[Hoot Gibson]

Standing desks - has any other BGR members who work in an office decided to abandon their chairs for their health? If so, how is your workstation configured?

Even for the active, a long sit shortens life and erodes health

In short, if you work in a job where you sit most of the time, then you are much more likely to die suddenly, even if you work out regularly and think you are fit. You are also 90 percent more likely to develop diabetes than a person who does not sit for long periods of time.

I spend most of my day sitting in front of a keyboard, so I decided to change my ways and create a standing workstation. Several of my coworkers have already made the switch, although a couple have already passed their "standing desks" to somebody else. I see a couple others sitting and working with their hands over their heads too, but some have stuck with the new program.

Yesterday, I went to an IKEA store and bought a 13" tall (39" wide x 16" deep) steel and glass table on which I will place my keyboard and mouse. I have ordered a heavy rubber mat from Amazon.com and new wrist pads for my keyboard and mouse.

The table is light enough that I can move it aside and sit down periodically until I get used to standing all day. I paid under $20 for the table, which was a display model that had recently been discontinued. The mat was another $60, and all together I will have about $120 invested in my new setup. The glass table will sit on top of my desk, which will raise my keyboard to 42".

My monitors are mounted to an adjustable bracket. At their maximum height, they will be lower than experts recommend when I stand, but I am hoping to avoid moving them to individual stands.