Exertime has made me feel more aware/alert about getting up out of my chair while at work. Believe it or not, this has had a positive influence on my work productivity.
Now I can get out of my seat much more regularly, and I do not feel guilty about being away from my desk, because I know my boss values a healthy work environment.
The calorie goal is a great motivator; I aim to complete half in the morning and half in the afternoon. Since beginning the program I have noticed several benefits including an increase in my energy levels and zip, I am eating less biscuits, and the day goes quicker. Exertime is now part of my day and it would feel strange not having it on my computer.
In the beginning I found the exercises difficult, but after three weeks I feel much more comfortable. I love the flexibility and adaptability of the program. I now feel much better about myself, my self-esteem has improved since we began the program.
I find that Exertime assists with my stress levels. I am a little obsessive compulsive when it comes to completing tasks. This can be a bad thing, as I will not move until the task is complete. With Exertime I have to move and now find that I am less tense than usual because I am moving around instead of just sitting for hours at a time.
Exertime has been instrumental in helping me to give up smoking. Now when I am at work I take Exertime breaks, which are good for me; instead of smoke breaks that are slowly killing me.
It has been reported that the mechanisation of the modern office has led to a decrease in occupational related energy expenditure of approximately 100-150 calories per day in both males and females from 1960 to 2010.
Church et al. (2011)
The Stand Up Australia (2009) project reported that 80% of desk-based workers suffer from health problems:
Research demonstrates that breaking up sedentary time, by doing something as effortless as standing up periodically throughout the day, can benefit your health.
Baker IDI Research Centre (2009)
Sitting at your desk while at work typically contributes the greatest proportion of sedentary time in a day.
Stand Up Australia (2009)
Prolonged sitting is associated with a number of adverse health conditions:
An Australian investigation into the sedentary time of adults, showed that movement-based interruptions resulted in decreased metabolic risk variables, particularly waist circumference, triglycerides, and blood glucose levels.
Healy et al., (2008)
When you sit the electrical activity in your muscle goes silent leading to a plethora of detrimental metabolic effects. For example, your calorie-burning rate reduces to about one per minute, a third of what it would be if you got up and walked.
Hamilton et al., (2007)
Men who spend six hours or more per day of their leisure time sitting have an overall death rate about 20% higher than men who sit for three hours or less. The death rate for women who sat for more than six hours a day was about 40% higher.
Patel et al., (2010)
Employees with poor health take 9 times more sick days, which resulted in a 2.4% loss in national productivity and a 12% increased cost in workers compensation.
Reducing workplace sitting time is the easiest and most economically viable way to improve cardiovascular health.
Regardless of how much exercise people do in their leisure time, those who spend long periods of time seated (> four hours per day) are still at risk for poor health.