Stairs are harder for me now (arthritis) but I've always been a big fan of using them when I used to be able to. Who wants to be cooped up in an elevator - heck, who wants to wait for one for just one or two floors. However, there are a lot of buildings where the stairwells are truly creepy - not well lit, little to no ventilation, dusty, and all the doors into hallways are locked. They are apparently not intended for actual use except in dire emergencies. Managers of office buildings are so worried about safety that they sacrifice the human (and humane) element.
Gee, who would have guessed? You mean taking the stairs really gives you more of a workout than an elevator ride? What's next? walking to the store three blocks of way is better for you than driving there? Someone has a truly firm grip on the obvious.
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Marty stole my thunder. My arthritic knees love walking up stairs and I routinely use a stairway for up to two flights. Sadly, I seldom have company. Escalators are devil machines as far as I'm concerned.
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Of course the obvious solution, getting the exercise while traveling between your home and your job, is off the table.
Apparently, the natural but extremely powerful human urge to intimidate pedestrians and cyclists with a motor vehicle overwhelmingly trumps the health benefits of not operating said vehicle.
Apparently, the natural but extremely powerful human urge to intimidate pedestrians and cyclists with a motor vehicle overwhelmingly trumps the health benefits of not operating said vehicle.
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Not everyone has the option of walking or cycling to work. I live in a rural area and wouldn't feel safe trying to ride my bike to work on 55mph country roads with no sidewalks or bike lanes. Drivers around here are crazy! It would be wonderful to live in a city and be able to walk more places though. I'm envious of people who have that option.
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Arm curls while you're on the phone? Seriously? Sounds like something Chris Traeger would do on Parks and Rec.
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Good grief, the lead sentence sets quite a tone here. What is this focus on "young people" in your article?
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The NYTIMES at every turn goes lower and lower. The new year's almanac is a better read than this dump. Every day that goes by I don't see the losser owners directors and " journalist" be able to turn this fiasco of news outlet around.
ok
I do three sets of push-ups per day in my stairwell, I just get in the habit of doing them before using the restroom and I feel great for it. I also take a long walk at lunch. My coworkers think this is all funny. "How was the Greg walk?" But it's inspired a few. Generally almost no one in my company takes a break all day.
I used to have a standing desk at my old job, but at the new one everyone thought it would be awkward so I wasn't able to get one. That's when I started these little exercise things and it made up for it.
Occasionally someone will bust into the hallway when I'm doing push-ups and as awkward as i feel for a split second, they usually think what I'm doing is cool.
I used to have a standing desk at my old job, but at the new one everyone thought it would be awkward so I wasn't able to get one. That's when I started these little exercise things and it made up for it.
Occasionally someone will bust into the hallway when I'm doing push-ups and as awkward as i feel for a split second, they usually think what I'm doing is cool.
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Buildings in NYC will not allow employees to run up and down the stairs. HR and Legal would for sure intervene. This would be a serious worker's comp issue and liability to the building and the company.
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Yes, but you can always walk at a brisk pace, which I do often. This easily raises your heart rate into the aerobic range.
Even people who can work out at the gym should seek to incorporate physical activity into the rest of their day.
Studies have shown that many gym rats are sedentary when not at the gym and therefore lose some of the benefits from their gym workouts.
People should opt for the stairs instead of the elevator, brisk walks instead of car rides, house cleaning instead of TV watching, etc.
Studies have shown that many gym rats are sedentary when not at the gym and therefore lose some of the benefits from their gym workouts.
People should opt for the stairs instead of the elevator, brisk walks instead of car rides, house cleaning instead of TV watching, etc.
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1. Start with a stand up desk (a flex seat/exercise ball seat too, if you can pull that off).
2. Always take the stairs, not for "exercise" but just as a habit.
3. Take any and all breaks, opportunities to socialize, etc., since loneliness and depression are far more prevalent than most want to admit. Somehow stay connected.
4. Use all your PTO, even if it is a day at a time to go to a museum, snack at a food truck, drift through The Strand, etc., or, as I do, to schedule a reading day. Extremely refreshing.
2. Always take the stairs, not for "exercise" but just as a habit.
3. Take any and all breaks, opportunities to socialize, etc., since loneliness and depression are far more prevalent than most want to admit. Somehow stay connected.
4. Use all your PTO, even if it is a day at a time to go to a museum, snack at a food truck, drift through The Strand, etc., or, as I do, to schedule a reading day. Extremely refreshing.
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The woman next door broke her leg on the stairs and couldn't go to work for 3 months. Most big buildings have long straight flights of stairs so if you fall you don't stop. If you fall, you could make someone else fall too. If I was an employer I wouldn't want my employees running, or walking fast, in the office. The employer is liable if someone gets hurt.
I think it's a good idea for workers to leave the office for their lunch breaks, take a walk, socialize, make their personal phone calls etc. It would probably be good for office morale if people took 5 or 10-minute "coffee breaks" in a community room and chit chatted with their co-workers while stretching. If people only work 40 hours a week they should be able to exercise on their own
time. One problem is employers who hire people for jobs like "analyst", claim that it is a "professional position" on salary and then pressure employees to work 60 or more hours per week. It's the extra 20 or so hours that eat into exercise time. They should just hire more people and limit the workweek to 40 hours. Then employees will have enough time for exercise, hobbies, and family.
Speaking of Donald Trump, encouraging women to do exercises on stairs at work will lead to more thinking and talking about their physical attractiveness or lack thereof.
I think it's a good idea for workers to leave the office for their lunch breaks, take a walk, socialize, make their personal phone calls etc. It would probably be good for office morale if people took 5 or 10-minute "coffee breaks" in a community room and chit chatted with their co-workers while stretching. If people only work 40 hours a week they should be able to exercise on their own
time. One problem is employers who hire people for jobs like "analyst", claim that it is a "professional position" on salary and then pressure employees to work 60 or more hours per week. It's the extra 20 or so hours that eat into exercise time. They should just hire more people and limit the workweek to 40 hours. Then employees will have enough time for exercise, hobbies, and family.
Speaking of Donald Trump, encouraging women to do exercises on stairs at work will lead to more thinking and talking about their physical attractiveness or lack thereof.
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I honestly can't tell if you're serious or not ~~ blink~~
Correct. This article's advice on running stairs is misguided. But you can always walk stairs at a brisk pace, which I do everywhere, and that is safe, legal and effective because my heart rate climbs in to the aerobic range.
I read that while overweight people tend to sit inert for long periods - slim people tend to jiggle their knees, tap their toes while sitting, then jump up to get something and generally move around more frequently - and that this movement alone can consume enough calories to make the difference between staying slim and gaining maybe 20 lbs per year.
Just sitting in my recliner right now I am exercising occasionally by tensing as if to lift my legs slightly - which tenses my stomach muscles as well as my front leg muscles - after that I can press my legs down - which strengthens my rear legs muscles and my glutes - giving me a nicer shape bum !
All done without apparent movement - just simple tensing as if to raise or press down my leg - giving me useful exercise while I am relaxing in my recliner - WHILE TYPING THIS !
Just sitting in my recliner right now I am exercising occasionally by tensing as if to lift my legs slightly - which tenses my stomach muscles as well as my front leg muscles - after that I can press my legs down - which strengthens my rear legs muscles and my glutes - giving me a nicer shape bum !
All done without apparent movement - just simple tensing as if to raise or press down my leg - giving me useful exercise while I am relaxing in my recliner - WHILE TYPING THIS !
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Frank, I have exercised my facial muscles just by reading your comment and visualizing you exercising.
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While this is entertaining to read, I can tell you from first hand experience as a coach, it's not very practical. I had a real client who could only spare one hour... PER WEEK.
That was a legitimate "I don't have time to workout" type person. We had to dig into his schedule to find that hour. And when we did, I made sure we made the most of it.
That workout can be found here: http://bit.ly/1hourworkout
It all comes down to the density of training (more volume and intensity in small amount of time). Doing things like lifting at your desk, fidgeting and taking the stairs just distract you from actual work. Keep your focus. When at work, work. When it's time to work OUT, you should go balls to the wall!
Enjoy!
That was a legitimate "I don't have time to workout" type person. We had to dig into his schedule to find that hour. And when we did, I made sure we made the most of it.
That workout can be found here: http://bit.ly/1hourworkout
It all comes down to the density of training (more volume and intensity in small amount of time). Doing things like lifting at your desk, fidgeting and taking the stairs just distract you from actual work. Keep your focus. When at work, work. When it's time to work OUT, you should go balls to the wall!
Enjoy!
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At one hour per week they should have just had a burger and fries because it does nothing.
Yes, exercising on the job for the harried wage earner is certainly an option (if one makes time for it). Two observations however: Keep a pair of tennis shoes handy to switch into ( Knee,ankle and foot injuries are often caused by inappropriate foot wear). Secondly, try a sensible approach to exercise: Take a walk around the inside of your office building or walk the stair case or try doing a few mins of chair yoga or light exercises once or twice a day-And by all means leave the hyper-kinetic 1-2-3 ...7 mins exercise regimens to those whose health insurance includes generous pervisos for orthopedic surgery and follow-up physical therapy.
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Question for the experts who read the comments section: would you get more bang for your buck by doing push ups or air squats rather than curls or calf raises at your desk? Seems like these exercises work more muscles in the same amount of time.
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My pro tip: get up from your desk and get water every 20-30 min (I usually fill my water bottle halfway and make an effort to drink it within 20 min). This builds in more water consumption and more steps. Way better than sitting at your desk all day and glugging from that off-putting gallon jug
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Not to mention that this method forces you to get up to go the bathroom many more times per day.
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(That will be one busy stairwell!)