Dead Legs

on July 18, 2011

My butt actually hurts from sitting down all day.

But a sore butt means I had a productive day, right? Right! No, seriously â€“ I do really need to solution to the dead-leg feeling in the middle of the day. Itâ€™s the worst on a rest day after a really hard workout. I try going for short walks or yoga, but no relief. Any ideas?

Snack was Panda Puff, Greek yogurt, blackberries, and sesame seed-coasted almonds.

And a blurry pistachio-covered toffee treat.

And the Husband â€“ thank goodness for the Husband! â€“ he made dinner. Love that man. He didnâ€™t use any Mmmm Sauce, can you imagine that?

Some pre-made tofu, a roasted tomato stuffed with garlic (which was too garlic for me â€“ I thought it was a glob of hummus and had a spicy surprise when I took a bite!), purple potatoes, and leftover green beans.

Okayâ€¦ and Iâ€™ll confess, I smothered it in Mmmm Sauce when he wasnâ€™t looking. Iâ€™m addicted, I tell you!

{ 53 comments }

mary July 18, 2011, 10:24 pm
the hus just doesnt appreciate the mmmmm!
Victoria (District Chocoholic) July 18, 2011, 10:29 pm
You could start the first organized Mmmmmmmmmm Sauce 12-step program.

For dead legs syndrome, I do self massage on my quads – just run the heels of my hands up and down my thighs a few times. Repeat as necessary.
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen July 18, 2011, 10:33 pm
Is that pistachio treat from TJ’s? I have a whole box of them right now from there. So good! although they are very rich and give me a stomach ache if I eat more than 2. probably shouldn’t be eating more than 2 anyway 😉
- Caitlin July 19, 2011, 9:30 am
  yes, sooo delish.
Steph @ A Life without Ice Cream July 18, 2011, 10:35 pm
I get the same feeling… and I work a desk job! I never realize it until I’m in an all day meeting because I always get up at least once every 45 min to get water (or get rid of water :P) or to go to the printer etc. But when I work from home (aka where people won’t judge me) I thrown on a good song every so often and just dance it out in my office to wake up my ass.

Its a good stress reliever too 🙂
Janelle July 18, 2011, 10:36 pm
Try sitting on an exercise ball! I sit on one and it definitely helps me focus, tightens up my core, and keeps me from having to get up and walk every 30 minutes.
CheezyK July 18, 2011, 10:36 pm
Ha! I nearly laughed out loud when I read the last two sentences – possibly a sign of exactly how slow my day is going here 🙂 I must find some purple potatoes to try too, they look delish. Note to self – stop reading so many food related blogs, half an hour until lunch just seems too long …

Personally I find that getting up and down a lot during the day (fridge for water, photocopier, printer, bathroom etc) is enough to help keep the dead leg away. More than an hour straight in the one spot though and I’m done …
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table July 18, 2011, 10:38 pm
I get the dead leg too. My only relief has been to get up and work from a standing position – this is especially effective if you can work from Starbucks (or home) where there is a bar that’s perfect height for standing. 🙂
Holly @ The Runny Egg July 18, 2011, 10:38 pm
Dead legs syndrome — no clue. I’d love to know if you figure it out though!
SarahC July 18, 2011, 10:44 pm
I feel your pain! I really want to get a Treadmill Desk!!!
- Caitlin July 19, 2011, 9:30 am
  Do they have those????
  - SarahC July 19, 2011, 11:05 am
    Yeah! They’re expensive (of course) but it would be worth it if you could swing it. I didn’t want to post the link in case it looks like spam – but you can google TrekDesk. That was the original one, I think, but there are others. I also like Janelle’s suggestion of sitting on a stability ball. I think I’ll get one for my office (cheaper than the TrekDesk). 🙂
Jamie@everydaydolce July 18, 2011, 10:44 pm
When I feel like my legs are dead, I usually use my foam roller to massage them a bit. Or I take a short, brisk walk to “shake” out some of the soreness.
That dinner looks awesome, yay for husbands cooking dinner! 🙂
Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) July 18, 2011, 10:50 pm
Haha…the food addiction! At least it’s a good one, right?! Ya gotta love a man that cooks for you. Definitely a keeper!
Baking N Books July 18, 2011, 11:03 pm
I always have a beautiful, plain healthy dinner…and then I drown it in tomato sauce, cheese and hummus…meh, there are worst things – right? I hope…oika.

As for dead legs/but – oh GOD – I feel your pain – as in literally. It really, really sucks too because it actually makes me feel more stiff and sore and even going for a walk doesn’t “un-kink” me. I end up not being productive cause I just can’t sit for long…have you tried standing up while you work sometimes? Like get a tall counter or desk perhaps? I don’t know…I’m trying to devise a way to lie in a hammock and have a Monkey hang my laptop from a tree or something…it can totally happen. 😉
Amanda July 18, 2011, 11:05 pm
I served my husband Mmmm Sauce for the first time tonight. He had no comments lol
- Caitlin July 19, 2011, 9:31 am
  Did he not like it????? BLASPHEMY.
kalli@fitandfortysomething July 18, 2011, 11:10 pm
i feel the same way about tahini…..i can put it on anything and the hus is so sick of it!
Jenny July 18, 2011, 11:13 pm
I love those honey covered almonds from TJs! delicious.
I don’t get dead legs but I do get a numb butt so every so often I will give them a little squeeze.
Katie @ peacebeme July 18, 2011, 11:44 pm
Hate that feeling! It’s seriously a huge trigger for me, it makes me dwell on how I’ve been lazy, even if I have been working hard on something else!
Casey July 18, 2011, 11:47 pm
I have got to try this MMM sauce! Numb butt sucks. I think you seriously need to walk around for like 5 minutes once an hour. I have to pee that often anyway so it works for me, haha.
Jessica @ The Process of Healing July 19, 2011, 12:09 am
That cereal.. omg. I got sucked into buying some the other day and well, I’m kind of in love.
Mama Pea July 19, 2011, 12:41 am
I love you. Suck it, husband. (I keeed.)
Kate (What Kate is Cooking) July 19, 2011, 12:58 am
I hate that feeling- I always get it after a long car ride!
Christine @ BookishlyB July 19, 2011, 1:06 am
Squats. Seems counter-productive, but it works for me.
Jen July 19, 2011, 1:11 am
Oh, so now you’re SNEAKING the Mmmm sauce… This stuff must seriously be good. Must try, but hope I will not have to enter a twelve-step program! 🙂
Emily @ Comfortable Home Life July 19, 2011, 1:12 am
Seriously, is there anything Mmmm sauce DOESN’T go on?

I had the dead arm feeling today as I started the New Rules program. I have a sneaking suspicion it’s going to kick my butt! And my arms!
Rachel @ Eats, Sweats, Peas July 19, 2011, 1:33 am
Yaaaa, I’m hooked on the Mmmm Sauce now too. I’ve been arranging meals around what would go good with the Mmmm Sauce.

I had purple potatoes too! For lunch today. And I drenched them in Mmmm Sauce. 🙂
Jackie @ That Deep Breath July 19, 2011, 1:43 am
The pistachio toffee treat looks delish, where’s it from?
I need to try Mmmm sauce!
Brittany P.S. July 19, 2011, 3:13 am
Our Cross-Country Coach has us alternate hot tub/bath, and cold tubs, 2 minutes each, on the weekends after our long trail runs to flush out the lactate, not sure if that’s possible for you, but it does wonders. I also do desk yoga stretches.. because I have a yoga ball as my chair. and desk dips.. and desk crunches.. don’t ask how.
Aine @ Something to Chew Over July 19, 2011, 4:39 am
Do you use a foam roller? That really helps me, I think it’s improved my circulation and loosened up my muscles. And I stand as much as possible – sitting is the new smoking!
- Caitlin July 19, 2011, 9:32 am
  Oh good idea. I have one, I should bust it out in the middle of the day.
Amanda July 19, 2011, 4:44 am
You really are going to turn into mmm sauce! lol
Cassie @ Back to Her Roots July 19, 2011, 6:11 am
DESK SETS.

It is totally cheesy. TOTALLY. But in my office, we just keep it in our DVD drive and 3-4 times a day we do one of the 5 minute sets. It is enough to get us moving and get our blood pumping. We even sometimes will make the whole office do one before a big long meeting.

We just check it out from the library. There isn’t big demand for it, so we just keep on checking it out.
- Caitlin July 19, 2011, 9:33 am
  Hahah the cover of Desk Sets is awesome.
Khushboo July 19, 2011, 6:11 am
Why have I not made this sauce yet, I think this needs to change asap!
Jumanah @ Healthy Living in the Middle East July 19, 2011, 6:13 am
I really need to try mmmmm sauce- I’ve heard so many amazing things about it.
Lauren July 19, 2011, 6:58 am
I hate that feeling of dead legs from sitting too long. I usually bring the foam roller in the office when I have days like that. Always works! 🙂
Ash @ Good Taste Healthy Me July 19, 2011, 7:50 am
It’s soooo hard when working at an office, esp after a tough workout day. I try to get up every couple hours to get more water or hit the restroom. It gets me moving around a little bit!
Molly @ RDexposed July 19, 2011, 7:54 am
HAHAHA!! I do cubicle workouts and hope no one can hear my chair squeeking!!
Christina July 19, 2011, 8:48 am
Stretching really well in the evening after a race/ big workout and in the morning helps… but the best thing is compression hose! You can get the athletic compression gear but I just use old-people compression stockings. A little hot this time of year but they work! You also might consider them for all the travel you do- stave off varicose veins down the road.
- Caitlin July 19, 2011, 9:33 am
  Oh I have some compression socks. I wonder where they are…. hmmm.
Sara @ OurDogBuffy July 19, 2011, 8:53 am
I work at a desk job. I just try to get up periodically–I take the stairs to get water or take the long way to the bathroom. It doesn’t bother me too much.
Savannah(Sweet and Savvy) July 19, 2011, 8:59 am
Yay for cooking husbands!:) That dinner looks great

. Gotta try some mmm sauce!
Andrea @ Onion in My Hair July 19, 2011, 9:11 am
Oh my gosh…that Office Workouts picture made me LOL – in the middle of MY office!

Gotta love SomeeCards!!
Jin July 19, 2011, 10:08 am
omigosh Caitlin- all your Mmm Sauce talk is driving me over the edge! I’m itching to try it! I ordered nutritional yeast online and it is taking its sweet little time getting here. Argh.

Have a good day!
Anne P July 19, 2011, 11:35 am
You need to create a standing up desk like I did! 🙂 http://www.fannetasticfood.com/2011/05/13/one-small-change-i-made-to-improve-my-health/
Ashley July 19, 2011, 11:55 am
Caitlin! I have been reading about your love of Mmmm Sauce for forever but never made it…until last night! I did your green version with the spinach, and oh. my. word. So good!
Avery July 19, 2011, 12:12 pm
Ahhh I hate that dead-leg feeling. Some days I have to sit at work for 8 hours and I HATE it! My boyfriend won’t take me seriously. Sitting down for 8 hours sucks. I would much rather be on my feet all day and feel tired. At least like I was moving around than on my butt all day.
Amber K July 19, 2011, 12:32 pm
I really want one of those adjustable desks. That way you can alternate between standing and sitting, since doing etiher for too long isn’t good. But of course, as is everything else I want in life, it is super expensive!
- Amber K July 19, 2011, 12:32 pm
  either*
Emily July 19, 2011, 4:50 pm
What are you sitting on?

Your desk chair should be adjustable so that your feet are on the floor at the right height with a 90 degree angle at your knees. You also need proper back support. And arm rests to match your desk height are good too. With the right chair everything gets properly supported so hurting yourself is less common. Also pay attention to the height of the monitor you work with – too low or too high can cause you to have weird posture.

Also make sure you take regular breaks – just get up and walk around a bit. Every 40 minutes or so I get up and move at work.

I have palindromic rheumatism which affects my back and knees especially, and making sure my chair is properly adjusted and I take breaks helps keep it away. If I don’t observe this stuff I end up in lots of pain very fast.
- Caitlin July 19, 2011, 4:55 pm
  This is great advice, thank you Emily!

Previous post: Triathlon FAQs Answered

Next post: The Daily Chore Calendar