Totals for the five-day work week:
This is 7 a.m., morning hair and breathing treatments. Yes, @seanset, those are my new whale boxers.
The good part about my wife discovering the blog is that she can take pictures. However, I thought I looked like a cool, hip dude while I was multitasking. This picture proves I’m more like that guy at Venice Beach who plays the harmonica, guitar and knee cymbals all at one time. How depressing.
Time Walking: 24.77 hours
Steps taken: 71,050
Miles walked: 21.26
Calories burned: 3,951
Mini M&M’s eaten: 3,951
Body weight: Forgot to check this morning
Thoughts for the week:
If you’re considering a treadmill desk and are not an Olympian, or have not exercised enough in the past 12 months, listen to me closely, please. Do not overdo it during your first week.
After five straight days of walking, I can’t walk anymore. Everything from my waist down hurts, is tight, is sore. And if I were to sit down on the couch right now, I would Rip Van Winkle it and wake up on Monday.
TGIF carries new meaning as I try to find a comfortable position while sitting. I’m 14 again with growing pains. Motrin, if I could take it, would help. I’m considering half a pain pill.
Now, despite my whining and crying, and fighting through the aches and pains this week with my OCD running wild, I am so glad I bought this LifeSpan treadmill. I really enjoy walking while working. That’s it. I like it better than sitting. And once I get conditioned, I’m sure I’ll like it even more.
The big surprise of the week: how much I enjoy walking after dinner. I didn’t expect that would happen.
And, best of all, I’m getting better at harder tasks, such as concentrating on conference calls and eating M&M’s, while walking. It was more difficult earlier in the week.
At times during my stressful week, the treadmill really helped. I can’t explain it. The rhythm? Exercise? Concentration on walking and not the stress? Who knows, but this week came with crazy, “why do I work for a corporation,” stress, and I still managed to overdo it and log good steps and miles.
So, a giant “thank you” and writer’s hug to Susan Orlean and her article about treadmill desks. The universe led me to it and I followed its lead. Luck rains down on me once again.
The Unknown Cystic 
speechless!
Not quite.
“Calories burned: 3,951 Mini M&M’s eaten: 3,951” Unbelievably funny. Donne said that we are all part of the main, but I think you might be one hell of a chunk of it, all by yourself.
Melanie,
What a cool comment. Clearly, “clod” applies to me. I’ve posted the poem as part of my permanent record.
No Man Is An Island
No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thy friend’s
Or of thine own were:
Any man’s death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.
John Donne
UC
John,
You da man!! Quite an inspiration to those who want better health. Congratulations on making it thru the first week with such impressive stats…including the M&Ms. All downhill next week!!
Larry,
I did make it through the first week, which was painful. Weeks two and three were much better.
UC