Logging long hours at your desk isn't only indicative of hard work -- it can be hard on your body, too. And if you're spending a lot of time on your computer every day, you know it can be a pain. Literally. Slouching forward, shrugging your shoulders upward, and keeping your legs in one position for hours on end are all issues office workers face, and the solution could be as simple sitting in a different chair.

The Henry Works Launch Chair is designed to allow the user to get some stretching and exercise in while at work. On the website, it states, "Combating lack of movement and boredom should be a key goal in office environment design." The Launch Chair lists three specific benefits.

• First, it offers "very ergonomic back and leg support as well as hand position and comfort."
• Additionally, "by pushing with the legs the chair back slides and the seat hinges down so the worker can extend and exercise their lower legs."
• And, "by combining the computer and phone on one rolling platform it allows workers to move about the facility for 'new views.'"

You may not realize it, but your desk could be making you fat.

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Tomorrow is the deadline for my book, The Everything Flat Belly Cookbook. I'm thrilled with Adams Media for hiring me to write it but on occasion, my body has been very angry at them for giving me such a tight deadline. This uber short deadline has caused little Miss Fitzness Trainer to sit for 12 hours at a time with my head buried in my laptop quite often. My brain is thrilled, but my back has been bummed.

The only reason I've survived is because I'm already really good at taking care of my body. I've never had to sit down for such long periods of time as a requirement of my job, but when the side effects of doing so set in ... I knew how to respond.

I imagine a lot of you are stuck at a desk for hours on a daily basis. I feel for you. I also have some ideas to help you survive it without all of the stiff, achy and strained body parts.

On average, kids are bigger these days than they were 10, 20, 30 years ago, so it doesn't make much sense that school kids today are using the same school equipment as the kids from decades ago.

Sure, there are budgets to keep in mind, but over in the UK, recent studies are showing that kids are just too big for their school desks and chairs. Kids are taller, yes, but they're also wider -- and heavier. And not only is this a safety hazard, it's a health hazard -- kids are suffering back pains and other problems because of their too-small chairs, according to the Daily Mail.

So if it's time for new desks, wouldn't it be great if these desks could be worked into the budget?

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Poor posture not only causes you to look 10 pounds heavier and feel less confident ... it also hurts! Check out this video from Stacy McCarthy, the yoga expert from She's Active Health Network. Stacy offers up a few simple stretches you can do anywhere at anytime to get you standing as tall as you should.

For more fun, quick, tips and recipes from degreed experts ...

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We all know sitting at a desk all day doesn't burn up the calories. You already take the stairs and may even do squats in the stall, but here's an idea that allows for maximum efficiency. Burn calories and create a spreadsheet at the same time? Gotta love that. Multi-tasking at its finest!

I used to work in a pharmaceutical company. Safety measures were a major part of day-to-day functioning at that company. There were signs posted all over and emergency medical stations scattered throughout the campus. We'd celebrate when long stretches of time went by without any job-related injuries.

Now that my work consists of sitting in front of a computer all day, I still wish there were signs about potential dangers posted. Sure, we desk jockeys aren't risking our lives ... but there are potential health hazards none-the-less.

Fitness Magazine has five simple exercises you can do from your desk. Try this routine to help keep your shoulders, upper back, thighs, triceps, and more. Want some more ideas? Bethany has 10 more exercises you can do from your desk.

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Blogging is good for the mind and the soul, but don't let anyone tell you it's good for the body. Sure, writing about healthy habits all day long can be inspiring, but blogging itself is a sedentary, solitary task. And if you're a blogger, you're at risk for something called Blogger Bloat -- "a tendency of bloggers and bloghers to gain weight by sitting for long hours in front of computers, snacking on treats! Blogger bloat is a greater risk in the winter, when bloggers tend to choose starchy and comfort snacks," according to this article on Divine Caroline.

Of course, this isn't limited to blogging -- it's something experienced by anyone who spends hours in front of the computer. It could be called writer's waist, typist's tummy or receptionist's rear. Whatever the reason keeping you from getting up and moving around, it's important to find a balance. Avoid blogger bloat and other conditions with these 10 tips.

How do you keep up with blogging and still stay slim?

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Compared to a job like deep-sea welding, working in an office behind a desk seems like a pretty safe career move. You might think that there's little chance for injury, but don't forget that there are still are a few dangers: Weight gain from inactivity, depleted eyesight, poor posture, and let's not forget probability of severe mid-afternoon fatigue.

Divine Caroline has some excellent rules for avoiding some of the dangers of the desk job:

• The 20/20 Rule - Save your eyesight by looking away from your computer every 20 minutes for 20 seconds at something three feet away.
• The Floating Mouse Rule - When moving your mouse, move your whole arm instead of just your wrist.
• The Mini-break Rule - take a 30 to 60 second break every 30 minutes -- use this time to take a short walk or do some stretches.

They have even more excellent tips to share ... click here for more info.

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Offices in England might soon be invaded by weight loss vigilantes, who will conduct weigh-ins, meetings and nutritional seminars, all aimed at getting employees healthy. Weight Watchers UK has developed a scheme aimed at office workers in the UK, and it's expected that at least 500 companies will sign up for the program, according to this article from The Daily Mail.

Mads Ryder, the senior VP of Weight Watchers UK, says there are a number of benefits of helping employees shed excess pounds: "For the employer it will help cut healthcare costs and cut down on the number of days staff are off sick, and I don't think employees will have a problem with taking part. Losing weight makes you more confident about yourself and improves your ability to do your job." As for how they will go about helping employees lose weight, Ryder says, "We are about changing attitudes to food."

I think this is a great idea, but they should expand it by offering fitness classes as well. Do you agree?

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We've all experienced "brain failure," that embarrassing moment when you can't remember something totally mundane and regular -- like how to spell a simple word or where you parked your car. Having a better memory is something pretty much everybody would enjoy, especially when it comes to doing your best at work. Giving your noodle a boost is something you can do in as little as 30 seconds, so there's really no reason you can't fit an exercise or two into your daily routine. Try one of these exercises from Natural Health to get started:

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Most of us have one major problem with exercise: Finding time for it. I know the feeling--between working 8-10 hours a day, spending time with family and trying to run a household, it's difficult, sometimes impossible, to find time to head to the gym. My job is no help--being a writer doesn't exactly burn too many calories.

But they key is trying to find way to work exercise into your everyday life. Weight Loss Journal recently revealed 8 ways to exercise throughout the day, including:

• Sucking in your stomach -- it really does help to tone your tummy, and it makes you look slimmer instantly.
  
• Fidgeting. It helps you burn calories throughout the day.
  
• Taking the stairs at work.
  
• Using a desk exercise machine. You can work away while silently pedalling under your desk. Neat, huh?

Read the rest of the tips here, and when you're done, tell us what you do to work in the workouts.

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Is sitting at a desk all day making you fat? Fitness isn't out of your reach when you're at work -- you just need to be aware of your abs.

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When you go into work tomorrow, take a look all those nooks and crannies in your drawers and cupboards. Chances are, you'll find some surprises: A few candies here, some salty snacks there, maybe with a few cans of soda thrown into the mix? And I know as well as anyone that when you hit that 3 pm wall of fatigue, your defenses are down and you're prone to some unsafe snacking. Don't do it!

Instead, give your snack drawer a much-needed spring cleaning. Don't worry, you don't need to curtail mid-afternoon snacking altogether, but do make sure you pick up some healthy choices. Like?

• Nuts. They're full of protein and will help energize you in the afternoon.
• Dried fruit. Some raisins or dried cranberries will satisfy your sugar cravings and help keep you awake.
  
• Green tea. It's calorie-free and will help give you some much-needed energy.
  
• Dark chocolate. If nothing else tickles your fancy, a little bit of dark chocolate can do wonders for your mood. But make sure you know when to stop.
  

What do you stack in your desk?

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I'm a huge snacker. That whole "several small meals" thing is not a problem for me -- I always find time to eat! But what I don't always do is find healthy things to eat, and when I do (all-too-often) end up snacking on something too salty, too sugary, too processed, or too fattening I always end up feeling it later in the day. It's pretty predictable that within a few hours I'll be feeling lethargic and be finding it hard to focus on work, not to mention (oddly enough) I'll be craving even more junk food. It's a vicious circle in the truest sense.

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