Workout while you work with this Elliptical Machine Office Desk, $8000

Hitting the gym before or after work can be such a drag. You either push yourself too hard at the gym before work and end up spending the rest of day nursing new aches at the office, or mistake the bench press for a bed after a long day at your job. Why not workout while at work?

For $8000, you can have an elliptical machine built right into your office chair so you can put your legs to good use while sitting at your desk. According to Hammacher Schlemmer, the venerable gadget retailer in New York, the Elliptical Machine Office Desk is:

Designed to be pedaled at slower cadences that won't break one's concentration (or cause one to break a sweat), an average user can burn about 4,000 calories in a typical workweek.

Resistance on the elliptical machine is electronically controlled via the included performance monitor that tracks distance, watts, rpm, and calories burned, and displays information stored for up to 30 individuals on its 4" x 6" LED screen.

This set up also includes a "generously padded" seat that spins for easy entry and exit and an adjustable backrest, as well as the height adjustable desk that can rise from 27" to 47" at the press of a button, so you can say goodbye to "food coma-ing" after lunch.

My back can really bother me after sitting in front of a computer all day so this office-exercise machine hybrid is a good step in the right direction, but with the hefty price tag and unappealing design, I can't imagine anyone outfitting an entire office (or even a home office) with the Elliptical Machine Office Desk.

Let me know if you use one of these desks at work! How do you stay fit while working?

[Source: Hammacher Schlemmer]