Building a treadmill desk

[cirquelover]

A creative design at that.


So Moonie......how goes the workout?

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by cirquelover

So Moonie......how goes the workout?

Rocky but I'm still here writing this while walking.

After getting off to a good start I was sidelined with a muscle pull (not related to the treadmill desk thank you very much NA). It sidelined me for a much longer than I expected. While I was fine walking about, prolonged treadmill use was causing a dull pain that made it very hard to concentrate and work effectively.

Also while that was going on there were some political issues I had to deal with. "Oh no! Think of the liability if he breaks his neck", "How come he gets one and I don't", "He won't get any work done", etc.... People suck.

I have now put all that behind me. The leg seems to be fully healed and the voices of the critics have been squashed. I'm working to build back up my daily mileage count while also doing Tae Kwon Do a couple of times a week.

Health wise I can say I see a definite difference when I am walking. Rather than tiring me out I have more energy later into the night. Also I am losing a steady one pound per week as long as I average at least three miles a day.

I have returned to making regular update to my signature line. 2.2 Miles yesterday.

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

Rather than tiring me out I have more energy later into the night.

Hence the muscle pull?

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

Hence the muscle pull?

Indirectly perhaps....

Originally Posted by Me from a few posts ago...

Apparently a sixteen year layoff from martial arts training, combined with putting on 40+lbs has a disadvantageous effect on ability. During the second workout I yammied a hammie up something fierce, to the point where bending enough to put on a sock became a major accomplishment for the day. To say the least, my treadmill has not look appealing for the last few days.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

I have returned to making regular update to my signature line. 2.2 Miles yesterday.

Yeah, but you're still over 8-1/2 years from making it back out here. I am trying to decide if that is too slow or too soon.

[Promo-Man]

That is a great side benefit

[Strangler Lewis]

Sue! Sue! Sue!

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

Sue! Sue! Sue!

Originally Posted by Article

The treadmill, which costs around 4,500 dollars for a base model, never exceeds a speed of three kilometers (two miles) per hour, which according to the manufacturer allows most people to use it for a few hours each day.

Heh, what a rip. I built mine for about 1/4 of that and I can still use it for jogging should I ever care to.

[catfiend]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

Heh, what a rip. I built mine for about 1/4 of that and I can still use it for jogging should I ever care to.

Note that there are less expensive alternatives to the Walkstation. I don't have a treadmill and I have no interest in running so I'm looking at one called the Tread Desk. The treadmill is designed to paired with a more or less regular standing desk or with an adjustable one that they sell. I also like the fact that you can kick it up to a faster walk for times when you're not trying to really work.

What do you like most about working on a treadmill desk? What do you like least? Just trying to get all of the information I can before making my own decision.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by catfiend

What do you like most about working on a treadmill desk? What do you like least? Just trying to get all of the information I can before making my own decision.

There is a lot of good. I tend to stay more focused and as a result the day goes faster and I get more done. The more I walk the better I feel. I sleep better and overall have more energy. That effect could be physical or just in my head but I don't really care much which it is. The effect is real. I do know that (as mentioned above) I can walk a lot farther in the real world without discomfort since I started used the Treadmill desk.

There are some down sides....
If I'm working on a very detailed/thorny problem then walking turns into a distraction and I have to go back to the desk. So don't think you can just get rid of your old desk and chair.

To ease moving between the desk and treadmill, I setup an a/b switch-box for the monitors and attached and extra USB keyboard/mouse. I have also picked up a pair of cheap radio-shack brand wireless headphones so I can rock out and not get tangled up in wires.

Some days I just don't feel like walking and have to live with the guilt.

Co-workers have a wide range of reactions (geek, dork, wow, where can I get one....) and I had quite the fight against the evil forces of management that were sure this radical idea would cause the complete collapse of western civilization.

Design wise, you need to be able to rest your forearms level on the desktop to give you adequate support for typing and mouse moving. If you scroll back up you will see the design I came up with has a 'U' shaped cutout and was custom built to match my height.

I have settled in at 1.2mph as the pace I use. Any faster and I have trouble typing or start sweating. I expect it also helps that I am able to set the temp in my office. I keep it at about 68-69 degrees. On the plus side most visitors don't stay around too long.

Overall I rate it five stars - double plus good, how in the hell did I ever live without it.