treadmill desk success

[gusl]

I now have a treadmill desk. The plank is at a perfect height, 10cm below my navel, so typing is very comfortable.

So I've been standing most of the day. I'm planning to walk more when my foot is better. When I get tired enough, I put a chair on the treadmill, but it's too low to be comfortable. NEXT STEP: get the chair to roll away gracefully when I start the treadmill.

Besides setting up the treadmill and the plank (sanded-down plywood, custom cut to 95cm x 31cm), I raised the external monitor to eye level (thanks YellowPages!), and put paper around a lamp that was too close to the monitor, blinding me. Moved several peripherals and cables. Created a pocket on the left heart-rate-handle using duct tape.


NYTimes - Stand up while you read this "Your chair is your enemy"

Seth Roberts on exercise

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Monday, Mar 15: 2:30pm

I burned ~300cal in the last couple of hours. My left leg is hurting a bit, because I'm compensating for my foot injury. I wasn't expecting to get so hot. Had to open the door, which sucks because gardeners are doing noisy work outside.


Monday, Mar 15: 6:51pm

I've been standing since noon. My feet hurt!


Monday, Mar 15: 9:20pm

ow! ow! my feet really hurt!


Pictures uploaded:

Comments

[letters-in-sand.livejournal.com]

intriguing. Post a pic?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_wirehead_/]

+1

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

done.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_wirehead_/]

cool! it looks like you're kind of far from your monitor, though? you don't get eyestrain?

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

I think it's a good distance. It's the monitor that is too small. I intend to fix this.

You're supposed to change your focus often anyway (in this case, I change between laptop and monitor)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_wirehead_/]

second question: do you find it difficult to read the monitor while walking? in other words, it seems to me that walking would add a slight up-and-down motion, and i'm trying to imagine reading a computer screen like that without getting a little seasick.

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

Not at all. The only problem (besides the foot I've pain reported) is that my screen is a bit small.

I do get seasick, but only on boats and cars! er, motion sick.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_wirehead_/]

hmm. yeah, i pretty reliably get motion sick if i try to *read* in a car, or on a plane during turbulence. but it seems to me i've managed to read a magazine on a treadmill in the past...

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

done.

[letters-in-sand.livejournal.com]

sweeeeet. Thanks!

sigh. i've always wanted a treadmill.

[cwarner.livejournal.com]

I'm jealous! Curious how it works for you, too.

[kimlett.livejournal.com]

Good idea!

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

just trying to make sure I don't overdo it... I think I'll listen to the pain. :-)

[cwarner.livejournal.com]

I wonder if you need some good running shoes if you're going to be on your feet that much? I am still so jealous! I also think it's really cool that you actually did this--I've heard it talked about before, but never actually seen anyone try it.

[cwarner.livejournal.com]

Wish I didn't work in an office where the noise of a treadmill wouldn't be tolerated (I suspect this would apply to most offices) :(

[cwarner.livejournal.com]

It's a pity, because I bet I'd be way more efficient. Sitting for long periods of time makes me so tired that it's hard to focus (well, the insomnia is probably related there as well, but exercise is the best defense against poor sleep). Do you find it affects your concentration at all?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_wirehead_/]

yeah, i'm with you on this one. i wish my office could be convinced to invest in standing desks, at least.

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

I only used it for one day. But it was nice to be physically active while thinking about work. I think it helped me stay more focused, but I will need more data.

Boring + Boring = Pleasant!?

<< I’ve noticed several related things: 1. I could easily study flashcards while walking. This was less mysterious because I coded walking as pleasant. 2. I can’ t bear to watch TV sitting down. Walking on a treadmill makes it bearable. This didn’t puzzle me because I coded TV watching as pleasant and sitting as unpleasant (although I sit by choice while doing many other things). 3. I have Pimsler Chinese lessons (audio). I can painlessly listen to them while walking. While stationary (sitting or standing), it’s hard to listen to them. 4. When writing (during which I sit), it’s very effective to work for 40 minutes and then walk on my treadmill watching something enjoyable for 20 minutes. I can repeat that cycle many times. 5. Allen Neuringer found he was better at memorization while moving than while stationary. 6. There’s some sort of movement/thinking connection — we move our arms when we talk, we may like to walk while we talk, maybe walking makes it easier to think, and so on.

You could say that walking causes a "thirst" for learning or learning causes a "thirst" for walking. >>

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

I wanna try it with Vibram Five Fingers!

[darius.livejournal.com]

My feet used to hurt a lot more from walking and standing, before I started taking flaxseed oil daily. If anyone else has seen the same benefit, I haven't happened to hear of it.

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

ah, I ran out of flaxseed oil about a month ago! That explains everything! :-P

Actually, I've never had the habit of standing 7+ hours at a time (with a few short breaks). Quite probably I hadn't done it at all in the last 10 years.

And I have a pre-existing injury in my heel, which is giving me a bad standing posture.

very cool

[(Anonymous)]

looks really neat!! this could totally revolutionize typical desk jobs and make them much healthier
cheers
Geoff (from grouse grind)