Don’t Let Sitting All Day Ruin Your Health
This under desk elliptical is here to help.
It goes without saying that we spend a lot of time at our desks: The International Labour Organization has stated that “Americans work 137 more hours per year than Japanese workers, 260 more hours per year than British workers, and 499 more hours per year than French workers.” While that may be great news for our employers, it’s not so great for our health, as sitting for long periods can increase your risk for a whole slew of health issues, including heart disease, weakening of the large leg and gluteal muscles, increased insulin resistance, hip pain, varicose veins, and even cancer. Yikes!
Before you hand in your pink slip, however (gulp!), allow us to direct your attention to an easy solution to your stagnancy woes in the form of the Cubii Pro ($339, Amazon): The under desk elliptical to end all others.
While there are plenty of under desk exercise machines on the market, Cubii stands out from the pack for its unrivaled ability to connect to an app via your fitness tracker or mobile device as the only bluetooth-enabled machine on the market.
That means not only will you be able to get your blood pumping, you’ll be able track your health progress, including your calories burned, distance covered, and minutes and RPMs spent on the machine. Better still, you can “compete” with others on the app or Cubii together TK IS CUBII TOGETHER A THING? as a fun means of motivation.
More importantly, however, you’ll be keeping yourself healthy. A study published in a 2017 issue of WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation by researchers at the University of Illinois found that participants who used a foot-swinging device at their desks to periodically move their feet boosted their metabolism overall. As study lead Craig Horswill told WTTW News, “We found that the swing device elevated metabolism by about 17 percent compared to just sitting and also was above the energy expenditure rate of standing.”
Horswill also noted that those who regularly moved throughout the day would fare better health-wise than those who exercised post-work. “Sitting eight to 11 hours a day at work and then going to exercise for 30 minutes negates the protective effect of that 30 minutes of exercise at the end of the day,” he explained. “You’re kind of back to square one vs. the person that moves around and then does that 30 minutes of exercise, they get a benefit toward lower mortality.”
That’s because moving your legs contracts your muscles, which in turn improves their ability to keep blood sugar levels low and prevent the hardening of blood vessels.
With eight resistance levels to choose from, Cubii’s low-impact under-desk workout allows you the freedom to set a pace and exercise goal that’s comfortable for you. It’s super quiet, so you won’t disrupt your coworkers, and if you have one at home, it can also pull double duty as a quick workout when you’re watching the tube.
Reviewers say it’s “worth every penny” of its high price tag, writing, “The Cubii is small, discreet, has a smooth motion and is pretty much silent, which is a huge advantage in an office. You position it under your desk and it’s right there at your feet so it almost obliged you to use it when you sit at your desk (unlike home fitness equipment that sits forlornly in a corner waiting to be used). The motion feels very natural, and being elliptical you don’t have the problem of knees hitting the underside of your desk.”
Gushed another: “f you prefer to be moving around doing things but are desk bound for long periods of time working then you’ll love Cubii. … The app is fantastic; it’s wonderful to see how other people around the globe utilise their Cubbi. I also like getting the motivational emails which arrive once a week.”
We, for one, are officially sold: Here’s to keeping ourselves in tip-top shape in the New Year!
Where to buy: Cubii Pro ($339, Amazon)
