In many ways, the rise in work-from-home options has turned our living spaces into offices, meeting rooms, and even home gyms. While doing everything from home can create a tricky balance between staying active or curling up on the couch, one new gadget is giving people the option of walking their way into better health from the comfort of their homes.
The Under-Desk Treadmills Fitness Trend
Walking pads, also known as under-desk treadmills, are the latest fitness trend to capture the attention of the TikTok girlies. Think of it as your hot girl walk, but indoors. These compact and portable machines are the perfect way to walk, stroll, or jog indoors without the need for a large, traditional treadmill. These walking pads can easily fit under a desk or a corner space and are perfect for anyone who might be a little gym-shy or may want to burn a few calories while they're working.
The Benefits of Under-Desk Treadmills
While many of our jobs can call for our full attention from morning to evening, finding the right pocket of time to get your workout in while maintaining your work-life balance is a juggling act that many of us have yet to master. Being glued to your desk for long periods of time may seem like a harmless habit, but being stationary with little to no movement has its side effects.
According to studies, prolonged periods of sitting can heighten the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes, while other sedentary lifestyles and habits may elevate the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. While some popular notions are to hit the 10,000 steps a day mark, research has shown that even taking a brisk 10-minute walk daily is a sufficient way to get your steps in and meet the goal of 150 minutes of weekly exercise, as recommended by the NHS.
If you’re looking to take a new exercise routine for a spin, grab your best-running shoes and workout playlist because we’ve got you covered.
The Best Under Desk Treadmills and Walking Pads To Buy:
RHYTHM FUN Treadmill Under Desk Treadmill
Goplus 2 in 1 Folding Treadmill
Egofit Walker M1/M1T Under Desk Electric Treadmill With Incline
The Best Indoor Walking Exercises To Try:
Get 5000 steps in with @growwithjo! This 30-minute walk aims to boost your mood and burn fat while you get your stroll on. Hop on your treadmill for an extra challenge!
If you want a walking routine that leaves your glutes burning, try a treadmill with an incline like TikTok user @prettycritical.
@prettycritical a walking pad that hits your glutes #walking #hotgirlwalk #walkingpad #fittok #workfromhome #realhousewives #egofit #egofitwalkerpro #glutesworkout
Where there’s a will, there’s a way to keep the gains. To keep your peach sitting right, fitness instructor @trainertaby recommends using a resistance band and doing “low-intensity steady-state cardio.”
@trainertaby Low Intensity Steady State Cardio has been my go to✨super easy & highly effective for my friends that want to burn fat while keeping their hard earned gains💪🏾you can find my resistance bands at bandycheeks.com🍑 #newyear #health #healthy #fitness
Looking for the perfect playlist for your treadmill session? Try this Rihanna-inspired #playliststrut from @makenzieandmalia.
@makenzieandmalia this workout was not my idea‼️ I saw@benntheredonethat do it first (she made the playlist as well) Just trying to make some fun work out videos💕
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Featured image by gradyreese/Getty Images
- 'I used an under-desk treadmill daily for two weeks' ›
- 19 Best Under-Desk Treadmills & Walking Pads In 2023, Per Reviews ›
- 8 Best Treadmill Desks for Working in 2023 - Treadmill Desk Reviews ›
- Review: I Tried an Under Desk Treadmill for One Month | The Everygirl ›
- Best Under-Desk Treadmills for 2023 - Best Walking Treadmills ›
Aley Arion is a writer and digital storyteller from the South, currently living in sunny Los Angeles. Her site, yagirlaley.com, serves as a digital diary to document personal essays, cultural commentary, and her insights into the Black Millennial experience. Follow her at @yagirlaley on all platforms!
Claudia Jordan, Demetria McKinney & Jill Marie Jones On 'Games Women Play' & Dating Over 40
What do you get when you mix unfiltered truths, high-stakes romance, and a few well-timed one-liners? You get Games Women Play—the sizzling new stage play by Je’Caryous Johnson that’s part relationship rollercoaster, part grown-woman group chat.
With a powerhouse cast that includes Claudia Jordan, Demetria McKinney, Jill Marie Jones, Carl Payne, Chico Bean, and Brian J. White, the play dives headfirst into the messy, hilarious, and heart-wrenching games people play for love, power, and peace of mind. And the women leading this story? They’re bringing their whole selves to the stage—and leaving nothing behind.
From Script to Spotlight
The road to Games Women Play started over 20 years ago—literally.
“This script was written 20 years ago,” Jill Marie Jones said with a smile. “It was originally called Men, Money & Gold Diggers, and I was in the film version. So when Je’Caryous called me to bring it to the stage, I was like, ‘Let’s go.’” Now reimagined for 2025, the play is updated with sharp dialogue and modern relationship dynamics that feel all too real.
Demetria McKinney, no stranger to Je’Caryous Johnson’s productions, jumped at the opportunity to join the cast once again. “This is my third time working with him,” she shared. “It was an opportunity to stretch. I’d never been directed by Carl Payne before, and the chance to work with talent I admire—Jill, Claudia, Chico—it was a no-brainer.”
Claudia Jordan joked that she originally saw the role as just another check. “I didn’t take it that seriously at first,” she admitted. “But this is my first full-on tour—and now I’ve got a whole new respect for how hard people work in theater. This ain’t easy.”
Modern Love, Stage Left
The play doesn’t hold back when it comes to the messier parts of love. One jaw-dropping moment comes when a live podcast proposal flips into a prenup bombshell—leaving the audience (and the characters) gasping.
Demetria broke it down with honesty. “People don’t ask the real questions when they date. Like, ‘Do you want kids? How do you feel about money?’ These convos aren’t happening, and then everyone’s confused. That moment in the play—it’s real. That happens all the time.”
Jill chimed in, noting how the play speaks to emotional disconnect. “We’re giving each other different tokens of love. Men might offer security and money. Women, we’re giving our hearts. But there’s a disconnect—and that’s where things fall apart.”
And then Claudia, of course, took it all the way there. “These men don’t even want to sign our prenups now!” she laughed. “They want to live the soft life, too. Wearing units, gloss, getting their brows done. We can’t have nothing! Y’all want to be like us? Then get a damn period and go through menopause.”
Dating Over 40: “You Better Come Correct”
When the conversation turned to real-life relationships, all three women lit up. Their experiences dating in their 40s and 50s have given them both clarity—and zero tolerance for games.
“I feel sexier than I’ve ever felt,” said Jill, who proudly turned 50 in January. “I say what I want. I mean what I say. I’m inside my woman, and I’m not apologizing for it.”
Demetria added that dating now comes with deeper self-awareness. “Anybody in my life is there because I want them there. I’ve worked hard to need nobody. But I’m open to love—as long as you keep doing what got me there in the first place.”
For Claudia, the bar is high—and the peace is priceless. “I’ve worked hard for my peace,” she said. “I’m not dating for food. I’m dating because I want to spend time with you. And honestly, if being with you isn’t better than being alone with my candles and fountains and cats? Then no thanks.”
Channeling Strength & Icon Status
Each actress brings something different to the play—but all of them deliver.
“I actually wish I could be messier on stage,” Claudia joked. “But I think about my grandmother—she was born in 1929, couldn’t even vote or buy a house without a man, and didn’t give a damn. She was fearless. That’s where my strength comes from.”
For Jill, the comparisons to her iconic Girlfriends character Toni Childs aren’t far off—but this role gave her a chance to dig deeper. “If you really understood Toni, you’d see how layered she was. And Paisley is the same—misunderstood, but strong. There’s more to her than people see at first glance.”
Demetria, who juggles singing and acting seamlessly, shared that live theater pushes her in a new way. “Every moment on stage counts. You can’t redo anything. It’s a different kind of love and discipline. You have to give the performance away—live, in the moment—and trust that it lands.”
Laughter, Lessons & Black Girl Gems
The show has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments—and the cast isn’t shy about who steals scenes.
“Chico Bean gets a lot of gasps and laughs,” Claudia said. “And Naomi Booker? Every scene she’s in—she’s hilarious.”
But the play isn’t just about humor. It leaves space for reflection—especially for Black women.
“I hope we get back to the foundation of love and communication,” said Demetria. “A lot of us are in protector mode. But that’s turned into survival mode. We’ve lost softness. We’ve lost connection.”
Claudia agreed. “We’re doing it all—but it’s not because we want to be strong all the time. It’s because we have to be. And I just want women to know: You can have peace, you can be soft. But stop bringing your old pain into new love. Don’t let past heartbreak build walls so high that the right person can’t climb over.”
Final Act: Pack the House
If there’s one thing this cast agrees on, it’s that this play isn’t just entertainment—it’s necessary.
“Atlanta is the Black entertainment hub,” Claudia said. “We need y’all to show up for this play. Support the arts. Support each other. Because when we pack the house, we make space for more stories like this.”
Games Women Play is more than a play—it’s a mirror. You’ll see yourself, your friends, your exes, and maybe even your next chapter. So get ready to laugh, reflect, and maybe even heal—because the games are on.
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Keke Palmer Once Filed For Bankruptcy, Now She Says Living Below Her Means Is Her Top Financial Habit
Keke "Keep A Job" Palmer isn't known as the hustler blueprint for naught. At 31, the child star turned Hollywood heavy-hitter, singer, podcaster, host, producer, author, and founder of her own digital network (hey, KeyTV!) has built an enviable career and legacy. But what's our girl's most underrated flex? Her unshakeable commitment to financial discipline.
In a recent interview with CNBC Make It, the "Confessions" singer confessed that her biggest financial habit isn't so much about earning more as it is about spending less. Keke is Team Live Below Your Means, no matter the tax bracket.
“I Live Under My Means”: Keke Palmer’s Money Mantra
"I live under my means. I think it's incredibly important," she told the outlet. "If I have $1 million in my pocket, my rent is going to be $1,500 — that's how underneath my means I'm talking. My car note is going to be $340. I don't need a [Bentley] Bentayga, I'll ride in a Lexus."
Her money mindset wasn't just taught to her, it was earned. Just last year, Keke opened up about filing for bankruptcy at 18-19 years old. At the Building Wealth for Tomorrow Financial Empowerment summit in October 2024, Keke shared with the audience about her experience, "I was so spooked. I was like, 'What went wrong?'"
Despite Keke starting her career in her childhood and acting as the main breadwinner in her family at a young age, the early money didn't stop her from experiencing financial hardship. Like many of us, her relationship with money was trial and error. Keke had the support of her family and the guidance of a business manager that was hired when she was 12, yet still she learned some of her biggest money lessons firsthand.
That experience changed everything. And now Keke lives her best life by keeping her expenses low, making it clear that more money doesn't have to mean more problems if you handle your business.
"If I got $10,000 in the bank, then my house would be $500 a month. That’s how under I mean, because I can probably afford something $2,500 maybe, but I’m going way under," she told the audience at the 2024 summit.
She continued, "You know why? Because I wanna invest in my business. So if I wanna invest in my business, then the material things that I’m having currently might have to take a short back. Instead of wearing Gucci, I’m wearing Zara. I live in a good place. I drive a cool car, ’cause my money is going elsewhere… I got a Toyota right now in my driveway."
Keke's lifestyle isn't about depriving herself, it's about prioritizing what's really important.
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