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When I first started working at Instructables I was impressed by the fact that both ewilhelm and canida both use treadmill desks exclusively. Scoochmaroo does, too, but she totally copied me.
Their desks are totally functional, but they're not fancy. So when I started to build my desk I decided I would make mine FANCY.
A few quick trips to Ikea, a sports store, and a Lowe's Depot gave me the foundation I needed to make a fully integrated treadmill desk.
I've had this desk since March of 2010 and after the initial adjustment period, during which walking was torture and standing was something I did for emergencies, I can now say that it's solely responsible for all the happiness I've ever had. Seriously, I'm never tired anymore. I can walk around the mall, the World Maker Faire, go to the gym, and I'm NEVER tired.
My energy level is somewhere between normal, natural human and freakish mitochondrial mutation. It's totally awesome.
So if you can stand the 1-3 week adjustment period you can reverse the years of damage from sitting 8 hours a day year after year after year. The trick is to fully commit. I work remotely and I put my imac on the treadmill desk. Now, if I'm working I'm walking.
Their desks are totally functional, but they're not fancy. So when I started to build my desk I decided I would make mine FANCY.
A few quick trips to Ikea, a sports store, and a Lowe's Depot gave me the foundation I needed to make a fully integrated treadmill desk.
I've had this desk since March of 2010 and after the initial adjustment period, during which walking was torture and standing was something I did for emergencies, I can now say that it's solely responsible for all the happiness I've ever had. Seriously, I'm never tired anymore. I can walk around the mall, the World Maker Faire, go to the gym, and I'm NEVER tired.
My energy level is somewhere between normal, natural human and freakish mitochondrial mutation. It's totally awesome.
So if you can stand the 1-3 week adjustment period you can reverse the years of damage from sitting 8 hours a day year after year after year. The trick is to fully commit. I work remotely and I put my imac on the treadmill desk. Now, if I'm working I'm walking.
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Signing UpStep 1The Parts of a Fancy Walking Desk
To make a truly fancy desk, one has to have fancy parts.
First I went to Ikea and got me one'o'them Frederik desks. I think it was like $150
Then I went to Modell's Authority and looked at the back of all the treadmill control panels. What you're looking for is one that can be easily separated from the backing. In the end I chose a ProForm 480 E. The control panel itself was just screwed on to the backing, so I figured I could take it apart easily enough. It cost $500.
Next I went to an office supply store I don't have a pun for and got a keyboard shelf. I just wanted the slidey-desk attachy parts. I'm sure they have specific names and I'm also sure I don't care what those names are.
Finally I stopped by a home warehouse store and got a piece of MDF cut so I could mount the control panel.
As an aside, a lot of the time when you're reading these instructables the authors make it seem like all these steps were carefully planned and executed in just the right order. The truth is not that simple. Maybe some of the authors are that organized but most do something like what I did:
I spent over two hours wandering Ikea cursing their stupid inefficient layout while annoying their staff with non-standard questions. Prior to doing any of this I had already spent another two hours crawling around the floor of the sports store taking pictures of the underside of treadmills like some bizarre upskirt treadmill fetishist.
Then I spent WAAAY too much money on a keyboard shelf because god dammit I was finishing this thing today come hell or high water.
But when you make the instructable it makes you seem like you're so much more together if you say "first I did this perfectly, then I went on to do the exactly logical next step with no time or thought in between because I am awesome like that."
I'm done with the aside, let's move on.
Now all you have to do is put these parts together exactly the right way and you will also have a perfect treadmill desk because I'm awesome like that. I definitely did not injure myself or curse a lot doing the next steps.
First I went to Ikea and got me one'o'them Frederik desks. I think it was like $150
Then I went to Modell's Authority and looked at the back of all the treadmill control panels. What you're looking for is one that can be easily separated from the backing. In the end I chose a ProForm 480 E. The control panel itself was just screwed on to the backing, so I figured I could take it apart easily enough. It cost $500.
Next I went to an office supply store I don't have a pun for and got a keyboard shelf. I just wanted the slidey-desk attachy parts. I'm sure they have specific names and I'm also sure I don't care what those names are.
Finally I stopped by a home warehouse store and got a piece of MDF cut so I could mount the control panel.
As an aside, a lot of the time when you're reading these instructables the authors make it seem like all these steps were carefully planned and executed in just the right order. The truth is not that simple. Maybe some of the authors are that organized but most do something like what I did:
I spent over two hours wandering Ikea cursing their stupid inefficient layout while annoying their staff with non-standard questions. Prior to doing any of this I had already spent another two hours crawling around the floor of the sports store taking pictures of the underside of treadmills like some bizarre upskirt treadmill fetishist.
Then I spent WAAAY too much money on a keyboard shelf because god dammit I was finishing this thing today come hell or high water.
But when you make the instructable it makes you seem like you're so much more together if you say "first I did this perfectly, then I went on to do the exactly logical next step with no time or thought in between because I am awesome like that."
I'm done with the aside, let's move on.
Now all you have to do is put these parts together exactly the right way and you will also have a perfect treadmill desk because I'm awesome like that. I definitely did not injure myself or curse a lot doing the next steps.
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Only issues I experienced was I had to raise the main desk shelf up about one notch from what was pictured here to insure proper posture, and I had to buy an extremely deep keyboard rail set with plenty of clearance otherwise the control panel would not slide in/out.
Been at it for 3 days now, about 6+ miles a day at 1mph. What do you recommend for shoes? I am wearing some workplace-type crocs (http://www.crocs.com/crocs-amaretto/10446,default,pd.html?cid=060&cgid=look-book-work-rx) that I thought would be comfortable, but my feet are killing me! Maybe I will get used to it?
My components:
-Fredrick Desk from Ikea - $149.99 (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60111123)
-Summera keyboard shelf from Ikea - $9.99 (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50086690)
-Proform ZT5 from Dicks Sporting Goods - On sale for $449 (http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3770322)
The only hangup I had was with the size of the treadmill control panel. That was quickly remedied by cutting it down to size using a dremel.
The one question I'm now asking myself is - what do I do with all the unused parts from the treadmill???
So far I am getting myself used to the system by watching some netflix downloads - next week I will try working! I am using it at home now, but if I stick with it and can get my work done I will move it to my office at the university.
Thank you so much for the idea! I had looked at the pricey manufactured ones, and the not so pretty do it yourself ones, but didnt really get moving until I read about yours.
I am excited to try this idea of the work desk--any tips appreciated thank you
Also, you found a cheaper, but just as nice, treadmill, which is awesome. That brings the total cost of the project down by about $150 because the Proform is $500!
Easing yourself into walking on it is a great way to begin. I did not do that and suffered through 3 weeks of pain.
If you move it to your office you'll have no end of questions and compliments about it. Everyone I show mine to is duly and rightfully impressed. You should be really proud, this is a very cool thing to have done!
You should definitely post pictures of yours. Please!
I love the idea of the Frederick desk too!
Thanks,
jeff
The big selling point of that particular model, though, is how easy it is to pull it apart and stick it in a desk. It's really just a few keys and then you're walking.