Desk Excercise

Just started a new (my first) desk job and all of this sitting sucks.   I'm trying to figure out what I can bring in to help keep some level of activity and fitness.  Anyone have any ideas about what could be helpful?

Balance boards, balance balls, forearm trainers, under-desk pedal machinesfinger pincher doodads, etc?

Congrats on the new gig! Just don't let go of the brewing ;-) 

This is a great opportunity to work on your antagonist muscles, specifically forearm extensors. This will help prevent muscular imbalances that lead to tendonitis. 

In order of low-profile to high-profile, depending on how chill everyone at your office is:

- Finger extensions with a broccoli/asparagus rubber band.

- Finger extension and flexion with a Metolius Gripsaver ball. Get the orange (hardest).

- Reverse wrist curls with a dumbbell, balancing your wrist on your knee. Pick a weight you can do ~40 reps with.

- Tyler Twist and the reverse with a Flexbar. Get the generic 21-lb model for ~$12. This will require leaning back from your desk or standing up. You can also do reverse wrist curls with these instead of a dumbbell, pulling longitudinally. This is my absolute favorite prehab/rehab tool, and I earnestly believe everyone who trains or climbs 3+ days a week should own one.

- Shoulder adduction with the Flexbar.

- Rice bucket under the desk.

- Armaid (trigger point as described on their site, not just rolling your forearms)

If any of the squares raise an eyebrow, just tell them you have a chronic case of elbow tendonitis from turning the steering wheel on your three-row SUV as you drive the kids' carpool to soccer practice. ;-) 

Sounds like you already have a standing desk. I upgraded to one last year but I feel the benefits are mainly psychological. I make a concerted effort to run on my lunch breaks, then inhale my food while working on emails or whatever.

If you’ve got a private office, nothing is really stopping you from spending 5 minutes every hour doing any sort of body weight exercise you want (note, I don’t do this, but maybe I should). 

I like to stand on one leg for a bit on one side and then the other.  I have terrible balance so this has helped me improve.  But I work from home and am not sure I’d do it in an office.  Which is kinda funny because it actually helps me be more productive.  That minute of stillness helps me to think about the best way to do something and gets me out of the frenetic energy that I usually feel. 

My wife just got a walking treadmill for under her standing desk.  Makes a huge difference in how she feels and allows her to get steps in during the day at her desk.   

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCV56GCC?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

I use this setup to do repeater-like workouts at my desk. It's only 27.5lbs (20% of bodyweight), but my thought process is that it's better than nothing and is similar to Emil's no hang experiments. Switch the desk to standing and do a workout. Use the jug or 20mm to warm up, then do working sets on the 15mm. There's definitely some potential for weird looks, but it doesn't get in the way of working since I can do email, listen to meetings, and do other stuff during rests. Laps around the outside of the building, laps on the stairwell (if you have one), and doing some light hip mobility stuff also helps to keep me sane.