Thursday, October 4, 2012

The Healthy Writer's Club: The Office Workout!


Sup, guys!

So I joined Shallee's new, exclusive, and incredibly easy to join club as a means to help writers remember that maintaining our physical health is super important. This couldn't have come at a better time. I've been shaking my head while on the scale, as of late, so kudos to Shallee for being inspired enough to know what some of us need to do. So this is a weekly thing, for Fridays, but I'm not posting on Fridays. Or every week. I'm a rebel like that.

But I will post if I've found something helpful that's worth sharing.

The kicker with me is that I'm a 10/4 guy. You know, ten hours a day, four days a week. Up by Six, bed by ten (for that all-important eight hours of sleep). Coupled with young children and other responibilites (such as writing and movie watching), it's tough finding ways to have a consistant workout (swimming is my first choice - great for cardio, easy on the knees). So what's an out-of-shape guy to do?

I found this amazing article from The Art of Manliness (these guys speak my language): The Desk Jockey Workout: 8 Ways to Stay in Shape at the Office. I've applied and changed a few things, but I'm amazed how well this is working. Even brought in a set of ten-pound weights. So there you have it. A little workout throughout the day boosts energy far better than those red drinks with a bull on the can.

If you work in an office, it might be worth your while to give these tips a shot. I did and I'm glad for it. I hope the scale agrees.

So, clubbies - what have you been doing to stay healthy? Any new tips this week? What's your preferred method of exercise?

I'm David, and you don't want to see me run ... trust me ...


21 comments:

  1. I did the standing desk thing that that article talks about. I propped my monitor on a cardboard box, and my keyboard and mouse are on stacks of books. I spend 5-6 of my 8 hours at work standing now, and I think I'm starting to see some of the benefits. I definitely feel stronger than I did a few weeks ago when I started.

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  2. I just signed up for this club; I love the concept. However, since I'm strictly a rule follower (you're my rebel hero)I will post tomorrow.

    I think it's great that you found something that can work into your lifestyle. Runners can be a fanatical sect convinced it's the one, true form of cardio, but the idea is to keep ourselves healthy.

    By the way, hysterical clip. I'm pretty sure I look like a combination of a couple of those when I jog. My favorite awkward running clip is the one of Phoebe on Friends when she and Rachel decide to go for a run.

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  3. Haha. The Dandy! Is he smacking gum while running? Too funny.

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  4. Art of Manliness!! Dig it.
    Working out always makes one feel better.

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  5. Oh I like this idea. I agree that writers (especially me) need some encouragement in how to get and stay healthy.

    Running though? Ugh. Not for me. I only run, if someone is chasing me. LOL

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  6. I just bought a desk cycle. I LOVE it. It's a base with pedals on it that you put under your desk and cycle while you type. It doesn't replace my work out (especially since cycling can aggravate the arthritis in my hips so I have to keep the tension pretty low) but it adds an extra dimension and keeps my muscles moving when I'm at the computer. It wasn't too expensive either.

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  7. I really love how this has been getting around the blogosphere! It is SO important to stay healthy, which is not easy when you sit down to write and you eat McDonald's by sitting.

    Also, that video. Oh my goodness. Where do you find these things?! :D

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  8. Exercising and eating healthy are so important.
    I still do a little with weights and we have a treadmill. The heat and humidity are finally dying in NC and I hope to get outside to jog more often.

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  9. Just wait until you're as old as me, David. Here, let me give you an example: Reduce your calories, monitor your sodium for high blood pressure, drink more water, get enough cardio per day, take your vitamins, raise your good cholesterol, lower the bad cholesterol, don't eat too much sugar, eat more protein, eat less carbs...

    and on and on and on. There are somedays when it just is overwhelming.

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  10. lol, I loved that video. I can't run so even the awkward runners impress me ;)

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  11. Ba ha ha! I didn't even know it was physically possible to run like they did in that video. I think I'm a bit of an awkward runner, but hopefully not THAT awkward. Welcome to the club, David! :)

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  12. I try to workout three days a week. When i worked at my old job, I would go to the gym on my lunch hour. Now that I've got a new job, my entire workout plan is messed up. I've got a crazy commute until I move to SLC. Plus, I sprained my ankle a couple days ago. Basically, I'm gonna be out of the exercising routine until I get things back to normal. I understand not having a ton of time to do what is most important let alone adding exercising into the mix.

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  13. I like exercising actually, so this has never been an issue for me. I find working out first thing in the morning is best. Nothing to get in my way :)

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  14. My husband took up biking a couple years ago, and my 12 year old daughter joined him about a year later. I haven't been on a bike since I was 12 myself, when I used to peddle in circles around a concrete wharf in front of my grandfather's mushroom growing house. (If you count that as biking. I don't.) But this summer I borrowed my daughter's bike and went on an experimental ride with my husband. And loved it.

    So, I've been biking whenever I can, which is mostly on weekends -- and an evening or two when we can swing it. My record so far is 9 miles. Not too shabby for over 30 years off a bike, right?

    My daughter tells me I need to get my own and give hers back. So I guess that's the next step.

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  15. And that is why I walk. I am the quintessential awkward runner! :)
    Love the music though!
    Enjoyed your post, made me smile (cringe) :)

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  16. This is a great idea. Okay, so I will leave the computer and go do what I got up early to do anyway: ride the exercise bike. lol

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  17. I work out too and it's so hard to fit it in sometimes, especially when you have a family and work.

    BTW, I know you said you were shopping your MS around. I saw this and thought I'd share with you.

    http://litreactor.com/news/the-editor-will-see-you-now-harper-voyager-to-accept-unagented-manuscripts

    Good luck! :)

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  18. Oh yes, there are ways if we really want to exercise. Just have to be creative sometimes, especially when you have kids and a job and weariness tends to creep in. Great post, David:)

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  19. I do the exercise-at-work thing when I can, and I've just gotten into P90X. It's awesome, but super-hard to fit in every day.

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  20. Loved the links especially the video about the pomodoro technique! feel more energised already.

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