Oct
2012
Sitting Makes Me Sick
I’m sick 
Crawl into bed, head hurts, don’t even want to watch tv sick. My body starting aching all over on Monday. I figured it was just from a busy weekend and that enjoying a night on the couch on Monday night would take care of it, but no luck. I popped tylenol/advil all day on Tuesday but by the time I got home from work, I felt awful. I forced myself to go to the gym for 30 minutes because I thought it would make me feel better…No luck again, it made me feel worse. As soon as I got home, I crawled into bed. It was 8:39pm.
Jared got home twenty minutes later so I woke up to talk to him. My mom called at 9:30pm and I got into a half-asleep-don’t know-what-I’m-saying fight with her on the phone. Oops. I think I ended up just hanging up on her so I could go back to sleep. Sorry, mom. I’m sick.
I slept for 10 hours….and still felt awful in the morning. For some weird reason, I forced myself to go to work on Wednesday. Not sure how I made it. During my 11am meeting, I started fading, but I was feeling stingy about using one of my (only 5 total!) sick days, so I stuck it out through the day and got a surprising amount of work done. I went to whole foods at lunchtime for a kombucha. Do you think these really help an immune system? Regardless, it sounded really good.
I sported ridiculous dark circles under my eyes (despite my 10 hour night’s sleep) all day. Ugh.
Today I’m feeling a little better had already planned to work from home, so it’s good– I can handle concentrating on work stuff, it’s just the sitting at my desk thing that isn’t going to work for me. I’m currently in yoga pants, on the couch, with my laptop.
But honestly besides not feeling well, I’m also SO FRUSTRATED. I used to NEVER get sick (well not never, but only like once every 2 years). In the past year, I’ve been sick at least 5 times. I am starting to get so angry about it. I eat lots of fruits and veggies, I exercise, and I take my vitamins, so what gives?
Well, I thought about what’s changed in my lifestyle and I’m pretty sure that I’m getting sick because of all the SITTING I’ve been doing the past two years. I complain insessently about my long commute and it’s not just the boredom factor, it really does make me feel awful (it takes me 2.5 hours total each day). I used to walk 3 miles each way to work and it was the best two hours of my day. I could clear my head, get some fresh air, and stretch my legs. I’m pretty sure it kept me healthy too. Now I sit in the car only to get to work and sit all day in front of the computer (with no fresh air in our office, btw). I usually get outside for a walk, but it’s only 30 minutes or so.
Even Dr. Oz says sitting can make you sick. And this article too.
It’s no secret or surprise, nothing new. People have been talking about the negatives of sitting for a while now. Frankly, I’m so sick of it (no pun intended), but it’s one of those things that I don’t know how to fix (yes I could move or find a new job, but those are more complicated solutions and I won’t get into it on the blog). Our culture has gotten so sitting-focused. I can try for more walks or a future job that doesn’t involve so much sitting, but we’ll see.
Anyway– enough venting about that. Today, I’m sipping kobucha, popping tylenol, and answering emails. At least my immune system is good enough that I should be better by tomorrow. Fingers crossed.
– How often do you get sick?
– How many hours do you sit per day?
– What are your sick home rememdies that I can do to get better soon?
– Do you ever accidentally answer the phone when you’re sleeping? I usually do….luckily, it’s usually close friends or family late at night, so they don’t judge if I’m incoherent.
24 Comments on Sitting Makes Me Sick
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[...] for listening to me whine yesterday. All your comments were so sweet! I’m much better today. I started yesterday with an extra [...]
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Alex @ therunwithin
October 25, 2012 at 7:30 am (211 days ago)oh no! i hate being sick so i feel ya on it. take some rest and feel better soon!
Rebecca
October 25, 2012 at 7:55 am (211 days ago)thanks!
Michelle @ Eat Move Balance
October 25, 2012 at 8:34 am (211 days ago)Sorry to hear you’re feeling so awful! That’s no fun at all.
I think part of the sitting thing is not getting enough fresh air. We’re stuck inside so often . . . I always notice how much better I feel when I spend more time outside, even if it’s just walking between the buildings I work by going through the parking lot, rather than staying in the hallways. I also try and make a conscious effort to take the long way to a meeting every once in a while, just to get MOVING.
Hope you’re feeling better soon!
Rebecca
October 25, 2012 at 9:25 am (211 days ago)totally agree….i need more fresh air and should probably take my workouts outside instead of in the gym more often
Richard
October 25, 2012 at 8:43 am (211 days ago)You still look beautiful to me. Get some rest this weekend.
Rebecca
October 25, 2012 at 9:24 am (211 days ago)thanks, dad
Brittany
October 25, 2012 at 9:07 am (211 days ago)Ohh noo!! I hope you feel better soon. I never ever get sick (knock on wood) and was sick maybe once this year. I tend to only get sick when I am around someone else who is sick..blech!! Drink lot’s or tea and PACK yourself with Vitamin C!! And SLEEP! AND WATER WATER WATER!
Rebecca
October 25, 2012 at 9:25 am (211 days ago)yes, water is soooo key! and thanks
aftertheivyleague
October 25, 2012 at 11:03 am (211 days ago)If it makes you feel any better, I’ve been sick on and off for the past month too (and I never get sick either). And this past month, I’ve actually been sitting less, having two days a week at school allows me to walk around more from class to class, rather than office work where I’m at my desk for 8-10/hours a day (similar to you). I think in my case it was not getting enough sleep that did it to me.
That commute sounds awful! I had one like that two years ago, and only lasted a few months before I moved. Couldn’t stand it, hopefully you figure something out and feel better!
Rebecca
October 25, 2012 at 5:29 pm (210 days ago)That does make me feel better….maybe it’s sleep related to me too, or maybe it just happens sometimes. Hope you feel better and stop getting sick!
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
October 25, 2012 at 11:43 am (211 days ago)Awwr sorry to hear that you’re not feeling the best, hun. I used to get sick at least twice a year but it’s been a good 5 or 6 years since I’ve caught anything, which I’m so freakin’ thankful for. I definitely think that staying active keeps us healthy, but it’s also a good idea to keep our stress levels in check and get enough sleep. I know those things both contribute to a lowered immune system, so rest up and relax! Oh, and lots of water and vitamin C. You’ll be good as new in no time
Natalie @ Free Range Human
October 25, 2012 at 12:15 pm (210 days ago)I’m so sorry you’re sick! I think that’s a really interesting theory though. I know sitting all day long makes me lethargic and have way less energy. I’m sure you hated to give up a 3 mile walk for a driving commute (which sounds awful, by the way!!).
Stacie @ Snaps and Bits
October 25, 2012 at 1:50 pm (210 days ago)Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that you’re sick and have been getting sick. Boo, no fun! From what you are saying, my guess would be stress has something to do with it, since you have a hard commute now etc. and you didn’t used to get sick. Feel better soon!
moderngirlnutrition
October 25, 2012 at 2:47 pm (210 days ago)Hope you feel better soon! Kombuchas always help out my colds- maybe its just mental, though:)
eatpraytri
October 25, 2012 at 3:47 pm (210 days ago)So sorry you aren’t feeling well! Hopefully you will be back to normal soon. I think sitting is probably a huge part of it. I used to sit so much (commute, work) until recently and I think it has a lot to do with overall health.
Change of Pace
October 25, 2012 at 6:09 pm (210 days ago)Brutal- sorry you’re sick. You’re commute sounds tough. I think offices are little germ boxes. I sit for way too long each day, too. I’ve looked into standing desks, but I think they’re too expensive for my work to pay for!
Get better soon!
Jorie
October 25, 2012 at 9:25 pm (210 days ago)Rebecca, this post came at such an opportune time. I am going on two years in my first “real” job since I graduated college, i.e. the first desk job where I sit for 8 hours a day. It simply cannot be healthy. I walk a portion of my commute to work, so I squeeze in two miles total, but that’s just not enough exercise, even with the gym. Especially when, right after college, I waitressed so I was on my feet nonstop, sometimes for 10 hours. (It was agony). I wonder if you’re onto something about the correlation between sedentary jobs and sickness.
Some co-workers of mine have taken to using standing desks all day.
Theresa @ aspoonfulofsunshine
October 25, 2012 at 10:59 pm (210 days ago)I totally believe this! In high school I was sick ALL the time because I was sitting down for a solid 8 hours a day. Now that I’m in college I make myself walk or bike to class and rarely ever drive in a car. I’ve also taken to studying at a standing desk (LOVE) and I think it is really balancing out the sitting I’m forced to do in class. Honestly I think the best remedy for getting over being sick is sleep. Rest up girl!
Melissa
October 26, 2012 at 3:04 am (210 days ago)I’m sorry you’re not feeling well girl. I’m like you…never get sick (my husband says he only recalls me getting sick once in the 10 years we’ve been together, lol). Anyway, I hope you feel better soon and make having the weekend to really rest will help! Also…I swear by kombucha….I have a few bottles a week…could be a mental thing but I don’t care, haha…I love that stuff…gingerade and gingerberry are my favorites.
happy Friday!
jessielovestorun
October 26, 2012 at 4:20 am (210 days ago)Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear you still hadn’t been feeling well. I hope today you wake up feeling 10x better! Get some rest though girl, and stay away from the gym. you need to relax
Eating 4 Balance
October 26, 2012 at 4:50 am (210 days ago)Man, I hope you feel better soon. I think one of the first side effects of being sick is that people can just “tell.” You are still looking pretty good though for not feeling well. I know when I get sick I basically just die. Haha. No, I get dark circles, my hair is incessantly frizzy and un-kept, and my nose is always red from all of the tissues
Apples and Arteries
October 26, 2012 at 10:19 am (210 days ago)Hope you are feeling better. I drink a lot of hot tea and just plain water when I don’t feel well.
I sit a lot during the day but am lucky I have the commuting walk on the front and back end of my work day.
WhitLikesFit
October 28, 2012 at 7:43 pm (207 days ago)Ug. I’m sick too. I hate it. It’s like I’m on the verge of a cold that won’t turn into a real cold or go away. Hope you feel better soon.
Rebecca
October 29, 2012 at 10:13 am (207 days ago)me too…and it never seems to go away 100% yuck. feel better!