Some of you may have seen the recent BBC panorama programme 'The Truth about Exercise'. Here is the link if you missed it, http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/search?q=truth%20about%20exercise.
It contains some fascinating pieces of orginal research. Typically most people have concentrated on the demonstration that doing explosive exercise for merely 20 seconds nine times a week - only 3 minutes of total exercise - improves the bodies ability to deal with glucose and for many people their Vo2 max- i.e their overall fitness.
Whilst this is fascinating stuff and obviously relevant to so many people who are time poor but intention rich, the more compelling and immediately useful bit was the demonstration of what sitting, or remaining static, does to us. It basically allows everything to go into 'slob 'mode! Blood flow decreases, fat is deposited more around the internal organs than in the muscles which themselves get weaker. These factors play significant part in the furring up of blood vessels, raising blood pressure and tipping us into diabetes. All of which are big killers.
To have this publicised , with good science behind it, on prime time TV was an answer to a prayer. I have spent most of my professional life trying to encourage people to be more mobile at work and at home and generally to be less inhibited about the movements they do. No one insists that we sit down to answer the phone, write emails or work on the computer- why not stand everytime the phone goes- or as in the programme walk around if taking calls on a mobile phone; that is why they are called mobile!! When in the supermarket queue or waiting for the train go up and down on your toes or practice standing on one leg only - easy, simple thingsthat are effective.
Even when sitting there is no need to remain static. I try to persuade people to stretch their arms up above their heads or out to the side , hold for 10-30 seconds and do this every 20 minutes . The number of people who feel they would 'look stupid' is enormous! Have confidence you are doing the sensible thing - it is all the others who are being numpties! Other suggestions are to forcefully pull and push your feet up and down - until your calves ache.
Whatever you do....... DO NOT REMAIN STILL FOR LONGER THAN 5 MINUTES.....MOVE....MOVE......MOVE
Remember sitting KILLs. It was on TV so it must be true!