Sitting is the new smoking

Against all odds,  “Coaches Corner“ is back! The early line was one-and-done, so we’ve exceeded expectations.

A special thanks goes out to our New Eastside editors and their apparent,  but appreciated, lapse in judgment.

Now, on to our topic this month — and I hope you are not sitting down when you read this.

Recent studies suggest that too much sitting is bad for your health.

I heard one expert say it in rather striking terms: ”Sitting is the new smoking.” Bad for the heart. Bad for the digestive system. Bad for blood circulation. To sum it up: just plain bad.

Now don’t take this personally, but sometimes we acquire activity-challenged habits without thinking. No worries, Coach’s Corner is here to help.

Here are some examples of the phenomenon known as, don’t sit, stand!

Waiting for a table at our favorite restaurant (my next book could be titled, “Waiting at Wildberry’s”). Here’s the key. You’re going to be sitting during your entire meal, so why not walk around, move about, or at least get up and stretch while you wait

Waiting to board a flight at the airport. You’re going to sit on the plane, sometimes for three or four hours. It makes no sense to sit before bording.

You’re at a play, or concert or movie and you got there a bit early. Don’t sit and wait — you will be sitting during the entire show.  Get up and circulate. Walk the halls a bit.  Whatever it takes.

There are many other examples, but hopefully you get the point. The old coach is just trying to keep you as healthy as possible.

Remember how Groucho Marx answered the question “what happened to your get up and go?“

“I think It got up and went,” he said.