Chuck Hackett is a futures broker, so his work is pretty sedentary, and gaining weight bothered him. Making matters worse, a knee injury keeps him from being more physically active.
Hackett says it’s difficult to get motivated for a bike ride or walk at the end of the workday, and with a population of about 100, Elderwood doesn’t have a gym. He was looking for a way to integrate exercise into his daily routine.
“Last spring I read about a doctor at Minnesota’s Mayo Clinic who works at a desk fixed to the top of his treadmill, so he walks slowly all day long. It seemed like a way to exercise without even realizing it. I already had a treadmill I didn’t use. So, with about $25 worth of lumber, I built a stand for my desk that would raise it high enough off the floor to fit over the treadmill.
I walk 1.1 to two miles per hour. It’s about the speed you would walk through an office. I don’t want to sound winded during phone calls. To stay cool, I have a six-inch fan from Lakewood on the desk.
I work from about 6:30 to 1:30 p.m., when the S&P closes, and I’m on the treadmill about five hours a day. I can do almost everything I need to do while walking, but to make trades I step off for a few minutes to use my quote machine, which sits on another desk nearby.
Working like this, the first thing I noticed was that my posture improved. When I started, I weighed 278; now I’m down to 250. (My goal is 180.) I’m more clear-headed and in a better mood. Now, even when I have a loss, I feel okay. And I really believe I make better decisions.”
Photo by Noah Webb.
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