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'Gamercize' Cardio at Our Desk
Gustoman writes "A new device that hit the market this week may not be able to help you put in fewer hours in the office, but it can help you get a good cardio workout while you're troubleshooting that laptop or reviewing that spreadsheet.
Gamercize, a British company, this week launched the GZ PC-Sport & Power Steppe, which is designed to fit underneath a standard-sized desk so someone can sit at their computer or talk on the telephone while using the stepper.
Gamercize officials note that the machine is not just a small version of a StairMaster machine that you'd find at the gym. The machine can be hooked up to a keyboard or mouse through a USB port. The user can set it up so they can use the stepper whenever they want, or they can prevent their keyboard or mouse from working unless they're exercising.
There are five settings on the under-desk step machine. The lowest setting lets workers simply exercise their legs at an easy pace whenever they want. At the top level, the work out is much harder and the user must exercise to keep his or her keyboard or mouse working.
At the lowest setting, a user could burn 100 to 200 calories an hour. At the top level, it is possible to burn as many as 500 calories an hour. (That's like burning off the equivalent of an entire milk shake.)"
So why don't they set it up to recharge your laptop battery too?
The simple truth is that interstellar distances will not fit into the human imagination
- Douglas Adams
. . . is it *really* that hard to get to the gym or outside to exercise? Sometimes a break away from your desk is a good thing. Stuff like this just preserves the sweatshop mentality already too prevalent in many IT shops. Just my .02.
If you're drinking 500 calorie milkshakes then this is probably something you need. If you can fit it under the desk with your huge fat legs.
http://twitter.com/onion2k
How - puff pant - can I help you - pant puff - your account's locked - puff pant - certainly - pant puff - I'll reset your password
Sorry, I forgot, we're never that helpful.
init 11 - for when you need that edge.
Simple steps to get some exercise without going to and paying for a gym.
- Leave you car at home, ride a bike to go to work, visit your friends
- Dont use escalators or elevators
- Run a few blocks in the morning or evening
- Get a hobby that does not involve sitting in front of a tv or monitor
Its just that easy and in the end might get you a few more years of healthy living.I was just wondering how it would effect the work place, if everybody was doing this. Wouldn't it cause a major sweat and thus a terrible smell? I am also worried about the noise level, from the machine, but also as a previous poster commented, the puff puff from human beings.
I lost a stone and a half using Gamercize
Uh oh, better run to the emergency room! I hear they can reattach those things (with minimal impact on your sex life!) if you get there quick enough and keep them in a cooler full of ice on the way . . .
Could this be fitted on airplanes as a help to stopping DVT on long flights?
It could stow away under the seat if you didn't want it... plus you wouldn't have to watch the silly 'inflight exercises' video.
Some exercise professionals recommend that instead of sitting on a chair at work, you sit on a Swiss ball. Then your core muscles have to work moderately hard to keep you stable. I haven't tried it but it's said to be fairly tiring to do it all day long.
If you prefer to just burn some energy, there's always the desk treadmill.
-- Ed Avis ed@membled.com