting at your computer or even standing for the duration of your work day was equivalent to an intense sweat session at the gym. This happens to me all the time, and I am left feeling lethargic and unmotivated, both in my brain and body. This is especially true in the wintertime, the weather and lack of sunshine can leave you feeling rather sluggish!
The cure to combat this fatigue? (also known as the mid day slump)
GET UP, STRETCH, AND MOVE! whether you want to or not, I promise it works AND it's good for you!
Known as NEAT, Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis, a fancy term for the calories burned through non-exercise activities which includes obvious activities such as walking or taking the stairs to simply standing while on the phone as opposed to sitting. Current research at the Mayo Clinic has found that by simply getting off your butt and moving around more, you can burn up to an additional 800 calories a day! Extra calorie burn is great, but the real benefit is that you're saving your life by simply getting up. Studies done by the American Cancer Society produced results that sitting for extended periods of time can shorten your life, even if you exercise! EEK! Scary right? Even more motivation to get off your butt and get moving whenever you can throughout the day! Want more information on this study, here's the actual article from the American Cancer Society and a CNN published article which doesn't have as much science jargon in it.
GET UP and take a few deep breaths with your eyes closed, raising your arms on the inhale and bringing them down on the exhale. Not alone and you feel silly doing this in front of your coworkers or peers? Then try it out the next time you head to the restroom, it's amazing how much of a difference some deep breathing can wake your brain up! Plus, you'll get in some extra movement with your walk to the bathroom! And that's pretty n.e.a.t. right?
Got time and room for a little something extra?
STRETCH It feels so good and it sends blood flow to your muscles and brain, helping your body and brain wake up! When I'm walking up and down the stairs at school, I always do a quick hamstring stretch on my way up if the hallways are empty. AND If you've been sitting at your desk all day, it's important to remember to stretch your shoulder and neck to loosen up your muscles that have tightened up from your desk position.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, MOVE as much as you can!
Incorporate any type of movement to break up your constant sitting throughout the day!
Here are some suggestions, but get creative, the possibilities are truly endless and up to you:
- Opt to take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator whenever possible.
- Take a quick lap around the office before you head to the break room/ bathroom.
- Use the restroom/water fountain/copier that's further away from your desk
- Park your car further away from your building entrance at work, home, school, grocery store or the mall to get in some extra walking
- Sneak in some squats, whenever, wherever!
- Stand instead of sitting while talking on the phone
- Feeling adventurous? Do some calf raises, leg raises or squats while chatting
- Have a sixty second dance party (come on Grey's Anatomy Fans)
- Warning: this may cause increased happiness and infect those around you with the desire to move ;]
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Ah, the New Year. Resolutions and goals have been made, but as the month of January lingers on, and life returns to being crazy busy, those goals and resolutions sometimes slip to the way side, especially in the health department. I know, because I've been guilty of this before hand, I'm sure we all have. Life gets hectic and your health takes a back seat and maybe you tend to do some stress eating, or maybe you don't, but I know I am guilty as charged for being a stress eater, and it's not handfuls of spinach I choose to indulge in either.... Well, that's where the #onechange initiative by Vega One comes in to save the day, and stop my serial snacker ways, it satisfies my sweet tooth AND has 3 servings of vegetables! As part of a kick start to the company's #onechange initiative, I was selected to sample and review their Nutritional Shake Product! Vega Who? Vega One is a company created by Brenden Brazier, a professional Ironman triathlete, who was looking to create clean, plant-based nutrition. The Vega One Nutritional Shake is gluten free, dairy free, soy free, contains no added sugar, artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners. Essentially, it is a squeaky clean all-in-one supplement with:
For the Review Post, we had to select one of four personas that suited us best, and as soon as I saw the photo below, I knew I had found my persona, I admit it: I am a serial snacker. Or as my parents call it, a grazer. It's a habit I picked up somewhere along my high school years, and try as hard as I can, something I can't seem to shake completely. When I'm stressed, when I'm bored, or just happen to be passing by the kitchen, a snack attack of sweets might occur. I'll open the fridge or cupboard, grab a handful of something, munch and crunch, maybe go back for a few more handfuls or not, and then leave, maybe to return again only a few hours later. Luckily, I have gotten A LOT better at not doing this, BUT I still have moments of weakness, especially when I am stressed out, then I go into full serial snacker mode.... I'm going to make #onechange by using Vega One to kick my serial snacker ways to the curb! When I'm snacking or feeling a rumbly in my tumbly between meals, I know I need protein to feel full but I often don't like the options in my fridge because they aren't sweet. Or maybe I'm out and about and forgot to pack my purse with my typical bag of green beans and chicken. (Yes, you read that right, I often carry protein and greens in my bag, or in my car in a cooler) What can I say, I love to eat AND I have a big sweet tooth. So when I'm out or at home and feeling the urge to snack, I want to feel satisfied and full, and happy about making a healthy choice. No extra effort required, no additional prepping, just #onechange to make, a simple snack swap with Vega One's French Vanilla Nutritional Shake instead of some mindless munching. I will keep a packet in my purse, in my backpack, and leave the box out on the counter in my kitchen. That way, wherever I am, I have a healthy option that's packed with protein AND greens as well as other nutritional benefits! Just add some water and it's good to guzzle! Trying It: Taste & Texture ReviewMy philosophy is that being healthy is all about balance. In order to be healthy, you must at first be happy, which comes from finding YOUR balance. Everyone's balance will be different, you need to find what works for you! Too many health and fitness advocates, websites, magazines, and social media outlets promote a one sided way of life, where you must eat, sleep, breathe the gym, spending countless hours getting your "sweat on" and living off of grilled chicken with veggies indefinitely. While, I LOVE my gym time, lean proteins and greens, I also love chocolate cupcakes, unmeasured amounts of peanut butter, and using my rest days to relax with the ones I love. This is why I was SO excited to find a website that aligned so perfectly with my philosophy: I'm Fit Possible Here, creator Tara Gusmanis has created a community based on "a beautifully imperfect balance of an active lifestyle, colorful nutrition (yes, this includes the occasional glass of wine and a bacon cheeseburger every now and then), healthy relationships, laughter, high fives and a little (ok a lot) of sass." Not only was I thrilled to connect with this community, but I was even happier when I was accepted as an ambassador!
Currently, I'm Fit Possible is running a Tis the Season Campaign, promoting relaxing, breathing, and enjoying this holiday season, which I am ALL about! After all, this is my FIRST time home with my parents since August, hello home cooked meals galore! Check out my guest post Tis the Season to Indulge, where I reveal all the goodies galore I have been gobbling up and how I'm partaking in I'm Fit Possible's holiday campaign |
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