Saturday, November 19, 2011

I Was Tortured

Let’s put it this way. Sitting around sucks. If anyone tries to tell you that exercise makes you tired, they are full of it. What makes you tired is doing nothing. Ever lay around all day on a Sunday? By the end of the day you are so tired you can barely lift the toilet paper to wipe yourself. Yet, you did nothing, NOTHING all day. But, ever take a six mile run on a Sunday morning? It sets the tone for your day. You are empowered, energized and full of yourself.

I know that sitting around makes you tired because yesterday I was tortured. It had nothing to do with hairs being pulled out of my nipples or my brother holding me down and spitting a loogie on my forehead (post traumatic stress right there). I was tortured because I had ten hours of sitting. I was in an all-day training (2 hours of driving, 8 hours of training). Do you have any idea what that does to a person like me? It makes me insane. It makes me claw at my own skin. I break out in hives and crap myself. Well, not really, but you get the picture.

givingfinger

Sitting around does not bring out the best in me.

I know I am spoiled. I work for myself. I am my own boss. My job involves visiting people’s homes, interviewing them and writing reports. This means I get to move around. A lot. Even when I have to sit for six hours to write a report, I interrupt my writing with a run or a long bike ride. I can get up and wander around the house looking for the dog who is usually eating something gross out of the trash. I can strut my stuff to the mailbox. I can run up to Emma’s school and have lunch with her:

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Yes, that is a bright yellow SPORK

Eww. Maybe I don’t want to do that very often. That plate of food is the color of my grandma’s curtains. Beige.

Granted, my days are longer and not condensed to only 6 or 8 hours, because I take these breaks. I also work nights and weekends sometimes. To me, it is a welcome trade off. The point is, I am not stuck in a non-ventilated office with fluorescent lighting biting my cuticles and watching the clock. 

Another thing I noticed at this training besides all of the sitting and non-movement is that I wanted to eat shitty food. I don’t know why. Even though the subject matter was fascinating and held my attention, there was something about being cooped up that made me want the cookies, pop and cinnamon rolls that were available. Thing is, I NEVER drink soda. Probably because I drink enough coffee and wine that I decided I didn’t need another vice-beverage. I also don’t eat many sweets. But yesterday, look the hell out. I was grabbing at the empty calorie laden treats and sucking on Jolly Ranchers like a prostitute in heat (whatever that means, I just made it up).

I know that if I worked an 8 to 5 job in an office setting, I would have to lay down some ground rules. Exercising at lunch would be a MUST. I don’t think I could manage the day without that kind of a break. I’d also have to stock my desk with lots of healthy snack options. It is possible and I would do it.

How do you deal with a job that requires lots of sitting and not lose your mind?

How do you incorporate movement/exercising and healthy eating into your work day?

Off for another ten hours of training and sitting. Pray for me.

SUAR

30 comments:

  1. A prostitute in heat, eh?

    I sit at a desk all day now too. Very monotonous and although it's a dental office, it's a mecca for junkfood. Breakroom is FULL of homemade cookies and fudge and CRAP from patients....Anyway, I'm fortunate that my boss has a treadmill that I use many days at lunch and I also make these silly bargains with myself like: everytime I go down the stairs to the bathroom (I drink a lot of water), I have to do 30 pushups on the bathroom floor. Yes, this sounds nasty. I wear gloves and I end up doing a lot of freakin' pushups in a day:)

    Have a great day sitting and training. Praying for you-ha!

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  2. I'm a stay at home mom right now, and am close to 10 lbs. lighter than I was in my full-time working, pre-child life. I could never say no to the constant flow of birthday treats & baked goods that graced our office's break-room! Fortunately I did work on the 5th floor, so I would deliberately take all my restroom breaks on the first floor (via the stairs, of course). I was also lucky to work at a university that had a nice gym for the students and staff, so during my lunch breaks I would try to get on a bike or stairmaster (well, when I wasn't out consuming a high-cal lunch w/ co-workers!).

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  3. My coworkers would say I lost my mind a long time ago. I really have to work to avoid the extra goodies that come out of meetings. I get up for lots of walks to get more water. And printouts. And consulting with other people. Meetings are a mixed blessing. On one hand you are up and walking somewhere. On the other they are usually a horrible waste of time.

    I usually can't wait to get home and get in a real workout. I miss my morning swims, and need to figure out how to get them back.

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  4. Yikes!! You have more training again today?? What are you training for that takes so much time? Sitting around all day SUCKS. Your right even though you are doing nothing it is very tiring and it makes me feel nasty.

    I am really lucky because, like you, I have a job that I can take lots of breaks from as make my own hours working from home or starbucks. When I have to be there it requires walking around and standing most of the time because I am usually lecturing students.

    I am in awe of people who have to work 8 to 10 hours a day and still fit in their exercise routine. It has got to be extremely difficult, especially if they have a family.

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  5. I have a desk job, and could easily sit there all day. I choose not to do that though. Work gets printed and hand delivered. If an e-mail is only going to one person in the building, I try and just go talk to that person. Some days I get out more than others. Music helps. I agree with the healthy snacks. I keep nuts and raw toasted coconut at my desk in case I get the boredom munchies.

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  6. I had to make the choice between two jobs awhile ago, and I ended up choosing the route that provided the most flexibility, the least amount of fluorescent light, and the most freedom to do whatever the hell I want during the day...as long as I get my work done. Now, I can't imagine having it any other way!!

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  7. Oh man - prayers your way for sure. I freelance from home, so, like you, I have amazing flexibility in my workload. Often, a lot of stuff gets done during my daughter's nap time, and if its super crazy then I'll put some movies on for her. On days where its not so bad - we'll go for runs, head to the library and get frozen yogurt.

    Prior to this, I had active jobs; I was a soccer referee, held a management position at a printing company [lots of walking around and lifting insanely heavy crap], and a glorified secretary. Granted, I was a glorified secretary in the Air Force, and my job was to ensure aircrafts got their missions, follow them enroute to their locations, and make sure the mission was completed; in addition to taking emergency calls for the entire base, making sure the General got his information, and making security checks. Glorified, indeed.

    I would not be able to attached to a desk 9-5, ever. No thanks.

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  8. I had to sit in a 2-hour training class....I thought I was going to have to amputate my hamstrings and butt.

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  9. I can barely sit through a movie these days. My butt falls asleep, I have to pee, etc. So 8 hrs? Ya, that would be torture!

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  10. I go for a run at lunch. Luckily I work in the Army as a civilian, but we are allowed to exercise... No ones says something if I'm out running for one hour-2 hours (probably longer in the future while training for a marathon). The months I couldn't run (enough) because of severe shin splints I had to take breathing therapy, because I was hyperventilating without knowing it... It felt like I was about to have a heart attack.
    Craving sugary stuff when not exercising? I have that too... I think it's your body going cold turkey on the endorfines and we are searching to get that high... even if it's a sugar high...

    Great blog!
    Your biggest Belgian fan :o)
    Kath

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  11. I teach high school students which means I am pretty much ALWAYS on my toes....literally and figuratively. Two years ago one of my kids looked at me and said somewhat incredulously, "Ms. James, you NEVER sit down." Yeah, it's true. I would go CRAZY sitting at a desk all day. Also, the teaching schedule allows for one ten minute break and a thirty minute lunch - and half the time you have kids coming in with stuff they need during that time. Which means I think you have to try kind of hard to eat not-so-healthy - because you hardly have any time to eat =) TOTALLY worth it, though - love.these.kids. =)

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  12. I can't relate AT ALL to people who do not look to do exercise. I have had a terrible week of training since I have not been well this week and feel like a cross between a BLIMP and a SLOTH!

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  13. I have a desk job and I walk to the local YMCA each day at lunch to run and lift weights. I go with a co-worker. This month marks 3 years that we have been going. I love it! It breaks up my day and keeps me accountable.

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  14. Sitting around all day really is torture and makes you want to eat whatever junk is around! I have a desk job, and I've found that the best remedy is to get out and run or go to the gym BEFORE work (even though that means being up before dawn). If I don't, it usually doesn't happen--I'm too tired from a day of inactivity to get there!

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  15. I'm a teacher, which means I don't have the flexibility to run in the middle of my work day (which I would love to do), but I never sit down, let alone sit still. And I never crave junk food at school. I spent three days this week in meetings/training and ate all kinds of crap I would never ordinarily touch. Like off-brand Cheez-its and M&Ms. I don't even like M&Ms. As I was eating them, I even realized they didn't taste good, but something about being sitting for hours compelled me to eat them. I am now atoning by making pumpkin cheesecake--at least it will be worth all the calories!

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  16. I'm like you--work for myself and am spoiled for it. Sitting still for long stretches just doesn't get it done in my world! Ouch.

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  17. I CAN'T STAND sitting! In fact I stand up in my kitchen while I eat and school the kids. I hate, I mean really hate long car rides and like you want to come out of my own skin!!

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  18. I have never had a desk job. I always had jobs where I am walking around, doing things. Fast food, making doors, custodian. I don't think I could handle sitting around all day. Being active makes me happier.

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  19. I get up and walk around the office. A LOT. I also work at the client's so there's more walking back and forth between my office and client's....a lot of times of my own choosing. Like pretending I have meeting at my office all the time. I do a lot of walking at lunch...I'm trying to figure out the logistics of the shower/change room at work so that I can run at lunch!

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  20. I work from home too and it's a blessing. I don't know how people in regular desk jobs do it.

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  21. I have never had a sit down job...except for the summer I worked as a telemarketer, but that doesn't count. I had to report for jury duty once...I almost came undone and I was enormously pregnant.

    I would go insane if I had to sit all day. And I would start that pulling the hairs out of my nipples thing...if I could find some.

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  22. interesting...i was thinking about this the other day and i'm the opposite...being at work saves me from gaining a ton of weight. when i'm at home, i graze because it's right there, and available. at work, i only pack what i'm going to eat that day so once i'm done that's it until i get home. most of the time there isn't a lot of crap in the office, but between halloween and ny years it's a bit of minefield with treats and gifts. what genereally works for me to avoid stuffing my face full of treats is getting in a good morning workout (usually up by 5am) which sets the tone for my day.

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  23. I stay at home w/ my boys too. Only work 2x a month to keep my licensing up. I, too, find it easier to gain weight while at home bc I'm always cooking/baking and the opportunity to sit and veg on here or FB is always there...which means not much in the way of calorie burn. i do go to the gym or run on my treadmill 3-4x a week but this xtra tire around the middle has to go. it's bullcrap. Training sucks no matter how you look at it. unless you are in Vegas or somewhere.

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  24. From a young-ish age, I kind of knew that I couldn't just be an office junky either. I am now a power plant engineer and I am in that plant with my hard hat, steel toed boots, and hearing protection at least a couple of hours a day. I work out EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. at noon or after work. You would be a great engineer!!!

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  25. I'm rammy right now because I'm at my office on a Sunday morning. I have to get a couple reports done and to my CEO before noon today so instead of starting my Sunday with a nice long run, I came straight to the office. I will run later, but I feel all out of sorts because I haven't yet run.

    I do work in an office. Most days, I have enough going on that I'm not literally sitting the whole day, but when we have all-day meetings, I get so rammy, usually punchy and sarcastic, too.

    I don't let myself eat the junk around the office either. I guzzle water like it's going out of style. And when I have time, I do run over lunch. If not, I run before work (hello, 4am!) or after work. Now that it's fall, I can run after work and it's not 100 degrees, which is more pleasant than a 4am wake-up call.

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  26. In situations where sitting for hours is mandatory, I like to do a sneak-workout of just pushups and stationary lunges. Just find a bathroom that is big and clean enough... one in which you can lock the main door, not just the stall door. It'll bump your heart rate up and just make you more alert.

    At work my officemate and I often stretch and do planks between calls. I'm a fan of running before work -- it just makes me more productive (and sane/not a bitch) all day long.

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  27. Praying for you! I work in a cube farm with no ventilation. We do have a skylight that lets in a lot of natural light, so I guess that's a small perk. My office is just two miles from the YMCA so 2 or 3 times a week I will swim on lunch hour. The other days I make sure to get outside, even if it's just a short walk around the neighborhood.

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  28. definitely lots of getting up and walking around. I don't get to run on my lunch break unfortunately but I typically get up super early and squeeze in a run or a spin class at the gym before work. then I try to get off at a reasonable hour to do some strength training at the gym which is always nice. you just have to make time for it whenever you can I guess. always keep healthy snacks and drink loads of water.

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  29. Every single time, when I have a case with papers, I just go to azwritingteacher and they do everything for me, but me, I have a lot of time to walk around and not to sit still.

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