General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Interesting new BT Article: Sedentary Athletes Rss Feed  
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2009-10-09 4:07 PM

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Master
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Subject: Interesting new BT Article: Sedentary Athletes
If you haven't read it, it's an interesting read.  HERE

It basically says that most of us, particularly those that have trouble losing weight, spend way too much of our non exercise hours sitting on our butts!  Apparently working out isn't enough anymore!

A few interesting statements:

--  "Even competitive athletes who do double workouts often live a sedentary lifestyle. They generally do little but rest and recover during the non-exercise parts of their day."

--  "Some (generally weight-conscious) athletes love to be sedentary. They look forward to finishing their workout, settling into their La-z-boy chair, putting their feet up, turning on the TV, and vegging-out for hours on end."

--  The average person sits 9.3 hours a day. 

--  A few things to do include: bike to work, pace when talking on the phone, stand up when writing emails, walk the dog, scrub the floor, walk to the post office.

-- "Fidgeters", who have trouble just sitting still, burn 300 to 500 more calories per day that "sitters".


I, for one, spend much of my day sitting on my butt.  I kind of like it, though. 

So, do we really need to be doing more during our non exercise hours?  Your thoughts on the article?

Brian
  


2009-10-09 4:37 PM
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Master
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Subject: RE: Interesting new BT Article: Sedentary Athletes
definitely interesting and definitely applies to me - i have told people multiple times that i have got to be the laziest triathlete - i tend to spend too much time on the computer at home, or watching TV.  at work, i do get up atleast every twenty minutes to either 1) talk to someone about a job (versus calling them or e-mailing), 2) get more water, 3) go to the bathroom (because of all the water ). 

2009-10-09 6:18 PM
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Subject: RE: Interesting new BT Article: Sedentary Athletes
Great article. 

Nancy Clark's sports science/ nutrition articles are some of the best anywhere on the web IMO.
2009-10-10 12:38 AM
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Subject: RE: Interesting new BT Article: Sedentary Athletes
100% agree on the weight loss front, I've been struggling to lose about 1lb a week for 2 months or so on a very decent volume of work, only thing that has changed in the past couple weeks is change in job, where Im standing a whole lot more. Result so far is I'm losing too much weight, roughly 3 lbs a week and Im eatting 2kcals a day.
2009-10-10 7:29 AM
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Subject: RE: Interesting new BT Article: Sedentary Athletes
WTF?  That's recovery time, right?  Laughing
2009-10-10 7:34 AM
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Subject: RE: Interesting new BT Article: Sedentary Athletes
famelec - 2009-10-09 4:07 PM

--  "Even competitive athletes who do double workouts often live a sedentary lifestyle. They generally do little but rest and recover during the non-exercise parts of their day." 


Its a good article except I'd define "competitive" differently than she would.  The few pros I have met do try to stay off their legs between workouts so that their next workout can be most effective.  IOW, They don't look for the furthest parking spot and they don't walk 5 flights of stairs instead of taking the elevator.  This isn't a bad thing.

On a side note, a friend who regularly hosts visiting athletes at his house says they sit around a lot the days before a race. 

Even the competitive AGer (maybe defined as someone who can race Nationals if they choose) doesn't really need to avoid sitting as the article implies. 

Everyone else, though?  Shes probably right on.


2009-10-10 7:38 AM
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Subject: RE: Interesting new BT Article: Sedentary Athletes

I think it goes along with the Time magazine article about how exercise alone won't get the pounds off.  I know when I was maintaining my weight years ago, I walked a half mile to and from work every day, and walked around more in the hospital I was working, so my "non-exercise" hours were more active.  I also was much more closely monitoring my diet, so that helped as well.

2009-10-10 9:20 AM
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Subject: RE: Interesting new BT Article: Sedentary Athletes
I'm a fidgeter... I think it definitely helps when I'm stuck at my desk on my resource days... On my teaching days I don't sit down at all.
2009-10-10 1:34 PM
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Master
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Subject: RE: Interesting new BT Article: Sedentary Athletes
i liked it...it was very interesting. i'm a fidgeter, just ask my hubby about our "movie nights". if i'm not doing something else, i usually fall asleep. but it did put things in perspective
2009-10-10 3:17 PM
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Subject: RE: Interesting new BT Article: Sedentary Athletes
There was an article highlighted on Yahoo the other day about how French women stay trim without the crazy workouts that American women subject themselves to. The author's opinion? Exactly the same as this BT article. They are simply more active all day - choosing to walk to lunch, cycle after work, etc... Makes sense to me.
2009-10-10 11:42 PM
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Subject: RE: Interesting new BT Article: Sedentary Athletes
I wish someone would perfect the treadmill-mounted computer station.
Seriously.
Or stationery bike-mounted.

If I could be on a treadmill or bike the whole time I am on a computer each day, I can't imagine how much leaner I would be!

I did replace my office chair with an exercise ball, but I'm still pretty sedentary. At least I have two little kids to chase when I get home.


2009-10-11 7:13 AM
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Subject: RE: Interesting new BT Article: Sedentary Athletes
Interesting article.  One of the things I did earlier in the year was start wearing a pedometer.  I had thought I was active during the day, but I definitely wasn't.  I try to get 10,000 steps a day, and I usually only attain that on days that I run, but I'm always trying to get extra steps.  It's a great way to do extra steps to be more active during the day - running the stairs, parking farther away in the parking lot, walking more aisles in the grocery store, so many ways to get more steps, but you have to shift your thinking.  Obviously, it doens't help when you swim and bike, but can help you figure out of you're active or not.  I'm MUCH more active now that I wear my pedometer.   Just wanted to throw that out there! 

HEre are a couple links about pedometers, and the quest for 10,000 steps (although scientists are studying whether or not 10,000 is even enough).  If you google it, a ton of stuff comes up:
http://www.thewalkingsite.com/10000steps.html
http://www.shapeup.org/shape/steps.php


2009-10-11 7:47 AM
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Subject: RE: Interesting new BT Article: Sedentary Athletes
ahohl - 2009-10-10 11:42 PM I wish someone would perfect the treadmill-mounted computer station.
Seriously.
Or stationery bike-mounted.

If I could be on a treadmill or bike the whole time I am on a computer each day, I can't imagine how much leaner I would be!

I did replace my office chair with an exercise ball, but I'm still pretty sedentary. At least I have two little kids to chase when I get home.


Here's a Walkstation for only $6,500.

I think I'd just buy another bike.






(walkstation_200.jpg)



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2009-10-11 8:06 AM
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Subject: RE: Interesting new BT Article: Sedentary Athletes
I nearly started a thread about that same article!  It describes me; except that I do get in a 3 mile walk on my lunch hour most days.

I have hand weights under my desk that I thought I would use occasionally for breaks, but never have.  Then I had a bright idea that this thing could be an option:

Photobucket

But as it turns out, there is not enough space for my legs to spin it under the desk and work at the same time.

I just need to make a conscious effort to move more during my work day.
2009-10-11 3:10 PM
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Master
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Subject: RE: Interesting new BT Article: Sedentary Athletes
how about this thing - the igallop.  i tried one of these once at sharper image or something just because it was so ridiculous!  it was kind of fun, kind of like an mechanical bull



(gallop1.jpg)



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2009-10-11 4:13 PM
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Subject: RE: Interesting new BT Article: Sedentary Athletes

ultrahip_00 - 2009-10-11 4:10 PM how about this thing - the igallop.  i tried one of these once at sharper image or something just because it was so ridiculous!  it was kind of fun, kind of like an mechanical bull

 

I can hear the comments now from some of the guys I work with...



2009-10-11 4:29 PM
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Subject: RE: Interesting new BT Article: Sedentary Athletes
That article describes my wife and myself to a tee.  I'll run 15 miles, but then I am too tired to mow the lawn, so I just take a nap!
2009-10-12 1:10 PM
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Littleton, Colorado
Subject: RE: Interesting new BT Article: Sedentary Athletes
Great article.  Definitely a fidgeter here.  Like most people I sit at a desk for 8.5 hours a day, and it seems to drive me crazy.  I have a hard time staying sitting down at a restaurant for an hour during dinner.

I will definitely try to get moving at least a little more than I do right now.  Every little bit helps. 
2009-10-12 1:17 PM
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