Did you know that the best way to manage weight might not include daily gym visits? That’s right; researchers have taken a long hard look at the ramifications of a sedentary lifestyle and concluded that your favorite chair could be your worse enemy. The term NEAT – an acronym for – was coined by Dr. James Levine, a Mayo Clinic obesity researcher.
NEAT is the energy expended or calories burned for everything we do that is not sleeping, eating, or sports-like exercise. These activities range from gardening and housework to fidgeting, puttering and basically standing instead of sitting as much as possible.
Looking for ideas to up your NEAT tally?
- At work, move the wastebasket to the other side of the office. You’ll have to get up out of your seat to toss your apple core.
- Just say “no” to elevators.
- Get up and walk around while chatting on the telephone.
- Use a more distant restroom so you have to walk a longer distance.
- If you find yourself sitting for long periods of time, set a timer for every hour as a reminder to get up and walk around or to do a few stretches.
