Hi Guys!
This weekend the hubby was busy with a fun little project I asked him to do for me.
I came up with the idea a few weeks ago, and I was so excited about it that I immediately asked him if he would build it for me. As you may recall, the hubby is quite handy. This was a pretty simple project and I knew he’d have no trouble with it.
Here’s the situation: I’ve walked at least 10,000 steps every single day since I got my FitBit on April 8th. However, on most days, almost all of my steps take place in the afternoon and evening. I’m just not very active in the morning. I’m always looking for ways to sneak in more steps, which is what sparked this idea in the first place.
Every morning, I leave the dogs in the bedroom with the hubby and I come down to eat my cereal. Then I sit down on the couch with the cat and check my email/read blogs/etc for a while. When hubby leaves for work, the dogs come down and join us on the couch. Next, I usually work on school work which means I sit on the couch some more…and before I know it, it’s lunchtime and I’ve barely walked at all.
So I thought, what if I could read blogs and check my email while I was on the treadmill? Sure, I could technically use my phone…but it’s small and my hand bounces around and quite frankly, I like using my computer…especially in the morning.
So I asked the hubby to build me some sort of stand that would fit around the treadmill that my computer could sit on. He agreed, because he is awesome…and this weekend he got to work. He spent all day in his workshop (the garage) using all his tools. :
This project was totally green. All the wood he used was leftover from various other projects we’ve done around the house!!! Pretty cool, right?! Once he was done, we carried it downstairs to test it out.
It was perfect! He brought it back out to the garage and added a few more boards to make it more stable and some trim to fancy it up a bit (also leftover from a project). Then, we painted it using some sample paint we bought when we were trying to choose what color to paint our house a couple years ago.
Isn’t it awesome?! Now I can grab my computer, head downstairs after breakfast in the morning and plod along while I get things done. Sure, I won’t be going very fast…but I’ll still be getting my steps in…and that’s better than sitting on the couch!
I’m so completely in love with it! And with my hubby for making it for me 🙂
After the paint dried, we did a final test with the computer. And yes, I tested it out in my bare feet 🙂 Marcus also gave his seal of approval.
The finished product:
I’ve never been so excited to wake up and walk!
If you’re impressed by the hubby’s handiwork, be sure to check out this post to see what he did to our master bathroom!
What do you do to sneak some extra steps into your day?
–Lindsay–
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Heidi Nicole says
That is awesome! I’ve bribed myself onto the treadmill with the promise of Netflix on my phone but yeah, a laptop screen would be so much better! You’re husband is quite the handyman!
lindsay says
we need to hire your hubby. Brilliant!
Linz @ Itz Linz says
this is AWESOME!!!!!! can you come over and make one for me?!?! seriously this is amazing and i hate trying to read on my phone because it’s so small!!!! what a hubster!!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
That is the coolest thing EVER! I wish I could get one at work.
christa says
That is a great idea!!
sarah @ sarah learns says
what a great idea! 🙂 i am very impressed with your handy hubby.
Lauren @ Lawfully Wedded Wife says
That’s awesome, how sweet of him to make that for you!!! I’ve seen on the news where offices give similar things to their employees so that they can walk while getting work done instead of just sitting in a chair all day. Such a great idea to keep moving!
Jennie @themessybakerblog says
Lindsay, this is incredibly creative. I love the idea. You’ve created a monster, though. We’re all going to want one of these, and our husbands/significant others are going to want to know where we got the idea. Lol. Thanks for sharing your brilliance.
Casey @cswfityoga says
This is so great…love it. Might have to get the hubsters to make me one…
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
That is very cool! I just showed it to my husband trying to “gently” plant that idea in his head for ours 😉
Kristen @ notsodomesticated says
Wow, this is awesome. I’m so jealous! What an awesome idea to get more steps in!!
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
Okay this is seriously the most genius thing ever. If I had this, I would be on it 24/7!
Katie @momslrb says
I LOVE IT! Do you think that people at the gym would look at me funny if I came walking in carrying that? 🙂 Oh well!
Brittany @ GOtheXtraMile says
This is such an amazing idea!!! What a great hubby!
Rachel @ Eat, Learn, Discover! says
Omigod that is amazing! I so want one! You guys could make a lot of money off that, haha 😛
Lindsay @ In Sweetness and In Health says
That is so awesome!! I totally want one! Now I just need a treadmill haha. Perhaps when Chris and I get married and move in together that can be something that we splurge on :).
Emily says
That is so cool! Nice work! A guy in our department has a treadmill desk in his office and loves it!!
Monique says
OMG! That is so awesome! I want one lol
Maureen says
How awesome is THAT idea?!?! I love it! You should start selling them for extra cash! lol
Alysia @ Slim Sanity says
what a great idea!
Kelly says
I may have called my bf over to be like… “oh look at this, it’s awesome!” since he is becoming Mr. Build Things around the house. Here’s to hoping! 😉
Liz (Little Bitty Bakes) says
This is SO awesome! I wish I had one of these at work, it’d be great. Just curious, how fast do you walk with it? I feel like I’d have to walk reeeeeal slow to be able to type and stuff. 🙂
Katie @wishandwhimsy says
This is great!! You’re hubby is awesome. Enjoy!
Angela says
Wow, that’s awesome! I’m often glued to my computer just like you so I would love to have something like that 🙂
jolene says
Oh my God! That is GENIUS!!!! Seriously what a great way to catch up on blogs and such and work, and get some walking in too!! love it!!
Andrea @ Vegvacious says
What a brilliant idea — you two should patent that! Wouldn’t it be great if offices set up a couple of work stations like this where their employees could go and get an hour worth of walking in WHILE working?!
Christine says
Very impressive! My hubby is quite the handyman too, isn’t it great!? I try and walk my dog 3-5 miles per day to get my “official” steps in. Other than that I’m almost always on the go but forget to wear my pedometer for the whole day! I should do that starting tomorrow. I’d love to get 10K steps in per day, congrats! 🙂
Mackenzie says
That’s awesome, I’d be excited too!!
Haley @ Health Freak College Girl says
this is so awesome! i saw this on instagram earlier and was immediately jealous. enjoy the walking 🙂
Laura Williams says
Awesome! Wish we were handy like that!
Sabrina @ Fit.Laugh.Love says
This is so epic!!! Jealous. Does he do house calls to Northern Virginia? Oh wait, I guess step one is get a treadmill huh?
Beth says
What a great idea, and I love that the cat approves.
We have a program at work where we try to get in 10,000 steps a day. It helps me to get up from my desk and walk around the office and also motivates me to go outside at lunch and walk at least around the block. Otherwise it’s easy to stay inside.
PS: That trail mix from Earth Fare looks awesome! Wish I had one here. I might have to try it myself.
Loy says
What a great idea. You are very fortunate to have a hubby that is handy and cute, too. Mine is cute and handy in many ways, but he doesn’t do woodworking. Oh well, he does keep my car running and in shape. Enjoy your new piece of furniture.
AmyC says
I really need to show this to my hubs…he’s somewhat handy, so I think he could pull it together. It is an awesome idea =) Thanks for sharing with all of us!
Lisa @ The Splattered Apron says
My husband and I were just talking about doing this! We were about to get a treadmill specifically to be able to walk and work at the same time, but unfortunately, there is no place for a treadmill in our house right now. I was completely bummed because I think this is an awesome idea. Maybe someday. Yaay for you guys!
Elizabeth says
This is genius! What a great way to stay productive and still get your steps in. I find wearing a pedometer or FitBit really helps me stay motivated to keep moving. Hope you have a great week. 🙂
Megan @ Weddings and Workouts says
That is SUCH an awesome idea! Go hubby! Love the pictures of your pets 🙂
Lisa says
What the heck, this is such a cool idea! Where can I find myself a husband who will do things like this for me 😉 Very good plan to get more steps in! I find myself doing the same things as you in the morning.
Lisa @ RunWiki says
Love it! I want one! Is your hubs for hire? and that Marcus! Don’t even get me started on how much I want to jump through the screen and give him a good pet.. so fuzzy and he sleeps with the dog!
Leslie Miller says
Love love love this!!! When we get a house and a treadmill I am so doing this!! Love the posts.
Leslie Miller says
Love love love this!! When we get a house and treadmill, we are so doing this!! Love the posts!
Jamie @ Don't Forget the Cinnamon says
Very cool!! I’ve brought schoolwork to the gym before and walked really slowly on the treadmill while getting things done!
sarah says
What a great idea! I think I just found my project for this summer! Sadly I’m much more handy around the house than my hubby is…
Abby @ Abz 'n' Oats says
This is seriously amazing! 🙂 I wish I had a treadmill so I could have one. lol.
Charlotte says
that is too cool! I want one. I’ve been eying the ones they sell but they’re SO pricy. DIY is much cheaper! 🙂
Julie says
This is INSANE! If I ever get a treadmill or some sort of machine, I will have to do this!
char eats GREENS says
That’s awesome!!! I would totally love that, too!! Or if you ever wanna watch a show, it’s so convenient to get some exercise in now! That’s the main reason I want a treadmill (my mom who lives 5 mins away has one, but still a hassle to go and use!) is so I can watch my shows on it while I run. That would be ideal…especially for winter. Great job to the hubby for that little project 😉
misszippy says
That’s really just the coolest! I think you need to market the idea, just saying!
Meredith @ DareYouTo says
Come build one for me? Please?
This is incredible! I recently started balancing my laptop atop the basement elliptical, but it’s not flat and makes me nervous, and I’d prefer to be walking because I tend to stop moving my feet when I get really engaged in something 🙂
Ashley @ Freckles & Spice says
I just emailed this to bb. I told him I want this one day when we have a real place.
Miriam @ Bellaspire says
Brilliant!! What a supportive hubby!! Happy Foodie Penpals day 🙂
Leonor @FoodFaithFitness says
That is so cool! I don’t have a treadmill but have thought how cool it would be to be able to “work” while getting some exercise. He should really think about getting a patent on this. Seriously!
Leonor @FoodFaithFitness says
I agree with MissZippy. He should pursue this!
Whitney @ Whit Likes Fit says
That is amazing. If I had a treadmill at my house I would totally be having my husband make one of those for me. But alas, all I have is a spin bike and I think that would be a little tricky to spin and type.
Melissa @ Live, Love, & Run says
Two things impressive things about this entire post:
1. The creativity and talent that went into making such a thing.
and…
2. The fact that you don’t fall flat on your face while using this thing. If it were me, my face would be rearranged, I’m sure. 😉
Ryan @ Spicy Richmond says
Genius! Now I want one…
Nate says
That’s coolest thing ever! Your husband is quite handy. He should make and sell those as like a side job or something! I would buy one. haha! You better put it to good use. 😉
Lindsay says
haha i have been! used it for an hour and a half yesterday morning and an hour this morning!
Nate says
Nice! That is multitasking at its finest. What are you going to do with all your extra time?? 😉
Pure2raw twins says
awesome idea!! you are so creative and hands to your hubby 😉
Kim says
I have been trying to get my husband to build me one of those for YEARS!! I love it, I may have to build one myself.
Emma Green says
This is hands down one of the coolest things I have ever seen in my life. Thank you so much for posting this! I will be getting a treadmill soon, and you can bet I will be begging my hubby for something similar!!!
Lindsay says
send me a pic once you build yours!
Jentry Nielsen says
I’m amazed! He should start a business! That’s incredible! I want one!!! haha I try reading my notes while walking on the treadmill, but it gets hard with big ol’ text books or a laptop is just risky! This is great!
Lindsay says
yes! you should build one! i love mine!
Tammi says
Wow maybe I need something like this to get off my lazy butt and walk!! My husband is very handy and could easily whip me up one! Though I like your redone bathroom MUCH better LOL…. 🙂
Mary Kiely says
I was inspired, so I just built a treadmill desk workstation….using leftover wood from a previous project. I work from home and it is my fully set up work station with a laptop, second monitor and room for books and paper. The top measures 18″ x 45″. The top is covered with a large black faux leather desk pad that makes it look “finished” and is also nice to write on. It’s attached to the treadmill with heavy duty bungee cords at the base. I have a bar stool at the ready if I want to sit for a few minutes…….now I just need to vacuum/dust/clean the basement so it’s a more pleasant work space. Thanks for your inspiration and resourcefulness. 🙂
Lindsay says
That’s so awesome!!! Hope you enjoy it!