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Trek Desk Forces You to Exercise All Day at Work, Makes Your Job Even More Miserable
Posted by Adam Frucci at 1:50 AM on May 8, 2008
It's no secret that desk-based jobs (such as blogging) provide a lifestyle for people that quickly turns them into quivering, rotund masses of gravy-scented putty, which is why it's no surprise that this whole "exercising while you work" thing piques people's interest. But really, do you want to jog on a treadmill all day while you work, or bounce up and down on a yoga ball?
We're not talking about 20-minute stints here, we're talking about replacing your desk with exercise equipment. There's no leaning back in your desk chair with this Trek Desk, people. It's balls-out commitment.
And while I don't doubt for a second that you'd lose weight if you did light exercise for eight straight hours every day, who the hell wants to do that? Why don't you just, you know, go to the gym for 45 minutes after work so you aren't disgusting and sweaty during meetings. You don't want to get a reputation for that stinky, out of breath guy who doesn't know the meaning of the word "moderation," after all. [Product Page via Boing Boing Gadgets]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
Josh
Posted May 14, 2008 11:12 AM
Hey wait a minute I use one of these, not as nice since I made it myself but you guys got it wrong. You do not sweat at all at low speeds and your are definitely more productive. No more afternoon yawn sessions or after lunch comas. Mine keeps me going all day. This TrekDesk is cool though, I even like the chair though I never use one now, just walk all day. I found this at www.trekdesk.com and I am a fan. Mayo Clinic has a version called WalkStation but it costs $6500. They say you can easily lose 50 lbs in a year. I just like it because I can eat pizza guilt free again.
TheTick
Posted 2:37 AM 8/5/08
quivering, rotund masses of gravy-scented putty
Okay, this needs Deadspin's Nightmare Fuel tag. Seriously.
TheTick
Lupison
Posted 2:34 AM 8/5/08
There are a few girls I work with I wouldn't mind seeing straddle a ball while bouncing up and down all day.
Lupison
qbrad
Posted 2:15 AM 8/5/08
Hehe. Balls-out commitment. You're so funny Frooch.
qbrad
GOKOR
Posted 2:14 AM 8/5/08
I'd buy this. I don't know about the treadmill thing, that's just corny, but those balls are comfortable.
I sit on an exercise ball quite often at home...though that's usually nowhere near eight hours.
GOKOR
OMG! Ponies!
Posted 2:14 AM 8/5/08
Does not work for Extreme Temping*. While I do 10 to 16 hour shifts, the extreme temporary nature of the job means I need to pack up all my personal effects at the end of the day. I have an iPod (the classic - with 14,000 songs), my laptop, my water bottle, a sweater, my chargers, and a couple of newspapers. It all comes out of my backpack at the beginning of the day and goes back in at the end of the day.
Rule One of Extreme Temping - If you can't fit it in a backpack, don't bring it to work
*a form of temping where you may get a call to not come in the next day five minutes after leaving for the day and where everyone lies to everyone else about everything
OMG! Ponies!
Jasontrainer
Posted 2:14 AM 8/5/08
I am committed to Balls-out, definitely. But I work alone so Balls-out is no problem.
Jasontrainer
rickster434
Posted 2:13 AM 8/5/08
I like the title comment... because I think we all know how crappy work is at a desk.
rickster434
tamoko
Posted 2:49 AM 8/5/08
@OMG! Ponies!: Save your soul!!
tamoko
tamoko
Posted 2:49 AM 8/5/08
@OMG! Ponies!: My god... your "extreme temping" description totally jives with what several of my friends have described. Expecially the part about the mutual lies and wink, wink, nod, nods.
tamoko
bradc2755
Posted 2:47 AM 8/5/08
Dwight: Do you even know what this is? It is a fitness orb. And it has completely changed my life. Forget everything you thought you knew about ab workouts.
Jim: Done.
Dwight: This ab workout is specifically designed to strengthen your core.
Dwight: Numerous health benefits. Strengthens your back. Better performance in sports. More enjoyable sex.
Jim: You are not having sex.
Dwight: Plus, improves your reflexes.
bradc2755
N@tedog
Posted 2:44 AM 8/5/08
I'd think your work quality and productivity would decrease dramatically with this.
N@tedog
jackfrost132
Posted 3:37 AM 8/5/08
Oh the hawaii chair. the ultimate in gyrating chair technology.
+ Watch video
^ The hosts of attack of the show taking them for a spin.
jackfrost132
Git Em SteveDave
Posted 3:33 AM 8/5/08
@flyboy: I was going to ask about the Hula chair. "It's like I'm not exercising at all!"
[gizmodo.com]
Git Em SteveDave
flyboy
Posted 3:29 AM 8/5/08
@bradc2755:
get the Hawaiian..
[www.weshow.com]
flyboy
zenpoet
Posted 4:32 AM 8/5/08
If I didn't have to meet with clients, I would be all over this. I would have to assume that a certain amount of respect would be lost if someone came in to see me and i was sitting on a flourescent green ball.
zenpoet
Slokunshialgo
Posted 5:00 AM 8/5/08
Try 7.5 hours a day of pure physical labour. You'd be amazed how much weight you lose then.
Slokunshialgo
FiveLiters
Posted 5:13 AM 8/5/08
@zenpoet: It could be worse...it could be a 'flesh-colored' ball!
FiveLiters
OMG! Ponies!
Posted 5:55 AM 8/5/08
@tamoko: The "site lead" (read: straw boss) at my last project called me three times yesterday, miffed that I didn't give him more notice about jumping ship. He also interrogated several former coworkers to find out if they had advance knowledge.
This is the same project that fired 300 temps via email at 1:30 a.m.
No one gets notices, no one gives notice. It's called temping.
OMG! Ponies!
Kaiser-Machead
Posted 6:53 AM 8/5/08
I perch and crouch on my swivel chair all day. It gives me a gargoyle-ish appearance that keeps the secretaries from coming in and stealing mints from my candy jar. It helps if you lunge forward every now and then too.
Kaiser-Machead
energyguy
Posted 10:49 AM 14/5/08
I found this TrekDesk at www.trekdesk.com and sorry to say it makes a lot of sense to me. I use a treadmill desk now. I don't sweat because I walk at low speeds all day. What mine doesn't do that this one does is adjust to my height so I don't run into carpel tunnel issues. Also, I want it because the ball idea looks great to me for those times when I want to draw or write by hand. I type all the time while I walk but drawing out ideas is impossible so I need to stand (or sit) still. I have a job that is totally sedentary and since using my treadmill desk I have lost weight, strengthened my back and feel better than I ever did. Never going back to a chair again!
energyguy