A lot.
And I work on a computer - sitting at a desk - a lot. My back hurts, my legs hurt, I get "tired" in the afternoon and wish I could take a nap. Is this normal? YES! For all of us who work at desks, this is extremely normal. Is this healthy? NO! In cultures where walking all day is the norm, people's bodies seem to be much healthier, stronger, and more youthful. Ever heard of the "Amish secret"? Case in point.
So - I saw this article about treadmill desks and walking while you work. Insert light bulb here! That's it! I love walking. I even walked almost 200 miles in 12 days once - on purpose. (John Muir Trail trip with my husband back in 2004) So - since I am tied to my computer for over 8 hours a day, why not get some exercise at the same time? Why not get the blood flowing - keep the joints lubricated - avoid the afternoon daze?
So the research began - reading blogs, online searches for treadmill desks..."Oh - there's one for $4,000" - little much for my taste. As my husband said, don't buy a Lamborghini if you're just gonna be driving around the block. So I searched Craigslist for a total of 2 days and found a low-end treadmill for $95. Set up some boxes and placed the extra leaf from my dining room table on top and there it was - my new treadmill desk! I'll seek out a more stable shelving solution, but in the meantime, the system works. The level of the keyboard is perfectly ergonomic and the shelf doesn't shake since it is freestanding.
Besides the aches, creaky joints, and afternoon coma, I've got about 20 pounds to lose, so hopefully this will help that goal a bit too - I'll keep track and let you know.
Just got on the scale - make that 30 pounds :(
