Get off your seat and increase your N.E.A.T!

Non-exercise activity thermogenesis.

A fancy way of saying all activity that isn’t exercise!

Lockdown has resulted in so many of us sitting down for longer durations than we’re used to. We’ve all had to endure a long year of reduced activity levels and a more sedentary lifestyle, and for many that has resulted in unwanted weight gain.  

If you’re looking to lose some weight and just generally increase your overall activity, I recommend increasing your daily NEAT. This is basically all activity that isn’t exercise. For example, walking up the stairs, walking instead of getting the lift, general fidgeting, carrying shopping bags, walking your dog, dancing around the house, playing an instrument, doing housework, cleaning your car etc.

Non exercise activity actually burns more energy in a day, compared to energy we burn from exercise. Generally, you can expect daily NEAT to fall between 1000 and 2000 calories daily. So, don’t feel like you have to exercise just to burn calories. This is not necessary, and also puts a lot of pressure on your physical and mental state. Instead, focus on forming positive daily habits, like increasing overall activity, which will help you adopt an overall fitter, more active lifestyle.

Benefits of increasing your NEAT:

• Burns a lot more energy daily, so you can achieve weight loss goals.

• Increases your heart rate, helping to keep you fit.

• Picks up your mood, which in times like this is very important.

• Helps to reduce overall stiffness in the body, which can be caused by long periods of sitting.

• Supports a healthy lifestyle daily, helping to create better long-term habits.

• Allows you to find new ways of moving and being active, without having to just exercise to burn calories.

If you’ve got a fitness tracker, you could try aiming to walk 250 steps each hour for example. If not, just go for a 20-minute walk on your next lunch break if you can. If you’re working from home, and stuck on endless zoom calls, consider standing up for your next call, versus sitting. The point here is just to try and be more active in your day-to-day life, to help you live a healthier life.