We’ve all heard that leading a sedentary lifestyle is anything but good for your health. One American YouTuber took this advice to a whole new extreme. He decided to stay on his feet for several days as an act of bringing attention to sitting less. YouTuber Lucas Bell, who also goes by Pigmie online, tracked the results of standing for long periods of time and the impact it can have on your body in a way others have not dared to do before.
Like many of us, Lucas heard standing rather than sitting all day is good for your health. According to the NIH, it is recommended that you stand for two to four hours during work hours. Prolonged sitting can have adverse effects on your health, such as obesity, a higher risk of diabetes, blood circulation issues, hypertension, and more.
As a result of this information, Lucas decided to stop sitting for a week straight – with exceptions. At night, he would still be able to lie down for exactly eight hours. However, he squatted while using the toilet or let his bottom touch the back seat of his car.
The YouTuber said, “Sitting for prolonged amounts of time can result in back pain, spinal dysfunction, joint degeneration, poor posture in the upper back, neck and shoulders, as well as vascular problems in the legs.”
With a standing desk and motivation, he took on the challenge as a stand against constant sitting. Lucas clearly knew that the challenge was going to be tough, but he may not have expected some of the effects he would experience due to prolonged standing.
On day 3 of the challenge, Lucas started to notice a difference in how he felt, but not always from a positive perspective. He shared, “It really hit me in the lower legs and feet. I felt very sore and tired, and I felt like my posture while standing was starting to slack.”
He also noticed that standing more frequently during the day made him hungrier! “Maybe I was hungry from burning extra calories, but one thing I noticed is that when I was eating, it took my mind off of standing up.”
Lucas was practically begging to lay down for sleep at the end of a long day of standing. Because it felt like standing put more pressure on his legs, sleeping actually became more physically uncomfortable. He said that he spent a lot of time simply tossing and turning at night instead of sleeping.
Unfortunately, Lucas wasn’t able to get through the entire week and had to call it off by day 5. He found that, aside from the pain caused by constant standing, he was taking on a slouched-over position. His hip and knees started to hurt, and he said that he gained an entire pound because he felt like he was eating more to take his mind off the daily pain.
All in all, he said this about his future of sitting less and standing more during work hours: “What I think I’m gonna do from here on out is stand up, maybe like first thing when I go to work at the computer for a few hours. When I start to get fatigued, we’ll bring that desk out.”
Lucas is onto something, as standing desks have been known to increase productivity for many and, of course, have amazing health benefits. According to research, they are good for having an overall improvement on your posture, regulating your blood sugar, and enhancing your focus while on the job. However, more than just standing alone is best for your health. By taking regular walk breaks and even stretching, you’re doing your body a world of good.
