Our bodies were made to move. Most of us have heard that regular moderate-to-strenuous exercise is good for our hearts, but it turns out gentle movements throughout the day are also important. If we’re too sedentary it’s bad for our circulation and our joints don’t get lubricated. Most people won’t be motivated by those facts, but they might be interested that one of the big differences between lean and obese people is the lean ones fidget more.
Researchers at the Mayo Clinic carefully tracked the movements and calorie-intake of 10 obese and 10 thin study participants. They found that overweight people burned 350 fewer calories a day because they sat for 150 minutes more a day than did thin people, who tended to be more fidgety during their daily activities.
Those findings suggest that making small changes to daily activities — by tapping your toes, wiggling or otherwise expending more restless energy — could be critical to weight loss.
—Wiggle While You Work
I personally don’t like to sit. I’ve arranged my computer so I mostly stand when I use it…with a tall stool handy when my legs need a break. And I do wiggle my body from time to time to keep loosened up. I’ve noticed that I don’t have the urge to raid the refrigerator the way I used to, but it never dawned on me that my little movements were burning significant calories. I no longer have a weight problem, so I gave up counting calories years ago.
What about you? Do you fidget much? Do you think it has any connection with your weight?
Fidget is a new word in my vocabulary. I’m fidgeting now as I sit here at the computer.
At night when I’m warm & cozy, the house is really cold, & I need to get up—I always remind myself, “Fidgeting is good for you.” I classify unwanted movement as fidgeting. I get up.
bikehikebabe,
Of course the article says it would be helpful to look at fidgeting as wanted, not unwanted, movement. It’s good for us. 🙂
I DO want it because I know it’s good for me. That’s what gets me out of the warm bed, which is “unwanted movement” until I consider it’s fidgeting.
I do everything that’s good for me.
Someone gave me some DELICIOUS fiber chocolate drink mix. I used a bunch & felt like I was drunk–all day. Finally saw the Aspartamine on label. Threw it out. Don’t eat sugar & that didn’t have sugar but…
Jean, you beat me to it! I was planning a blog post on this very subject presented slightly differently, based on a news item http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/stand-up-while-you-read-this/?th&emc=th
I rarely get to sit for long at the computer as I have to frequently get up to attend to the door bell, calls from my father, or to bring something from upstairs or to purchase something from a vendor who is at the door or to receive a parcel from the courier man and so on and so forth. Despite that, I have to sit as I find it tiring to stand for long with my replaced hip joints. I shall now start to fidget!
.-= Rummuser´s last blog ..If I could travel in Time, I would……..” =-.
Rummuser,
Thanks for the great link. I just ordered an exercise ball for sitting on at our other computer. It’s an intriguing idea.
I wouldn’t necessarily call it fidgeting – more habits which are sometimes annoying because at times because I’m just plain uncomfortable! So I try to get more comfortable
I just stopped typing for a minute here because the cushion on the chair seems wrongly placed and broken button thing on the actual chair is poking me somehow….then my elbow fell of the arm rest…there is a noise over by a door, I keep swivelling my head trying to see it
I have retrieve the noise, had to stand up and lean down between the narrow space and it’s a little plastic bag catching a draft and hitting something else!
I will have to go after this message because I just realised I need to go back to the basement and get some bubble wrap and then fix this loom I sold recently. A carrier is picking it up in a few weeks but parts need securing.
I was in the basement for 2 hours ‘fidgetting’ with my dyepots, yarns and the coloured stuff is drying outside…
see you all later 🙂
.-= Cathy in NZ´s last blog ..New Semester Week + other things =-.
Cathy,
Oops! I thought I had answered this comment. The important thing is to move our bodies from time to time, just the opposite of what some of us were taught as children…”Stop fidgeting! Be still!” It is nice to work alone so we don’t annoy other people. 🙂