Work It, Working Girl
My body doesn’t like my job. I don’t think we were built to sit down 8 hours a day. So, if you’re like me, and you find yourself slouching and feeling lazy most of the day then join me in desk exercises! I picked some least likely to draw attention from your co-workers. So go ahead and do your body some good – work it, working girl!
- Sitting in your chair, lift one leg off the seat, extend it out straight, hold for 2 seconds; then lower your foot (stop short of the floor) and hold for several seconds. Switch; do each leg 15 times.
- Sitting tall in your chair, stretch both arms over your head and reach for the sky. After 10 seconds, extend the right hand higher, then the left.
- Let your head loll over so that your right ear nearly touches your right shoulder. Using your hand, press your head a little lower (gently, now). Hold for 10 seconds. Relax, and then repeat on the other side.
- Sitting up straight, try to touch your shoulder blades together. Hold, and then relax.
- Forget emailing the guy three cubes over — walk.
- The easiest exercise that you can do at your desk is butt squeezes. You can even do them while you are on the phone or typing up a report. Simply squeeze and release your buttocks muscles several times. This is the number one exercise that will help prevent “office chair spread” of your hindquarters.
- You can also march with your feet in place. This will exercise the large muscles in your legs. For easy calf exercises, you can raise your feet up on the toes and lower them. Be sure to use your muscles when you do these exercises for maximum effect.
- A great trick for working on your inner thighs while you’re working on that spreadsheet is to stick a full water bottle between your legs and squeeze against it with your thighs. The bottle offers some resistance (and is there for hydration should you over exert yourself!)
- Sit in your chair with your legs crossed and your feet on the seat. Place your hands on the armrests, suck in your gut and raise yourself a few inches above the seat, using your belly muscles and hands. Hold for 10-20 seconds. Rest for 30 seconds. Repeat five times.
- Take the stairs — two at a time if you need a harder workout! Do this 5-7 times a day.
- Or if you’re highly motivated, go to the gym during your lunch hour.
m.davis xoxo 
Mille, when I visited Reid and Nancy at their office in El Dorado, her desk chair was one of those big exercise balls!
September 1, 2011 at 12:35 pm
oh my goodness… as I was reading this I realized my body was practically in the shape of a ‘U’ with how hunched forward I was. Thanks for the great tips as always! 🙂
September 1, 2011 at 2:41 pm