The world of online video games has long been criticized for its contribution to sedentary lifestyles which is a major concern for health professionals citing its contribution to chronic diseases. The number of people engaging in online gaming has spiked sharply in the past few years rising more than  241% since 2008 (source: Parks Associates). The most popular role playing video game, World of Warcraft, now boasts more than 10 million users. However not all of them are sedentary as evidenced by a review of the TrekDesk Treadmill Desk by EpicReviewsTech.

TrekDesk is the only treadmill desk that offers enough surface desk area to not only accomplish work tasks but also to accommodate gaming accessories. The results speak for themselves. “TrekDesk has helped me to lose over 40 lbs and improve my health significantly. I play StarCraft with my brother nightly and when using the desk (TrekDesk) I don’t even realize I am walking,” stated Paris, of EpicReviewsTech.

America is facing a growing obesity epidemic in large part due to the sedentary nature of employment and recreation. Online gaming is a contributor however the average total time spent online is now 30 hours per week (all activities, source: newmediatrendwatch.com). Adults in the 18-29 age bracket spend more than 40 hours a week online, essentially the same amount of time as a full time job.

Paris echoed the concerns of many busy Americans strapped for time and/or those residing in an area less than favorable for outside activities. “This is the only thing that has worked for me exercise wise. I just won’t go out and do it otherwise. It’s hot out here for half the year. It has really worked well for me and I really recommend this solution for anyone else that has the same issues.”

“While many user stories focus on the work application of the TrekDesk Paris’ comments reflect a growing awareness among adults that combining inactivity at work with inactivity at home is a recipe for a health disaster,” stated Steve Bordley, CEO of TrekDesk Treadmill Desk. “Walking while gaming or engaging in any online activity is one solution to this expanding problem.”

Designed to fit any existing treadmill, TrekDesk treadmill desk is an affordable, full sized, height adjustable workstation that allows individuals the opportunity to gain the necessary amount of daily exercise to lose weight, maintain health, reduce stress, prevent disease, strengthen muscles, boost mood and productivity, without requiring additional time during the day or extra motivation.

Paul Hochman is the host of ‘Tech Notes’, a featured spot on MSN’s small business channel Business on Main, dedicated to the latest and greatest tech innovations that help small business leaders build better businesses. This week Tech Notes focused on technologies designed to keep employees more productive and healthy featuring the TrekDesk Treadmill Desk.

Host Hochman points out in the video (http://tinyurl.com/bv3az86) that more than six hours sitting raises blood sugar levels, lowers metabolism, and reduces energy and efficiency. In a tongue in cheek portrayal TrekDesk is featured as a great way to stay active for those that work from home and want to keep their business up and running working from your treadmill.

The health hazards of sitting are now equated with the damage to health caused by smoking. That has raised attention in companies across the globe.

“Treadmill desks and standing desks are becoming more common place as a result of a grass roots movement from employees across the country and press spots reporting on the health and productivity benefits that they are achieving. Once employees understand that their bodies actually prefer to be upright and moving it doesn’t take long for them to abandon the idea of sitting all day at a desk,” stated Steve Bordley, CEO of TrekDesk Treadmill Desk.

Designed to fit any existing treadmill, TrekDesk treadmill desk is an affordable, full sized, height adjustable workstation that allows individuals the opportunity to gain the necessary amount of daily exercise to lose weight, maintain health, reduce stress, prevent disease, strengthen muscles, boost mood and productivity, without requiring additional time during the day or extra motivation.

Join the TrekDesk “Movement Revolution” to learn more, spread the gospel regarding movement, or win a free TrekDesk http://www.facebook.com/trekdesk, or follow TrekDesk on twitter http://www.twitter.com/trekdesk. TrekDesk treadmill desk is currently available for sale online at www.trekdesk.com.

In the first legislative move of it’s kind Oregon Republican Representative Jim Thompson has sponsored a bill that would undertake a pilot study analyzing the impact of treadmill desks on the health of Oregon state workers. TrekDesk Treadmill Desks has been promoting this concept for the past five years and Rep.Thompson is the first legislator to recognize its potential health gains and proceed toward legislation. “We are not designed to sit,” stated Thompson. “We talk about all these things we need to do to get people healthier, but when are we actually going to try some of them?”

Last week U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (Utah) expressed dissatisfaction with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation for implementing treadmill desks in their offices ostensibly on the basis of costs. TrekDesk offered the senator an opportunity to learn the facts about treadmill desks but was rebuffed via Twitter with the comment “Can walk on sidewalks. Doesn’t cost the taxpayer $”. Hatch’s press secretary Matt Haraskal chimed in as well on Twitter, “‪@SenOrrinHatch’s office is healthy because we walk on sidewalks. Don’t need $1,000+ machine (bought w/ taxpayer $) to be healthy.”

“That was the “let them eat cake’ statement of the obesity epidemic as far as we were concerned,” stated Steve Bordley, CEO of TrekDesk Treadmill Desks. “Areas in this country where obesity is at its highest are not parks with tree lined sidewalks and a majority of Americans sit at a desk all day with no extra time in their day for exercise, let alone a stroll down a sidewalk. If their answer to obesity is sidewalks combined with a closed mind to new innovations that actually hold promise it is time to look for leadership elsewhere.”

As reported by Govtech.com (http://www.govtech.com/health/Oregon-Explores-Treadmill-Desks-for-State-Workers.html) Rep. Thompson spoke directly to the benefits and the costs of treadmill desks. “It’s not unbearably expensive; one of those units costs less than the desk I have in my office,” The cost of TrekDesk is $479.00 including delivery.

“We were gratified when Representative Thompson recognized that the benefits of treadmill desks significantly outweigh the costs and despite his party affiliation decided that they merited further evaluation based on potential health benefits to his constituents. That is true leadership and we need more of it if we are going to win this battle,” stated Bordley.

Designed to fit any existing treadmill, TrekDesk treadmill desk is an affordable, full sized, height adjustable workstation that allows individuals the opportunity to gain the necessary amount of daily exercise to lose weight, maintain health, reduce stress, prevent disease, strengthen muscles, boost mood and productivity, without requiring additional time during the day or extra motivation.

Join the TrekDesk “Movement Revolution” to learn more, spread the gospel regarding movement, or win a free TrekDesk http://www.facebook.com/trekdesk, or follow TrekDesk on twitter http://www.twitter.com/trekdesk. TrekDesk treadmill desk is currently available for sale online at www.trekdesk.com.

Wednesday, April 3^rd is National Walking Day and the American Heart Association is inviting the public to get out and show their support against heart disease by taking the pledge to increase their daily walking. The problem for most working adults is that they will be confined to a desk all day. TrekDesk Treadmill Desk offers a solution to the problem.

Designed to fit any existing treadmill, TrekDesk treadmill desk is an affordable, full sized, height adjustable workstation that allows individuals the opportunity to gain the necessary amount of daily exercise to lose weight, maintain health, reduce stress, prevent disease, strengthen muscles, boost mood and productivity, without requiring additional time during the day or extra motivation.

The Surgeon General advises Americans to take a minimum of 10,000 steps per day yet according to studies from the University of Tennessee the average American adult walks less than half of that amount. This level of yearly inactivity has led to many of the health problems now facing America and other developed nations around the globe. It is estimated that the cost of obesity related health conditions costs American employers in excess of $225.8 billion in productivity losses however the human toll exacted is much greater. Inactivity more than doubles the risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death in this country.

“National Walking Day hopefully reminds our nation that the major health threats we face could be diminished significantly simply by moving more and controlling the types of food we put in our bodies,” stated Steve Bordley, CEO of TrekDesk Treadmill Desk. “Our hope is that employers will recognize the productivity losses caused by sedentary office environments so that they will incorporate more measures that encourage movement throughout the workday.”

Join the TrekDesk “Movement Revolution” to learn more, spread the gospel regarding movement, or win a free TrekDesk   http://www.facebook.com/trekdesk, or follow TrekDesk on twitter http://www.twitter.com/trekdesk. TrekDesk treadmill desk is currently available for sale online at www.trekdesk.com.

Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, expressed contempt for the newly formed Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation in Senate hearings this past week. Criticizing the Center as a bureaucracy that received “$10 billion in tax payer funds with no strings attached” he cited one particular aspect of the Center that most raised his ire: expensive treadmill desks. TrekDesk treadmill desk invited the Senator to re-evaluate his position based on recent medical studies, and competitive pricing. His response came to TrekDesk directly  via Twitter: “Can walk on sidewalks. Doesn’t cost taxpayer $ MT”

“In a post-sequester world, where White House tours are being cancelled and Easter egg hunts are being threatened,” Senator Hatch stated, “you can imagine why American people would take a very cynical view about federal employees being furnished with thousand-dollar treadmill desks.” Senator Hatch’s statements were reported online in The Hill (http://tinyurl.com/c9z5gz9).

“If the American people are cynical about anything these days, it is a Congress that attacks each other for political gain rather than the benefit of the country, “ stated Steve Bordley, CEO of TrekDesk Treadmill Desk. “We aren’t blaming Senator Hatch for a knee jerk reaction to the concept of treadmill desks, almost everyone expresses skepticism initially. However, the Innovation Center should be lauded for recognizing a simple truth. Treadmill desks address one of our nation’s largest health challenges: sedentary office environments. No magic pill from a pharmaceutical company or congressional measure improving health insurance can compete with the health benefits of getting Americans up and moving again.”

But what about the cost? Treadmill desks that cost thousands of dollars are a hard sell in any economic environment, let alone these challenging times. The truth is that the costs are much lower. The TrekDesk Treadmill Desk costs $479.00 (including delivery) and works with any existing treadmill to allow employees the opportunity to walk slowly while they work at an affordable price. Mass adoption of the treadmill desk concept could cut this price dramatically.

Is it effective? Walking has been proven to be the most effective measure to maintain and restore health yet the average American now walks less than 1/2 the minimum amount of steps in a day prescribed by the U.S. Surgeon General. That recipe for disaster has been accelerating since the 1970’s and is a major component of the health challenges facing us today. “We would encourage everyone to read the reviews of actual treadmill desk users who have lost significant amounts of weight, and traded blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose medications for a dose of daily walking. Treadmill desks allow employees the opportunity to improve and maintain their health and we would welcome an opportunity to educate Senator Hatch and other members of Congress to this fact,” stated Bordley. “The National Institutes of Health estimates that 84% of all medical claims are attributable to poor lifestyle choices (e.g. poor diet, smoking, lack of exercise).While it is time that our nation’s leaders search for innovative means to solve these issues it is also the responsibility of the American public to realize that no amount of governmental measures can replace personal responsibility for our health.”

Dr. Michael Roizen (of “You Doc” fame along with his partner Dr. Oz) has devoted his life to spreading the message of health in a variety of fashions. He currently conducts health chats aboard his TrekDesk Treadmill Desk. The talk featured above features the health benefits of chocolate, at least the brand made with real cocoa.

We would like to expand on Doctor Roizen’s comments just a little and offer some further suggestions as to how one can improve health with sweet, delicious recipes. First a little bit of science. Harvard University researches discovered decades ago that the Kuna Indians of Panama had virtually no history of stroke or heart disease and found their cancer rates to be lower than almost anywhere in the world. Yet when the Kuna left their native islands for mainland Panama they developed disease consistent with the western world. Intrigued, the Harvard researchers dedicated themselves to solving the mystery.

The final analysis revealed that the Kuna’s custom of consuming an average of six cups of a cocoa drink derived from boiling raw cocoa with plantain was the secret to their low rates of disease. While studies in the U.S. have shown a benefit to consuming dark chocolate consisting of at least 70% cocoa the benefits are no where near achieved by the Kuna tribe.

Give it a try. Just about any health food story carries raw cocoa beans or cocoa nibs. Simply grind them into a fine powder, pour in hot boiling water to a french press and let the mixture set for 15 minutes. Then pour the mixture into your cup and add a few drops of blue agave for sweetening (cocoa plain is a bit bitter). Enjoy your new morning ritual knowing that you are improving your heart health as well.

As a side note you can mix in a few coffee beans as well to satisfy your coffee cravings at the same time. Give it a shot and let us know on Facebook if you like it.

Summary:  TrekDesk Treadmill Desk has changed the way thousands of employees and entrepreneurs spend their work day, replacing a sedentary environment with movement. While their initial goal was often to improve health many are surprised to learn there is a productivity boost as well.

TrekDesk treadmill desks empower workers to improve their health and while many started to walk at work as a way to lose weight and maintain health a large number of TrekDesk users have also reported an increase in productivity and creativity enhanced by the ability to walk while working.

WV, an author from Hillsboro, Oregon sharing his observations on Amazon.com, noticed immediately that walking while working with his TrekDesk treadmill desk had an positive impact on his writing skills and productivity. “In the four weeks prior to setting up the TrekDesk, I averaged 13.31 WPM in writing new material. In the four weeks after starting with the TrekDesk, I increased to 15.66 WPM. The crazy thing is that, far from having to adjust to writing and walking at the same time, my daily logging clearly shows that the faster I walk, the faster I write. At 3.0 MPH, I come close to cracking 20 WPM. Still, just looking at my four-week averages, that’s an improvement of 2.35 WPM. Figuring 90-minute sessions 255 days per year, that’s an extra 54,000 words of writing each year — enough for a novel — just from walking while I write.”

“While this is anecdotal evidence it does coincide with a variety of studies that show the positive impact of walking on cognitive abilities. Studies at the University of Illinois previously measured critical thinking and memory skill increases of 15% along with significant increases in small blood vessel production in the brain (43%) in 6 month study periods,” stated Steve Bordley, CEO of TrekDesk Treadmill Desk.

Walking speed and typing ability is different for everyone however the average walking speed that TrekDesk recommends is 1.5 mph, especially for employees who plan on walking all day.

Writers also appreciate the generous size of the desktop work area as well. “The work surface is more than spacious enough for a laptop, peripherals, papers, drinks, and anything else you might need. As a user, I’m thrilled with the results and have zero complaints.”
 

We are often asked how anyone can expect to exercise at work without sweating, feeling fatigued or sounding out of breath on the phone. The reason this question is upper most in people’s minds is that exercise is equated with exertion, sweating, gym equipment and cardio workouts. Fair enough. The surgeon general states that we should get at least 30 minutes of exercise 5x per week and we would argue that it should be an activity that raises your heart rate and requires physical effort. However, this is independent of what the TrekDesk Treadmill Desk is designed to offer employees.

Their is a distinction that needs to made between exercise and movement. Our bodies need both and neither replaces the other in importance. A significant new finding in exercise science has revealed however that even physically active individuals who visit the gym regularly are still at risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke and a variety of other diseases if they spend the rest of the day sitting in an office.

TrekDesk Treadmill Desk was designed specifically to take care of the body’s need for movement for sedentary employees. It was not designed as an “exercise” replacement. Many users are surprised however that by the end of the work day walking with a TrekDesk at work fuels them with additional energy to want to hit the gym or play outside with their children. Our bodies were designed to stay moving with an occasional need for physical exertion (think like a caveman). If we eat a balanced diet of whole, natural foods, stay in motion as much as possible and increase our heart rate according to the Surgeon General’s guidelines we are on a path to improved health and a greater sense of well being and happiness. If you would like to read more about staying healthy without stressing out or obsessing we suggest you read Len Saunders fitness blog, Your Health Journal.

The Dr. Fitness & The Fat Guy Show, known globally for its expertise in the area of health and wellness, interviewed Steve Bordley, CEO of TrekDesk Treadmill Desk, regarding the rising popularity of the treadmill desk in office settings.

The show stars Dr. Adam Shafran, an internationally known health and fitness expert who been featured on global media giants such as BBC Worldwide, Huffington Post, WebMD, and Women’s Fitness. His comedic sidekick Lee Kantor adds a satiric slant to Adam’s medical knowledge adding entertainment to health education in a format that both informs listeners and keeps them engaged.

“This is the third time in three years I have appeared on the show,” stated Bordley, “I never know what to expect other than the fact that it will be a lot of fun. These guys know how to get the message of health across to an audience without sounding preachy.”

To learn more about the rising interest in the TrekDesk Treadmill Desk listen to the interview in its entirety at http://drfitnessandthefatguy.com/wp/radio-show-recap-another-athlete-role-model-lets-us-down-lose-weight-at-work-with-a-trek-desk/ .

Designed to fit any existing treadmill, TrekDesk treadmill desk is an affordable, full sized, height adjustable workstation that allows individuals the opportunity to gain the necessary amount of exercise daily to maintain health, reduce stress, prevent disease, strengthen muscles, boost mood and productivity, without requiring additional time during the day or extra motivation. Wondering how to workout at work? TrekDesk treadmill desk offers the solution.

TrekDesk treadmill desk is currently available for sale online at www.trekdesk.com.

We have written about the negative impact on health caused by inactivity and its corresponding link with obesity since launching the TrekDesk Treadmill Desk in 2008. In that time we have leaned that sedentary lifestyles harm every facet of our health. We have been challenged to find any particular component of health that is not negatively impacted by sedentary lifestyles. So it comes as no surprise that a recent study found that obesity can actually ruin the health of your teeth and gums. That’s right, sitting over the years and gaining those extra pounds will rot your teeth and add to an already increased risk of heart disease.

Obese, inactive bodies produce a relentless supply of cytokines. Not good. Cytokines are proteins with significantly inflammatory properties which may act to injure gum tissue by restricting blood flow and promote the development of gum disease. Worse yet, these cytokines then are able to enter the bloodstream and cause inflammatory diseases in other parts of the body such as heart tissue.

What can you do? Brushing and flossing daily help to inhibit the effect of cytokines on your gums but one of the best recourses to stop their production is to stay moving throughout the day, eat a balanced diet and make an effort at lowering your risk of obesity.