I Can't Sit Still!

I've always been a fidgetor. Even now, at age 21, I find it equally as hard to sit still as I did when I was a kid. Though my fidgeting may annoy those who sit next to me in a movie, I've come to realize how my impulse to keep moving, which is mostly caused by a serious case of impatience, has played a crucial role in my general health my entire life.

I recently read an article on this subject, which supports my suspicions that consistent fidgeting is a pretty decent calorie-burner. Granted, I would not recommend a 30 minute session of fidgeting as a proper workout, but fidgeting can really add up over time.

For instance, if you're anything like me then you hate commercial breaks (doesn't everyone?); so usually during the break I'll just stand up and wander around aimlessly-- go pee, go look at myself in the mirror (maybe pluck an eyebrow hair or two), go refill my glass of water, or just go bother someone else in another part of the house (my sister has been the victim of this countless times). I know it seems silly, and it really is pointless, but keeping your body moving is crucial for burning excess calories.

We have all heard the now cliche words of advice: park your car far away, take the stairs and not the elevator, don't use moving walkways, etc. But have you ever really taken that advice seriously and committed yourself to it? To completely "quit" elevators, escalators, moving walkways, and to purposefully park far away-- it's not as easy as it sounds. Studies show, however, that these simple actions can make a huge difference. As I've posted before, just a simple after dinner walk aids in digestion and is a simple way to burn the large caloric intake of dinner. Even for those of you who do not work out at all, I implore you to walk. Find an excuse to walk every day. This article discusses how a daily walk can help you lose weight even without altering your diet.

Here's a disturbing statistic:
"According to the A.C. Nielsen Co., the average American watches more than 4 hours of TV each day (or 28 hours/week, or 2 months of nonstop TV-watching per year). In a 65-year life, that person will have spent 9 years glued to the tube."
I, admittedly, have been part of this statistic many days. However, TV watching does require us to submit ourselves into a vegetable, sloth-like state. Get up and move! Staying active every day is the key to good health (mental health included) and our bodies are not built to sit around all day.

Now get off the internet and go for a walk!