🤯 This Kind Of Movement Doesn't Count?
🤯 This Kind Of Movement Doesn't Count?🤯 This Kind Of Movement Doesn't Count?🤯 This Kind Of Last week a client mentioned that when her doctor asked about her exercise habits and she mentioned playing pickleball, he dismissively said, "Oh, that doesn't count...."
ALL movement counts!
Ever known someone who "can't sit still"? Even when they're sitting, they're fidgeting.
That fidgeting is an example of NEAT--Non–Exercise Activity Thermogenesis--daily activities that don't include sleep and intentional exercise.
​NEAT movements account for a higher energy expenditure than intentional exercise!
Small movements throughout the day add up. The cumulative effect is an increased metabolic rate that can make a huge difference in your overall caloric expenditure.
NEAT could be the difference between gaining or losing weight.
Little movements, like walking around instead of sitting, moving every hour, taking the stairs instead of the elevator... offset the effect of a sedentary lifestyle.
Whether you’re gardening, taking a lap around the office, or even standing up during your conference calls—it all counts.
​Research shows that sitting less and moving more leads to living longer, while getting an hour's workout during the day doesn't counteract the effect of sitting the rest of the day.
NEAT is good for overall health
Researchers have seen c-reactive protein related to inflammation, triglycerides, and blood sugar increase in those who get little NEAT on a regular basis---which has implications for heart health.
Inactivity for just one day can cause cell processes to fail, allowing the breakdown of fats in the blood which lowers good cholesterol (HDL).
​Walking, a type of NEAT activity, helps improve insulin sensitivity andimproves the movement of food through your digestive tract.
Sedentary jobs lead to lower levels of NEAT.
Instead of getting the average sedentary time for Americans of 9-10 hours a day, move around more often.
Adding a total of about two and a half hours of standing and light walking around the house or office should do it.
Try to move more than you sit.
My Fitbit reminds me to get 250 steps every hour. Getting a step counter can encourage you to get more daily movement.
How can you increase your NEAT?
Take the stairs whenever possible.
Set a goal of getting at least 250 steps every hour during the day.
Stand up and move around when you're on the phone.
Park a little further from your destination.
Meet friends to walk, instead of sitting at a bar or coffee shop.
Take the dog for walks.
Park the car and go inside, rather than using a drive-through.
Make multiple trips to carry in the groceries, instead of carrying the whole car load at one time. 🤣
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What You Probably Can't Do?
Become a fidgeter, if you're not already "wired" to be one. That's ok, just take a walk instead....or......
The next time you find yourself putting off household chores, remember the hotel maids who burned more calories when they were told to think of their work as exercise.
It's amazing what the mind can do!
