You've probably heard by now about the rise in standing desks and the health benefits associated with them. They can improve your concentration, support your posture, and even help you get 10,000 steps a day.
But did you know that a standing desk can even help you lose weight? While it might seem too good to be true, there are plenty of ways in which a standing desk can support healthy weight loss. If you were thinking of making small adjustments to your lifestyle in order to make weight loss possible, consider replacing your regular desk with a standing one. Here's why it works.
Why Standing Desks Help Weight Loss
Weight loss can feel overwhelming at times. As easy as people make it sound with their catchy phrase 'eat less, move more', things aren't always that simple. After all, what should you be eating less of, and are there any foods you should be eating more of? What form should that movement take and how long should you be doing it for?
The truth is, there's no one-size-fits-all answer to those questions. The easiest and healthiest way to approach weight loss is through lifestyle tweaks, one of which should be swapping out your regular desk for a standing desk or a height-adjustable desk.
Here's how it can help your weight.
Standing burns more calories
Believe it or not, you don't have to be actively exercising to burn calories. In fact, simply standing up can burn more calories than sitting - 186 calories per hour instead of 139. While this doesn't seem like a lot, it can add up significantly over a few hours.
The muscles in your legs and back work harder when you stand, so it can be an excellent way to engage those muscles without having to do anything too strenuous.
Walk underneath your desk
A standing desk or height-adjustable desk doesn't have to be just for standing. In fact, you can walk under your desk!
Many owners of standing desks are now adding small treadmills underneath to allow them to get their steps in without having to take any time out of the working day to do so. And walking is seriously beneficial for your health as well as being a great way to support healthy weight loss.
Adding just 30 minutes of brisk walking a day to your routine burns 150 calories, which over a week translates to more than 1000 calories. If you added an hour of walking per day, you'd be looking at a weekly calorie reduction of 2000+ calories - pretty impressive for such a low-impact exercise.
Pursue a more active lifestyle
For those who feel overwhelmed and intimidated by running every day or going to the gym for hours per week, adding a standing desk can be a more accessible and lower-impact way of pursuing a more active lifestyle and can encourage other fitness activities as your stamina improves.
Where to Find the Best Standing Desks
Here at Flexispot, we specialise in ergonomic furniture that helps you look and feel your best, including standing desks and height-adjustable desks. With the help of the right standing desk, you can significantly boost your physical health and productivity.
Plus, thanks to the aesthetic appeal of our desks, your office can look as good as it feels - and that's seriously comfortable!
Other Tips for Weight Loss When You Work an Office Job
If you've worked at an office job, you'll know how easy it is to slip into a sedentary lifestyle and how difficult weight loss can be as a result. Here are a few tips to help you stay on track when it comes to managing your weight.
● Take opportunities for natural movement. Whether it's taking the stairs instead of the lift or going on a walk during your lunch break, take opportunities for exercise whenever and wherever you find them.
● Keep snacks out of reach. You're bound to keep snacking on those biscuits when they're within reaching distance. Keep snacks away from your desk and in a place you can't see or reach them. Relying on self-discipline isn't always realistic.
● Prep meals in advance. We've all been there. You come home after a trick day at work and the last thing you want to do is cook a meal from scratch, so you reach for the takeaway menu. To reduce your reliance on convenience food, prepare meals at the start of the week so you can simply reheat them as needed.
So there you have it! By incorporating a standing desk into your routine as well as plenty of other healthy changes, you can reach your weight loss goals in no time.
