[paintnp]

I am 42 and the single best advice I can give you is to invest in a treadmill desk. This WILL change your life as a software developer. You'll start blessing the day you made this as a career choice because this is one of the only jobs that'll allow you to workout while working and end up being more productive than if were not doing so. Here are the readouts for the steps that I walked just on the treadmill (not counting whatever I do while not working on the treadmill desk) Current week (so far): 22 miles 58061 steps last week : 42.24 miles 105840 steps week before : 35.26 miles 93239 steps week before : 36.7 miles 94145 steps

etc..

I can easily hit an average of 5 miles per day of walking if I am not traveling. You'll sleep much better, have tons of energy and will be much more productive at work. And the best thing is, you use absolutely no extra time. I paid $1500 for the setup I have. I'd pay $5000 without blinking a bat after spending around 6 months with the machine.

[jeffwass]

I'm a bit curious about a treadmill desk.

How fast do you generally walk on the treadmill? You mention 5 miles easy in a day, which is 2.5 mph for 2 hrs. Do the treadmills auto-adjust speed as they detect you slowing or stopping? Do you walk much much slower for longer times, or walk at higher speed for only brief bursts?

On one hand I feel the walking would be a distraction, especially if I'd feel the need to occasionally stop and ponder over some details with more concentration.

But on the other hand I often find I 'pace' when on the phone at home (not at work where I'm more confined). And I feel that I have good conversations when walking with people, and it seems to make sense when I've heard of the walking meetings that Zuckerberg or Jobs like to do.

But I've never thought about trying to code and walk at the same time, for some reason it feels like I'd find it too distracting. Did you have that same trepidation before getting your desk?

[Todd]

I got the same desk about a month ago. Software development is one of those jobs that require you to sit for long stretches of time. The recent studies that link sitting with decreased life expectancy are what pushed me to action. Going to the gym three times per week doesn't help much in that regard. It's the sitting that's the problem. As you get older, things like DVTs become a real concern.

I love writing code. I hope I can continue to do it for the rest of my life. These studies really had me bumming for a while. The treadmill desk completely solved it for me. I don't expect to get a great cardio workout or lose weight. I just want to be healthy doing the thing I love.

Two nits for the LifeSpan (which I think is great). The first is: they have a decent warranty but it's non-transferable. The second: the Bluetooth interface doesn't work well, at least on my unit (though I've seen others complain). I have to manually track my stats.

[paintnp]

Luckily the BT interface works kinda okay for me - I have the app running on my macbook pro at all times while working (am walking as I am typing this right now) :)

[Nelkins]

Can you provide some details about your setup? Also, do you work remotely or onsite?

[paintnp]

I have a lifespan fitness TR1200DT machine. Got it off Amazon. I had it in my office for the first couple months, but then moved it home.

[Devthrowaway80]

The idea of treadmill desks has been starting to float around my office and I've been pushing for it.

Do you find that it generates much noise? Do you work with others in a typical open-office pit o' desks or in a private office?

[chuckcode]

Treadmill desks look like a great idea all the way around. I just wish there was a model that would convert back and forth between sitting and walking easily. There are certainly times when I don't want to be walking...

[eru]

Get two desks?