8 Ways To Burn Calories At Your Desk

You’ll find it surprising to note how many people attribute a lack of fitness to their work schedule. In this article, we offer some exercises that will help you burn calories without rushing to the office gym. Ten repetitions each is a good start for each of these.

Shoulder Stretch

· Enact reaching out with your right arm to take something from the left side by stretching it across your chest.
· Use your left arm to hold your right from beneath to bring it closer to your chest.
· Do this for the left arm.

Abdominal Crunch

· Lean back, waist upwards and back straight, while sitting on your seat’s edge.
· Hold both sides of your seat firmly.
· With both knees bent, lift your legs up, while the abs flex each time.
· Lower your legs straightening downward, without allowing your heels to touch the ground.

Lower back exercise

· Keeping your palms on your lower back, push your fingers downwards as you lean back.
· Allow your back to arch, with elbows pointing straight behind you as your chest faces upward.
· Maintain for 15 seconds.

Quadriceps and Calf stretch

· Keep both palms on your right leg a little above your knee, and from the hip flexor, lift it, extending it until it is straight.
· Holding the leg straight, flex the muscle for at least 10 seconds in that position.
· Lower it slowly, keeping you foot back on the floor and then repeat with the left leg.

Sitting and standing straight

· Ensure your chair is adjusted to promote a healthy posture, where you aren’t round-shouldered or slouched over.
· Keep both your feet flatly grounded.
· Stand straight up, your shoulders back and chin levelled.

Chair dips

· Keep both palms on the edge of the chair and your legs, extended straight in front of you.
· With your elbows bent and hips before the chair, lower your body with your elbows.
· When your elbows are at 90 degrees, push yourself back up.
· Do at least 10 repetitions.

Ab twists

· Place both hands on the left arm of your chair and twist only your upper body, keeping your legs straight and unmoved.
· Do ten repetitions each, twisting to the left, and then to the right.

Front raise and Tricep toning

· Keeping your abs inward, sit straight and hold a slightly heavy file in your left hand.
· Raise the file to shoulder level, hold, and continue to elevate it above your head.
· When you arm is straight up, bend your elbow and slowly lower it sideways till it’s extended at shoulder level, then straighten and lower it to your side.
· Repeat for other arm.
These office exercises should tone your upper and lower body effectively, but are the minimal measures for fitness. Taking the stairs, two or three at a time, doing push-ups before lunch or every two hours, and eating home-cooked food are other ways to dedicate a greater effort to your health.