I have longed for a treadmill desk ever since Michael Hyatt tweeted a video about his. I don’t think I’ve eaten a piece of bread since 1979 in my constant search for caloric stasis yet it turns out, even working out daily and eating healthy isn’t enough to keep my metabolism on par with where it needs to be. The latest studies coming out show that your metabolism is damaged by sitting too much during the day and people who sit longer die earlier (eeek!). Though I am often up and down between my desk and the soap lab, when I’m in the office, it’s a sedentary existence. After seeing the metabolism study, I got serious about getting a treadmill desk.
After much planning and budgeting, I started watching Craiglist for used gym-quality treadmills. In my research, I was told several times that for walking slowly for hours a day would be taxing on any motor (which made no sense to me but to be fair, my degree is in psychology and I’ve never been great with mechanics). Since I needed a big motor, it took a while to find a treadmill that had a huge motor without costing a huge bundle. I finally found a refurbished Precor Treadmill, just like the ones at my gym. It’s a huge monster of a beast. It took 4 guys and a forklift to unload it.
Here’s a blog poston how to build your own $39 desk to put on your treadmill. Or the fantastic cabinet maker that built mine said he is happy to share the plans for a nominal fee. Either way, if you work in an office and you’d like to burn calories while you work and yes, even live longer, start saving your pennies to save your life.
Hello, can you post more photos? I would love to make this, but am not sure how it attaches. If you can send me some photos from the bottom of the attachment or let me know what you purchased to attach it, I’d really appreciate it. I’m going to try to make one this weekend!!
Thank you.
I’m actually out of the office so no extra photos right now but in the second photo, do you see the screws poking out from the bottom?
Treadmills all come with ‘arms’ that are usually used for stabilizing runners who are walking or want arm rests. I took the arms off and was left with just these little landing pads that the treadmill arms normally would screw into.
I then screwed in the wooden platform to where the arms would normally go. It was super simple and does the trick.
Just make sure whatever treadmill you have has two screw holes so you can mount your fake desk. =)
Awesome!! I wanted to figure out how to do this for years!! I’d be interested in the plans for the desk for sure!! Let me know how I could get them.
I just bought a used treadmill (commercial grade, super heavy duty) and pulled the arms off and then attached a wooden platform to put my laptop on. The wooden platform part is just a cheap piece of wood cut in the size/shape of a handy little desk and then screwed in where the arms on the treadmill attach. =)
I use it every day! I can easily force myself to use it for multiple hours just by downloading all my daily emails onto it =)
With so much research coming out about working sitting down this seems like a great means of combating, well, seats in general I guess.
Have you kept it up and still manage to use this thing?
I wanna find more info about this, anybody could?
I built one about a month ago, used treadmill, old folding table, a 2×4, a tie-down strap and some packing foam. Not gorgeous, but so far so good. Love it, and I feel *so* much better not sitting all day. Here’s the link: http://livingsmallblog.com/201…
Typing is super simple. Writing … meh, not so much. I can’t write and walk at the same time so the treadmill has to stop when I need to write something =)
It is a great idea. I’m afraid my signatures wouldn’t look like mine but I could adopt a new one. Is typing rather simple whilst moving your legs? I’ve seen mini bike pedals to keep your legs moving but never anything of this caliber. Neato!
Getting mixed feedback off of Twitter but am still investigating an external monitor + keyboard option. I had never thought of doing that! =)
“Depends on how hard the drive shakes with every step, as well as how it’s mounted-but external monitors & keyboards are cheap.”
“no worries! laptop w/solid state drive(SSD) good for jostling, but laptops are designed to be moved.”
“..to vibrational intensity of up to 0.5G (printed on the drive for specific drives, usually). I can’t really imagine that ..a well-designed, well-built treadmill desk is going to produce that much, though.”
Oh dear, I had no idea. Thank you for posting here and letting me know. I’ll start to investigate immediately.
you are going to kill your hard drive. An external monitor and keyboard shouldn’t set u back more than 100 bucks or so.
I wish I could take credit but I’ve seen it in several business magazines. It is a genius idea (whomever came up with it first!)
You are going to love it! I am on mine right now!
Awesome idea! I already own a treadmill that I use every morning but this would help me extend my workouts. I work from home online and spend 4 to 5 hours each day sitting. My husband’s a carpenter so I’m gonna show him this and get him to work on it asap!
I love this idea AM! I want one!
You are a genius! I love this idea AM! You could make a mint off of this idea!
And chasing the little ones around the playground, right? =)
Ooooh! I will go check that out! Thanks for the heads up. I found a turquoise one but it doesn’t quiiiite do it for me (not the way pink does!)
I’m a big fan of visualization (like, I make vision boards: http://soap-queen.blogspot.com… ) so it’s just another visual reminder of one of our core values: “Profitability Equals Opportunity” We have four other core values to balance that one out: “Be Socially Responsible, Stand Behind Our Quality Products and Be And Industry Leader.” Our final one is “Show LOVE to our employees and customers” and LOVE stands for “changing LIVES, creating OPPORTUNITIES, delivering high VALUE and encouraging creative EXPRESSION”. =)
I love reading on the treadmill desk! A couple weeks ago, I started a new business book and had the best time trying not to fall off. =)
I am at 1.2 MPH right now and find that anything about 1.4 is uncomfortable for longer than about 20 minutes.
They were supposedly selling the model I’m using for $250 at one of our local gyms. I was too slow to get that deal but I guess if you wait and watch, there are some really good deals out there (even better than I got!)
While I can’t just eat anything I want, I notice that it’s easier to loosen up my diet and not gain, gain, gain. I’m one of those that gain just by looking at things so I tend to be pretty draconian about my diet and my working out. I indulge but then I know I need to work it off! =)
Ooooh, you totally should! Keep me posted if you ever get one. I would love to hear what you think about it.
Wow, that’s interesting. I’m in love but can only go about 70 minutes before I need to take a break and just sit. The first week, my hip flexors were pretty upset with me =)
Soap + a treadmill + awesome BB team = best of both worlds for sure! =)
Just keep looking on Craiglist. I watched Craiglist like a hawk for about 6 months before this deal came up and then pounced. =)
If only I could teach kindergarten and walk-on a treadmil at the same time. Life would be golden. I guess I will have to stick to walking my dog in the evening 🙁
Love this idea. Hubby and I have been looking for options for a while.
If you are still looking for a pink knife King Arthur Flour is having a sale on their ceramic knife. Only the handle is pink though.
This is so fantastic. I have a very sedentary job and although I work it out daily I wish I had more movement during the day. I’m hoping to start working from home soon and I’m going to consider the treadmill desk option. Just curious, why do you have money taped to your treadmill?
Oh wow, what a wonderful idea, I so need one!
I love that idea! I would definitely do that.
Good for you for scoring one of these!!! I actually read magazines when I’m on the treadmill, so while not as good as a treadmill desk, I do get some stuff done at the same time. 😉
What a great idea! Wish I had room in my little house to consider this. Will definitely keep this in mind if I add on a room. Can I ask what speed you’re using?
Thanks for sharing! My gym actually sells treadmills every so often – when they get new ones. I may try this the next time they have one available!
I’ve heard about these treadmill desks. What a neat idea! Years ago, when I worked in retail and waited tables, I was up and moving (usually quite quickly) all day long and I could eat anything. (And I was 22, which helps!) Now I run 25 miles a week and lift weights and watch what I eat, but I do sit more, and I’ve got about 5 or so pounds that I’m having trouble dumping. I love your new desk – I don’t think I’ve got room in my home office for a treadmill, though, so maybe I can just start fidgeting more! 🙂
How clever- and here I was watching youtube music clips last night and thinking I really need a treadmill by my pc, lol
Several people in an office I used to work at particpated in a study about using the treadmill while at the computer. Some really loved it and some didn’t care for it.
Way to go, Anne-Marie! Sounds like you have the best of both worlds right there in your office. 🙂
that is a great idea!!! love it!
Wow, that is such a fabulous idea! Now, if only I could make something like this and afford it too! Thank you for sharing.