My husband and I promised each other we would never discuss our ailments. We understood part of the aging process meant the ligaments and tendons that hold your joints together become stiff and leathery and osteoarthritis can cause the cartilage in a joint to wear away. All of which lead to aching, soreness and pain. My husband keeps telling me to use it or lose it.
I was at a party last 4th of July (somethings about the 4th) chatting with some other people discussing our aches and pains and here I was contributing and trying to out ache the next person. Funny how easy and effortless this type of conversation can be. Because I am competitive by nature, I was determined to be the oldest with the most aches as if my husband was going to show up with my wheelchair at any moment. Once I came to my senses, I gulped my drink and headed home.
This is the part of the story where I fly to Jillian Michaels so she can start working with me by yelling to get in shape, but NOPE. I work at a university so I bet you are thinking I threw on my sneakers and walked the campus, but NOPE. I bet you think I started to stretch for pliability of the ligaments, but NOPE. I bet you thought I would start using the rower and bike in the basement, but NOPE. I bet you thought I would start the strength training programs my hard earned money paid for from a personal trainer, but NOPE. I got myself a standing desk.
You read it right – I am too lazy to walk the campus or even just walk the hallways; however, I like to think I am taking baby steps and I love my standing desk. I read that a standing desk lowers your risk of weight gain and obesity – genius marketing! Imagine if that is all you had to do – sign me up. My standing desk is pretty fancy. It is one unit with a motorized control located under the desk so I just press a button. I even have a routine – 30 minutes up with 1 hour sit and repeat which has reduced my hip pain and stiffness.
The world is my oyster – Maybe one day I will head to the basement to remove the boxes on the rower and clothes from the bike and maybe just maybe use them. Until then stand up, sit down and repeat.