Getting A Better Butt By Blogging
A couple of years ago, I wished for a way to use my laptop while riding my exercise bike. Despite several configurations, not a darned one has worked, which means that in those two years I’ve probably ridden less than a dozen miles on the thing.
Oh, it’s not for lack of thinking about it. Ostensibly, my daily plan to exercise is why my daily “uniform” consists of snake-print trimmed sweat pants and rainbow of athletic shoes. But the reality is that, although dressed to exercise, I seldom make time to actually do it.
Because that would involve stepping away from the computer, you see.
Then a while back I read over at Lifehacker about a man who has rigged his computer so he can type while walking on his treadmill. He’s burning 600+ calories a day doing what he’d been doing for years: working online. He’s just added physical activity to it.
That’s like the Holy Grail of blogging, if you ask me.
See, ever since I started blogging, my butt has grown along with my blog’s traffic. Now, I’m not about to start fat blogging Calacanis-style (I share enough of that info over at Chubby Mommy, but the fact that the Adidas shoes I bought five years ago still look brand new should tell you how little activity I get in the average day.
So earlier this week, I bit the bullet: I bought a treadmill and asked VH to build a shelf that holds my laptop in place. (There’s room for a coffee mug with a no-skid base, too.)
This morning’s my first effort at it, which is why I’m up and blogging even though it’s Saturday. Ever since the treadmill arrived I’ve felt like a kid on Christmas morning, all giddy and excited that I might just get what I’ve been hoping for: a way to work back down to my pre-blogging physique without the stress of finding time to do it.
So far, I haven’t noticed any additional typos, although two things have become clear. First, there’s a reason discount shoes are inexpensive: they save money by leaving out all forms of arch support, padding and traction. Second, 5 mph is a lot faster than it sounds. I realized that about the third time the machine sent me flying into the wall, and now I’ve got it set at a modest 2 mph (which is also a lot faster than it sounds).
No, it’s probably not as fun as that Wii I’d been saving up for, but at least I don’t have to arm-wrestle my 8-year-old to be able to use it. With how out of shape I’ve become since blogging, my kid would probably win, anyway.
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Good luck with that, VK! No more bumping into walls, though!!
I tried reading a magazine at the gym once, while riding the stationary bike - and I’m such a dork! I actually got sick! My stupid motion sickness. So lame…
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I couldn’t read on my exercise bike, either. Kept wobbling left to right (a phenomenon exacerbated by having body parts that wobble independently), and I’d wind up re-reading the same sentence umpteen times until I gave up.
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When I first read the title I swore I read “Getting a BIGGER Butt by Blogging”..LOL. I guess you know where my brain is this morning. I just started a video diary on my girly blog about my weighloss journey. I’m still learning new ways to lose weight while sitting at the desk.
I think I would love a treadmill! I’ve seriously considered buying one. The only problem I have is our lack of space around here. It would make the living room look tacky. I guess health is more important huh?
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There are a number of fold-away treadmills that are great and reasonably priced.
I think if you set one up where you could see your monitor, then strapped bungee cords across the handle and put a board on top of those to hold your keyboard and mouse, it’d work and also be easy to put away.
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That’s a good idea. I’ve got a wireless board and mouse so that would be easy to manage. My monitor is the flat panel and of a decent size. I think I am gonna go browse some fold aways. Thanks Kate.
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You’re welcome!
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That is awesome, Kate!
I would love a treadmill, but we have no where to put one.
I don’t think I could actually blog while walking, but I could definitely read blogs and check e-mail. Of course, I would need to get a laptop first.
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See my comment to Lori, Charity. You don’t need a laptop to do it — in fact, that guy in the Lifehacker article is using a full-fledged desktop machine (with a monitor that I envy).
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There’s a manual treadmill at Seventh Avenue that looks small enough. Folds for storing too.
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Don’t forget the martini holder and ashtray…
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You’ve seen my exercise bike, haven’t you?
Venomous Kate’s last blog post..Doing My Taxes With 10 Days To Spare
my previous comment went into comment limbo!
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Sorry. The spam filters catch ANY comment which contains more than two links. The “CommentLuv” link is counted as one, so inserting another one tends to gum things up.
Until I wade through my Askimet stuff, that is. Today was easy… only 497.
*sigh*
Venomous Kate’s last blog post..Doing My Taxes With 10 Days To Spare
I’ve already decided to get rid of our elliptical and get a treadmill when we get settled - and I am so totally figuring out how I can type while walking!
Oh and yeah 5mph is fast. It sucks actually. LOL I’ve been working out for a few weeks now, every day for the past week. I am trying to build up to running a 10 minute mile but dang it is tough.
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We had an elliptical for a while. I’m so short, though, that every step brought my knee practically to my chest, which was hard on my knees. Hated that thing.
Good for you, Kate! Funny that you mention this - I’ve been thinking about setting up the same thing after seeing that Lifehacker article. I’m worried it might give away just how much time I spend online, though!
Ironically, Lifehacker just posted the “Nerdcycle” as their book contest winner. I figure that’s just to make us all feel bad, though.
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I saw that this morning. Great idea, but the guy started with a recumbent bike to begin with (mine’s a standard one), which made me wonder why he didn’t just use a TV tray instead of doing all that Dremel and solder work.
I found that I simply CANNOT do anything that takes my eyes away from the front of the treadmill (reading? not so sure I could pull that off) or I go flying off said treadmill.
I prefer to focus on the workout (at least for now, we’ll see how bored I get with THAT).
I HAVE, however, found something that may work for me: Podfitness. (http://www.podfitness.com/) I haven’t as of yet tried it out because I’ve had deadlines that cause me to work all night and the last thing I wanna do is hop on a treadmill with less than 3 hours’ sleep in 36. Heh.
I’ll letcha know how it goes.
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I think FlyLady does that. I’ve always wondered how.
Post pictures of your set up once you peel yourself off the wall.
Maybe you should go for length of time and not worry about the speed. Half way through my time on the bike I have to quit reading because not enough blood is getting to my brain.
A slow, long walk sounds do-able, if you’re more coordinated than I am.
Good luck and congrats!
Well, as out of shape as I am, I’m having to go for short slow walks and work my way up to the longer ones. It’s amazing how much I sweat even at 2 mph — enough that I now have to keep a hand towel nearby so I don’t short out my laptop while typing!
On the other hand, I lost 3 pounds last week.