President's Message – Brian D. Kelley

"More than 80 percent of the American workforce has a sedentary job that entails sitting pretty much all day long – sometimes for upward of 10 hours at a time with very little intermittent movement. While our ancestors had to walk everywhere to do anything, we've become a nation of butts glued to chairs – and the resulting effect on our bodies hasn’t been pretty (ahem, see pancake butt). The cumulative lack of physical activity throughout the workweek can quickly contribute to unwanted weight gain and changes in shape and endurance – like the inability to walk up a flight of stairs without feeling winded (not to mention health complications like increased risk of stroke and diabetes)." – "11 Ways to Make Your Desk Job Less Sedentary"

Let’s face it, most of us in IT are part of this 80 percent who pretty much sit around all day for prolonged periods of time. Sitting is part of our job requirements whether we like or not. That’s definitely been me for me in my 25 years in the public sector. For most days, my longest walk has been from the parking lot to my desk in the morning and the return trip back at the end of the day. I have had a lot of grandiose dreams over the years of getting up early to workout; however, I have failed at being able to discipline myself to make it routine. My sedimentary lifestyle over the years has taken its toll on me physically and mentally, and I  will admit things had been progressively getting worse. I really wanted to make changes for the better, but I lacked a realistic solution that would work well for me. 

Everything changed for me on January 9, 2016,  when I got a Fitbit. I  was amazed at how it could capture and track my steps, floor climbing, and many other workout related stats. I started moving, stepping and climbing floors at our eight-story county administration building during working hours and after-hours in the building and wherever else I could find places to walk and climb stairs. Fitbit friends invited me to join weekly challenges and I accepted. My name is Brian, and I am now a Fitbit addict! Twenty-seven days later I have taken 270,353 steps, climbed 557 total floors (the Empire State Building is 102 floors), and I have walked 124 miles. Last Friday, I climbed  61 floors at work! On some days  I am burning 5,000 calories easy with my new active lifestyle. In less than a month, I feel better than I ever have, I sleep better, and I am more productive with what I accomplish at my desk and in my life after-hours. I am excited where my steps will have taken me a year from now.  Well, I would like to share more, but I have to get moving ...

 

Brian D. Kelley

President, CGCIO

GMIS International