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Here's a simple trick to help you stay in better shape - stand up! Seriously, it's that simple. Your resting metabolic rate raises considerably when you stand, rather than sit. You could burn an extra 100-200 calories per day if you converted your work station from a sitting unit to a standing one. Stand up while you watch the news, play video games, and read a book, surf the web, talk on the phone, the list goes on and on.
Not only is this better for your waist line, it's also better for your back, joints, and muscles. While you sit, your hip flexors are short and tight, while your glutes are stretched and loose. Your core muscles shut down since the back rest does the supporting for you. Over time, this becomes a chronic condition. Stand back up, and your now week glutes can't compete with your overly tight hip flexors pulling on your pelvis. The pelvis drops forward, increasing the curve of lumbar spine. This over stimulates your low back muscles, leaving them sore and fatigued. This is why over 80% of Americans have bad backs or back pain at some point in their lives. This "anterior pelvic tilt" as it's called, also leaves you with an unsightly protruding abdomen (ie gut). Frequent standing helps keep the glutes and hip flexors in neutral position, making you more balanced, flexible, and have better posture.
And what about those of you who already have this condition, or simply can't accommodate any more standing in your daily lives? A good place to start is by stretching out those overly tight hip flexors. The Sampson stretch is my favorite way to do this. In a lunge position, rest back knee on the floor, with front knee at 90 degree angle, abs in. Gently press forward until you feel a stretch in the front of the leg/hip. Raise hands above head and stretch upwards. After 30 seconds to a minute, switch legs.
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