Are you sitting yourself unhealthy!
- Do you sit at a desk or on a computer more than 5 hours per day?
- Do you take regular movement breaks?
- Do you have cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or cholesterol?
- Do you have recurring headaches?
If so…a sedentary lifestyle may be a factor.
During the pandemic all of us found ourselves sitting over long periods of time at our desks connecting to the outside world for any reason at all!
Studies show the average person will sit 8.83 hours per day…who knew?!
That can affect your body in a whole host of different ways …especially as we get older.
Humans were not meant to be inactive or sedentary for long periods of time. Our evolution over time has been influenced by high levels of physical activity like walking, running and jumping.
Even in many global cultures inactivity still involves some sort of physical activity at rest such as squatting or kneeling.
Do you ever notice that when you are sitting at your desk for a prolonged period of time and you get up you have…
- Tight muscles
- Stiff joints
- Body or back pain
- Headaches
- Balance problems
The body craves movement and even as we age we need to honor that with some sort of activity.
Since each of us are different so is the right exercise for your body….especially as we age.
Our bone density changes and we just can’t follow the same exercise routines as we did when we were 35.
There are many ways I use to keep my body “juicy” is what I like to call it.
The point is to keep your body soft and supple with some masterful lifestyle hacks to keep you moving and support the negative effects >>>
1- Schedule movement breaks
Even though you work out daily…it’s still essential to get up and walk around or stretch periodically to…
- Improve your circulation
- Reduce glucose & insulin levels
- Increase muscle activity
- Oxygenate the blood
Set a timer every hour and take a walk around the office, your home or backyard
I take the stairs to grab lunch and make sure to head outside for some fresh air.
2- Eat Mediterranean
This eating plan is full of fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, fish, whole grains and healthy fats which is well known to keep you healthy with an array of nutrients, antioxidants, fiber and polyunsaturated fats.
It has been shown to lower body weight, blood pressure, blood sugar and protect against oxidative stress, inflammation and support your gut microbiota …slam dunk!
Who’s not on board with that?
3- Support your blood vessels
As we age they get fragile, again we want to nourish our body and nutrients such as Collagen, Vitamin C and Omega -3 fatty acids can strengthen our blood vessels for better blood flow.
Omega -3 sources include
Eating fish such as Salmon, Anchovies and Sardines
Plant sources such as Chia, Hemp and Flax seeds
Beets increase nitric – oxide levels which helps to reduce blood pressure – add to salads, soups and smoothies
4- Increase Circulation
Prolonged sitting reduces your blood flow but also leads to a sluggish lymphatic system.
The lymph system gets rid of toxins and waste from the body.
In order to keep it functioning at peak performance I dry brush my body daily.
This increases blood circulation and promote lymph flow.
Optimal movement and lifestyle habits are necessary to live healthy longer – you don’t have to be perfect …just start and body will reward you for it!
If you are spending too much time sitting , and you want to get your hands on a customized step by step lifestyle and health plan, I invite you to book your free health discovery call here
I would love to support you in your health journey!
Xx Jeannine