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At what point on life can we start tk exclhde ourselves from the health advice given to the general population?

(56 Posts)
j08 Fri 18-Oct-13 12:21:32

In the newspapers recently "experts" (hmm) have been announcing that we should all stand up for at least three to five hours every day. We could then expect to live an extra three years.

Given the fact that if I was on my feet for that length of time every day, I would be too knackered to enjoy life in general, and the fact that those three extra years would most likely be spent in an old folks' home (think group exercises and community singing) is it worth it?

gracesmum Fri 18-Oct-13 23:01:41

Just ask teachers, hairdressers, shop assistants, nurses, doormen and all the other jobs which involve long hours standing and see if they agree with Michael Mosley! The Addenbrooke's report should have been issued as a health warning to all contemplating this type of work (e.g. me 43 years ago!). #wiseaftertheevent

merlotgran Fri 18-Oct-13 23:00:57

Well, they'd know all about standing still for four hours. They have plenty of research material in A&E.

Aka Fri 18-Oct-13 22:55:27

leg problems caused by standing

This is a reputable report from Addenbrookes. I can see the benefits to standing up and moving about (some call this walking) more. But I honestly cannot see any advantage in just standing still for long periods of time and the link below seems to highlight problems too. thlconfused

gracesmum Fri 18-Oct-13 22:08:45

Hence the " " Nonu ,
Gracesmum

Deedaa Fri 18-Oct-13 21:38:08

There was a rather attractive personal trainer on television this morning who said housework only counted if you were having to make an extra physical effort. If it was stuff you normally waft around doing then it wasn't particularly good as exercise.
The main point about standing up seems to be the reduction in blood glucose. While this is a good thing it's not something you can feel happening. No body rushes round saying "Wow! I can feel my blood glucose evening out" do they?

Nonu Fri 18-Oct-13 21:03:15

Did not think you liked the word "Hubby" , Gracemum

NannaAnna Fri 18-Oct-13 20:27:31

It makes sense to me. I've always felt much more comfortable standing and hate jobs where I've had to sit down all the time. My body feels much happier standing. Sitting causes the aches and stiffness! (Quickly counteracted by a few yoga poses). Now that I'm retired I do most of my freelance work on the laptop standing up instinctively - especially in the morning. Why would I chose to sit when I've just spent 8 hours lying down?
Just listen to your body and do what it tells you it wants to do wink

gracesmum Fri 18-Oct-13 20:14:45

You can tell that a "little light housework" is a good thing as all the professional men around can't wait to do it.
How good is "hubby" in that area, Nonu?

Nonu Fri 18-Oct-13 18:05:09

I think it must , Aka.

[thl grin]

Aka Fri 18-Oct-13 18:00:30

I stand up to vacuum, dust, clean work surfaces and windows, to iron, hang out washing, change beds, chop vegetables, cook, etc....so does this count? [Hmm]

Ariadne Fri 18-Oct-13 17:48:49

I agree, Flickety! And I would rather do a little light exercise than a little light housework of any sort.

Nonu Fri 18-Oct-13 17:43:45

A little light !! housework is a good thing IMO , as it keeps one on the move !!!!!!

blow what the "Experts" say !!

smile

FlicketyB Fri 18-Oct-13 17:37:32

I always feel relaxed about ignoring all health advice I find inconvenient because I know that within ten years further research will show that the initial advice was completely wrong.

The obesity epidemic is now being blamed on the campaign to make us reduce the amount of fat we consume because when the fat was reduced it was replaced by sugars and refined carbohydrates that are far more likely to be turned into fat than the fat we originally ate.

Anyway that was one bit of advice I always ignored and I will continue to put butter on my (granary) bread and sometimes add a decent bit of full fat hard cheese to it. I did it when I was told I was putting my health at risk and I will certainly continue to do it now I know it is good for me.

Anne58 Fri 18-Oct-13 17:26:07

Now why did I immediately think of this?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ew7Zkkucos8

petallus Fri 18-Oct-13 16:59:43

I think it only doesn't count in terms of weight reduction which isn't the same thing as being fit.

Jendurham Fri 18-Oct-13 15:23:45

Sorry, Eloethan but an article in today's Guardian says housework doesn't count.

Lona Fri 18-Oct-13 15:19:55

I stood up full time for 14 years, behind a bar, and now my knees and hips are suffering for it, so no thanks!
I intend to sit down as much as I like now.

Eloethan Fri 18-Oct-13 15:12:52

I think it's tiring just standing and I'm reasonably fit but the steep stairs leading out of our local tube station nearly finish me off.

j08 Fri 18-Oct-13 15:01:00

this is the article

Eloethan Fri 18-Oct-13 14:44:29

Suggesting that people "stand up" for three hours a day seems a bit silly but I do think that keeping active - even if it's only doing a bit of light housework or taking a short walk if one is able - is advisable. People with chronic pain have reported benefits from doing gentle exercise, even when sitting down, building up what they do gradually. Tai chi is supposed to be very physically (and mentally) beneficial.

I think the problem is that it's easy to get out of the habit of exercising regularly. I used to do 30 minutes of an exercise tape before I went to work, three mornings a week. I felt much better for it but, over time, got out of the habit and - I think as a consequence of this - have more aches and pains and am generally more prone to stiffness and sore muscles.

merlotgran Fri 18-Oct-13 14:42:00

All I can say that since I'm no longer on my feet all day teaching, I no longer have constant pain from a fallen arch, weak Achilles tendon and although I still have painful knees, my retirement means I can pace myself during the day thereby getting more exercise (mostly gardening and dog walking) so, therefore, I'm fitter.

I think it's nonsense.

gracesmum Fri 18-Oct-13 14:30:26

Good thinking kitty!!!!! thlgrin

kittylester Fri 18-Oct-13 14:19:07

I think one can stop taking notice of any health advice given as soon as it's been read. thlgrin

annodomini Fri 18-Oct-13 13:48:27

Last night's 'Trust Me I'm a Doctor' (BBC1) did and experiment with employees of an estate agency. They got rid of their chairs and worked standing up. Most of them thought they had benefited from it and some even said that they would continue to work this way. They were, however, mainly young and fit(ish).

Tegan Fri 18-Oct-13 13:26:03

That's what I thought gracesmum [threw my chair out at work years ago because it was scuffing my shoes]. For once a health headline that makes me feel good rather than being on the slippery slope [mind you am no longer standing up for half the day now]. And they didn't mention the varicose veins/standing up link either. But it was probably the standing that was making me tired which resulted in me retiring; however I always said I could never do a job that meant sitting down all day in front of a computer [which is what I'm doing now that I've retired blush].