Bouncy, Bouncy, Bouncy--TYPE!

So, to help keep the pudge to a minimum and to keep my muscles from atrophying (even marginally) during the hours upon hours I spend on the computer, I have started a bouncing regimen.

Several times a day, I replace my desk chair with a large exercise ball.  I bounce, I rock, I swivel, rotate, and all sorts of other motions while working at the computer.  I try to do it for at least an hour at a time, but I can feel the effects within minutes.  I feel the pull on my stomach muscles, I feel a slight burn in my calves, I sense the myriad muscle contractions and extensions as my body continually adjusts for the ball's motions in order to keep me balanced atop it.

It is quite fun and amusing (always good to help keep an exercise routine, however minuscule) despite the small difficulties it adds to actually working on the computer. 

I have to overcome:

1. Sitting lower than when on the desk chair, thus reaching higher and further to reach the keyboard.
2. Maintaining my finger placement on the keyboard while I bounce, swish, rock, or otherwise acclimate to stay balanced (and still in constant motion). 
3. Maintain control of the mouse for graphics work.  Making anchor point adjustments and drawing with the mouse can be work on its own, but with the added motions from using the exercise ball, these tasks take an extra dose of care and attention.
4. Keeping from getting distracted by the fun of the bouncing (etc.) itself.  :D

There are probably others, but I'm not thinking of them at the moment.

I'm sure over time, it will become second nature to work this way and at that time I'll have to come up with something else to offset it so that it is still "work" for my body to accomplish (thus, keeping it exercise-viable), but for now, this is a way to put the "active" and remove some of the "passive" into my time on the computer.  Teehee... a little writer pun in that.  :D

Also, just so none of you think this is a replacement for exercise in totality, it's not. 

I also:

1. Walk (fast) 1-2 miles at least every couple days (trying to make it twice a day, when reasonable).  Hope to get myself up to a jogging stage.
2. Use a mat to do situps, leg lifts, stretches, etc.
3. Use hand held weights for curls and a variety of related upper body activity.
4. And, when I go out on my day job, I have to lift, carry, cart, set-up and break-down several pieces of teleprompting gear.

Do I miss my free 24 hour gym access I had back before we (husband and I) moved here?  Absolutely.

Can I afford a gym membership here?  Absolutely not.

Am I researching options through the city's recreation & parks department?  Yes.

Is there even more I can do?  Yes.

Is there even more I want to do?  Yes.

Have I found a way to fit these "mores" into my family, job, career, friends and financial schedules?  No.

Am I constantly looking for ways to do so?  Yes.

We all do the best we can with what we have.  I try to do it creatively and enjoyably so that it may be easier to maintain.

Whatever your goals, systems, routines are toward acquiring and maintaining better health while you also strive for the life you want, I wish you the best.  I hope you do the same for me.

I'd love to hear how you creatively add activity to help increase or maintain your exercise level (and by extension, your health).  Please feel free to reply with your routines.  :D

In the meantime... 

Bounce-Type-Bounce-Type-Bounce-Type...

:D

Thank you for indulging... (me).