The Stand Up Fitness Plan

Uploaded April 6, 2012; reformatted 4.7.2013 and again 9.17.2015
Going back a little further in the history and background of my treadmill desk saga, in 2010, I conceived of a personal experiment. I liked the treadmill desk and so used it, but since it is located in the basement, I wasn't using it as often as I should. I didn't want to spend all day in the basement because I like natural lighting. I'm sure there are studies showing exposure to natural light is better, but that's not why I prefer it. I like to be able to see outside, and I'm cheap. Using sunlight means I use and pay for less electricity.

So the plan was to use the treadmill desk daily (for 30-90 minutes depending on how long my laptop battery lasts) and then simply stand and work for part of the rest of the day upstairs. I did stand up while working more. I concentrate better standing up, but I find standing still at a desk to be more tiring then walking slowly. My feet get tired more quickly and my knees bother me more when standing but not walking. This plan did get me regularly in front of the treadmill desk, but once I was went upstairs, I'd wind up sitting for the rest of the day.

To implement my new resolve to move more in 2012, I have moved to the basement to give walking while working another try. Which can still be considered part of the "stand up" plan, because you can't walk if you're not standing up. And research that I've done indicates that varicose veins (which run in my family) are less likely if you are moving while standing, because the muscles are flexing, and keeping the blood vessels moving. Granted, I found this information at a site of a treadmill desk maker... but for the time being, I'm going with it.

I am walking 5-6 miles a day. I'm not quite up to a full day, but I think I'll get there, particularly once the school year ends (my son in homeschooled, and I spend mornings with him). And I've realized that being in the basement is less distracting than working upstairs, maybe because I can't look outside and watch what's going on in the neighborhood. Or maybe it's because I tend to register the trek downstairs as "going to the office" more than sitting down in the living room.

Reading is still easier than typing, though it depends on the type of writing that I'm trying to do. Writing like this is easier than trying to compose technical writing for market analysis reports. Cutting and pasting isn't the easiest thing to do while you're walking, and using a pen or pencil is right out. In the rare instance I need to use a pencil or pen I stop the treadmill.

The one major drawback is that the treadmill is not particularly quiet. Even at slow speeds. If I'm on a work call, I have to turn the treadmill off. I can take personal calls while walking, and often do. A huge benefit to the desk is that I have lost weight. I am a bit more tired at night, and I do sleep better on days where I walk for a long time. And that's a nice benefit.

Since menopause, my sleep patterns have changed and sleeping through the night was not my usual habit— I almost always found myself up at 3:30 for a bit— whether or not I'd had a second glass of wine or not. (which is a reference to the book I Hate My Neck) in which the author (whose name escapes me at the moment) claimed that for older women is was the 2nd glass of wine that wakes you up in the night. I didn't care for that book, and at least in this case, can just say she's full of it.)

Here's a video from Time Magazine about using a treadmill desk. I liked the video, and a lot of what she said rang true— except for walking at 2 mph and not getting sweaty. For me it depends. I do agree that if you're reading and concentrating, you can walk for hours and not even realize it. I also still find on occasion that if I REALLY need to concentrate, I either need to stop and just stand without moving or to sit down.

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