Treadmill Desk
How to get Fit without leaving your Office Desk
By Dr. Kristie
Wouldn't it be great if you could get fit and never leave your office desk? It's now possible to do just that with a brand new, cutting edge exercise device.
A clever inventor has designed an exercise device called the "vertical workstation" which is a desk attached to a standard treadmill. This state of the art contraption allows you to get your office work done while walking at a slow pace on the treadmill.
How many calories can you burn in this manner? If you walk at a very slow pace of around 1 mile per hour, you can potentially burn an extra 100 calories per hour. At this rate, you could lose a pound every 35 days since it takes a deficit of 3500 calories to lose a pound. If you walk on your treadmill desk several hours a day, you could lose several pounds each month.
Is there a downside? This treadmill desk doesn't come cheap. It will cost you around $1600. But many would say this is a small price to pay for the convenience and added benefits of exercising while you work.
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It certainly eliminates the excuse of "I don't have time to exercise" and when you consider the cost of a year's gym membership and the price of gas to get there, the cost of a treadmill desk doesn't seem so outrageous.
Should you consider purchasing a vertical workstation? It might be worth the investment if you don't have time to make it to the gym and haven't been successful exercising on your own up to this point. You certainly don't get as intense of a workout as you would if you spent 45 minutes running or walking at a brisk pace, but if you’re unable to do that, this might be the next best thing.
Will the slow walk you perform while working decrease your work productivity? That remains to be seen and probably will vary with the individual.
To see if this technique will work for you without spending the money up front, why not see if you can modify a standard treadmill by adding a light table that will fit over your treadmill securely.
Try doing some of your office work at home using this method and see how you respond. You might find it's just the answer you need to be more physically active. Consider the health benefits of exercise and how good you feel when you're physically fit and start walking.
About the Author
She is a Medical Doctor with a concentration in Family Practice. She also has an undergraduate degree in both Biology and Psychology and masters in Clinical Pathology.
