Earlier this summer we published a post called Why I Love My Standing Desk by HuffPost staffer Chris Spurlock, in which he extolled the virtues of his unique workstation.

“Not only was I feeling healthier and more energized, but it gave me an opportunity to meet new people and tell them about the dangers of sitting all day,” he wrote about his new work-life with a standing desk.

The study Spurlock referenced found that people who sat for 11 hours or more per day increased their risk of death by 40 percent, regardless of other activity levels. Additionally, we know from extensive research, being generally inactive for prolonged periods of time contributes to risk of metabolic syndrome, heart attack and stroke.

Given the repercussions of sitting all day, we had a feeling that Spurlock wasn't the only person buying or creating a standing workstation. We asked readers to submit photos of their homemade standing desks and in return we learned about the limitless ingenuity of the Healthy Living community. Some propped plywood, others stacked milk crates. But what everyone had in common was a desire to do the right thing for their bodies, at the office as well as at home.

Do you have a standing desk? Send a picture to healthyliving@huffingtonpost.com or tweet us a pic to @HealthyLiving If not, would you try some of these interesting desks? How do you keep active during the work day?


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  • <a href="http://@DrewMoxon" target="_hplink">@DrewMoxon</a>

  • <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-spurlock/" target="_hplink">Chris Spurlock </a>

  • <a href="http://@jauntly" target="_hplink">@jauntly</a> coworkers

  • "All it took was a $35 IKEA coffee table on top of the actual desk and BAM - instant standing desk." @this_isbollocks

  • Stephen Tornone

  • @mallory_moretti

  • T. A. Henderson

  • Steve Strathearn

  • <a href="http://@ceethru" target="_hplink">@ceethru</a>

  • Special thanks to Healthy Living community member Brittany Mullins. Check out her blog, <a href="http://www.eatingbirdfood.com/" target="_hplink">Eating Bird Food. </a>

  • Special thanks to Huff Post Community member Pamela Hayes who submitted this photo of High Point university professor Dan Tarara.

  • Special thanks to Healthy Living Bill Ozinga. Here's his story: I've been using a treadmill desk for just over 100 days now and am close to completing my first goal - a 861 mile lap around Lake Michigan from my home. I've lost almost 20 lbs and have ton more energy at the end of the day. For the first three weeks, I sat a portion of the day, but since then I have been on the move almost constantly. So far the only drawback is I did the math on my fancy $100 walking shoes, they suggest replacing them every 500 miles. At this rate, my shoe costs will actually be higher than my YMCA membership! That's a cost I'm willing to accept. My setup is a height adjustable desk jacked up on blocks (2x4's, with a brace in the rear for stability), a cheap (free) treadmill I decapitated the controls from, and a keyboard slider to put the controls on so they're easily accessible. My total cost, under $60. This photo is from before the keyboard slider and it also shows the other key element in my success as a remote employee - a basket for my coworker (my cat).

  • Special thanks to community member Brittany Long. She says, "I've been standing for about a month now and I love it. The black square thing is one of those ottomans with a lid to hide stuff inside. The white rectangular thing is a shoe rack from Target. My hutch had a top and doors that lifted up on a hinge. I took off the top and the doors and the shelf was perfect for my monitors."

  • Special thanks to Healthy Living community member Emaan.

  • Special thanks to Healthy Living community member Anthony.

  • Special thanks to Healthy Living community member Tex.

  • Special thanks to Healthy Living community member Amit. Her standing desk consists of two cheap ikea book cabinets, two plank and bricks. She says, "I write and it's nice to have the books really close at hand. It also saves space in my studio apartment The middle area holds a dj mixer, and has also become my cat's favorite nap spot."

  • Special thanks to Carlos at Esperanza Salon & Spa in Summit, NJ.

  • Special thanks to Pat Minervini at <a href=":www.standingoodhealth.com." target="_hplink">StandingGoodHealth.com </a>

  • Special thanks to Healthy Living community member Marinna. She says, "The closed laptop on the lower desk has a broken screen so I just connected it to a monitor. I use that set as my home computer and the netbook is for school and traveling purposes. I installed a program called "Input Director" which connects both PCs so that way I only need one mouse and keyboard to control both!"

  • Special thanks to Healthy Living community member Sandy. She says, "Tried out the concept first by stacking lots of big books under the keyboard and monitor and loved how much better my back felt. Then trolled online to find the best fit for my needs and budget. Like this pub table solution a lot as the height is great and the larger dimensions allow for phone and paperwork next to the keyboard."

  • Special thanks to Healthy Living community member Eric.

  • Special thanks to Healthy Living community member Judith Saul. Here is her story: I was inspired years ago to raise my desk to standing height. It was long before I started reading articles about it it. It just suddenly struck me one day that it was healthier to keep moving. After 27 years of sitting I was tired of watching my ass spread. lol. As a graphic designer for a company that manufactures pilates equipment and produces anatomical training material and someone with 12 years of dance training I had already tried all kinds of other options like using a Ball instead of a chair, balancing on my knees etc. So I gerry-rigged my work station with a series of monitor risers. Two years ago, while our office was rearranging work stations, I bullied them into building me a surface to run the entire length of my area. It's 10 feet long in one direction and 5" in the other and 34" high. For those moments when I really need to sit for a bit I bought myself a drafting stool. I find I rarely simply stand as I work, I am more often dancing. I feel so much livelier and energetic now. I can't imagine ever going back to a low desk and chair.

  • Special thanks to Healthy Living community member Brian. Check out Brian's blog, Brain Currents <a href="http://www.draftingservices.com/blog/my-standing-desk" target="_hplink">here. </a>

  • Special thanks to Healthy Living community member Jen Tait from the Humane Society.

  • Special thanks to community member Robyn. She says, "It's not the prettiest thing but it works for me!"

  • Special thanks to Healthy Living community member Kenneth Hranicky. He says, "For those of you that are not 'carpentry' inclined, I suggest finding a small drafting table that you can place on top of the desk. Use rubberized 'carpet-stays' under the legs to keep the drafting table from sliding around on top of your desk. Most of these small drafting tables are adjustable so you can get the right height. Also remember to put something down on the floor so you can rotate having one leg higher than the other. That will help with lower back problems."

  • Special thanks to Healthy Living community member Don. He says , "My laptop and iPad are at eye level and the keyboard and mouse are right where they need to be. Wires snake invisibly behind the shelves. You can adjust the height of the laptop or the keyboard by adding books or moving the shelf. I used to have a six foot long desk that was covered with paper piles. With the bookcase I only have room for my coffee and post-it notes. I'm far more productive, focused and my abs are stronger now than when I was doing hundreds of sit-ups."

  • Made with $20 worth of supplies. Special thanks to community member Vanessa C <a href="twitter.com/Vanessa_TAHCH" target="_hplink">@Vanessa_TAHCH</a>

  • Julian Higman

  • Ashley Doss