We’ve long been advised that standing is beneficial for our health, but one man who refrained from sitting for an entire week experienced some unexpected changes to his body.
Research has shown that reducing or even interrupting prolonged sitting with periods of standing can enhance blood circulation, metabolism, heart health, mental well-being, and even extend lifespan.
In fact, modeling studies indicate that replacing just one hour of sitting with standing each day can lower cholesterol levels.
One individual decided to push this idea further by taking on the challenging task of not sitting down for an entire week.
YouTuber pigmie set the rule of allowing himself eight hours of sleep each night, giving him a break from standing.
However, during his waking hours, he remained on his feet.
Pigmie explained in his video that “the average American sits for around 9.5 hours every single day,” prompting him to break this habit.
To facilitate his work during the experiment, pigmie invested in a standing desk.
Initially, pigmie’s views on standing were quite positive, but his perspective changed when he faced the challenge of using the bathroom.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYZmNr_RPwY
“I felt like things were comfortably moving in the right direction,” he commented, only to realize that defecating without sitting down was awkward and difficult.
As the week continued, pigmie’s enjoyment of sleep grew as standing became increasingly strenuous.
He experienced joint pain, extreme fatigue, and even developed a poor posture similar to many who work from home.
The week had its ups and downs, with pain levels varying.
By the end of the week, pigmie noticed he had gained around one pound.
This finding might be unexpected, but pigmie mentioned in his video that he was “always hungry” during the week.
Consequently, he consumed more food than usual.
His bowel movements also changed, with pigmie noting, “I felt like my digestion was so much better with more standing up in the day. It just seemed like things got moving faster and smoother.”
After comparing his posture before and after the experiment, pigmie found that he had developed a significant upper body slouch.
Conversely, he observed an improvement in the shape of his lower spine.