Many of us look forward to hitting the gym all day long, especially if we spend most of our days hunched over our desks. And…most of us do just that! But if you’re trying to lose weight or stay fit, that’s one of the worst positions for your body. Tomorrow, resolve to spend more time standing at work. Here’s why:

Leg Anatomy 101

When you’re sitting, your leg muscles are almost completely relaxed; there’s no tension, and they’re supporting essentially no weight. That makes sitting an incredibly passive position.

Meanwhile, when you are standing, your calves, quads, and hamstrings must all engage. They’re actively holding up all your body weight. When you stand, you actually burn slightly more calories than when you sit (146 per hour, versus 96 per hour).

This difference even shows up on an EKG, which measures electrical currents through your body. Scientists conducted an experiment where EKG sensors were hooked up all  over their legs. When then sat, the EKG completely flat-lined—it was like their muscles were DEAD!

This means that if you sit down all day long, you’re letting the bottom half of your body atrophy! Instead, find excuses to stay on your feet during the day. Stand up while you’re on the phone, or walk over to co-workers’ desks instead of picking up the phone or IM’ing them.

Ultimately the more you use your body every day, the better shape it will be in! For more tips on keeping your muscles active all day long, discuss your daily and fitness routines with a qualified personal trainer.

Stop by our facility at Cold Spring Hills Center, 721 W Jericho Turnpike, Huntington, NY   11743 or visit our Facebook and Twitter accounts for the latest updates, Got questions? We have answers! Give us a call at (631) 659-3730.