I Got My Treadmill Desk!!

Okay, not the $1500 version---but it's just as good!!

When I got home yesterday, Butch surprised me with his homemade version. He said it only cost $12.00 and about 2 hours of his time. If anyone's interested, I'll get him to do a guest post and explain exactly what he did.

 He's not a "woodworking" kind of guy, so I was really impressed.

 I didn't know he knew how to make perfectly rounded corners. It's as smooth as a butcher block---no chance for splinters.

 He simply velcroed it on.

This morning,  I gathered all of my stuff---ready to get started. Here's my set-up: computer, St. Theresa daily inspiration book, rosary, water, pen and paper, tv remote, kleenex and my phone which I was taking these pictures with.

Here's the best part---I can wear my slippers.

I'm excited to get started. I turn the tv on to access Pandora so I don't wear down my computer battery using it via the internet. Great, I have to set it up. I have Pandora set on another tv, so I thought it would just be there.  Not a problem---I'm right here with my computer. I had to step off the treadmill to be able to read the access code displayed on the tv. When I was getting back on, I learned a pretty valuable lesson---stop the treadmill when getting on and off. I nearly flipped off right away and actually twisted my ankle a little.

I had the treadmill set at 1.5 MPH. That seemed like a pretty good speed until I knocked over my water. Luckily, it had a lid and didn't spill on my computer. Turns out, the velcro is not permanently affixed. Next valuable lesson---don't try to hold on the desk.

I got Pandora all set up and set the volume. I'm all set to start working. It's 9:03 according to my computer. I realize that the sun is way too hot and is putting a terrible glare on my screen. This time, I stop the treadmill to get off and lower the shade. Back on, back in business. By 9:11 I realize that my back in hurting and my ankle is starting to hurt. What the "H***"?! For crying out loud, I'm already sweating like crazy---this should not be happening! Then I notice, that I had not re-set the treadmill from when Butch used it. The incline was set on 6! Now, I haven't gotten "credit" for the steps and time I've already done. Darn. At least I had my "fitbit" on. Valuable lesson #3---be sure to reset the machine when you get on.

I lowered the incline to "1" but the treadmill made a horrible screeching noise. I raised it to 2. Perfect, silence and not too difficult. Remember, you are supposed to be able to work while walking at the same time. Now I'm back in business. I managed to upload pictures to Walgreens, print out some recipes (of course, the printer ran out of paper) and answer an email from my blog friend, Cheri at Scrap Dreams. She'll be visiting Nashville in March with her sister, so we're making some plans. Valuable lesson #4---I can't type worth a crap while walking.

I took a 5 minute break to put some clothes in the dryer and start another load. I also ran upstairs and put paper in the printer.

Once I got back to it, I really accomplished a lot. I read many blog posts that I hadn't had time to read on my trip. The commenting took longer than usual due to my crappy typing skills while walking. I watched a couple of brief videos that I had waiting. My feet were starting to hurt. Valuable lesson #5---wearing slippers while walking isn't such a good idea after all.

I decided that I would just read a couple more blog posts. Before I knew it, I had been on my new treadmill desk for an hour and a half. According to the treadmill, I had walked at a speed of 1.5 miles per hour---yet only actually walked 1 mile and a half. According to my math, an hour and a half  should be 2.25 miles. I burned 193 calories. So, I looked at my fitbit---which I've had on since I got up at 5 a.m. I walked over 7000 steps already for a total of 2.86 miles, burned 972 calories, did 3 flights of stairs and had 7 leaves on my "flower." If you have a fitbit, you'll understand all of that.

When I came downstairs, Butch said, "you need a shower, girl!" He would never say "you smell!" but that's what he meant.

Now this really poses a problem. My plan is to get on my treadmill desk about twice a day---when I'm doing computer work. I can't be taking a bunch of extra showers. That would totally eliminate the time saving effect of being able to walk and work at the same time. What to do?

I think I'm going to take a nap. I'll shower after my 2nd round on my new treadmill desk!