What is NEAT?
NEAT stands for non-exercise activity thermogenesis, this is the energy that you expend on a daily basis that doesn’t come from eating, sleeping or exercising. The list of things that can be classed as NEAT are endless, but some examples include:
Walking
Gardening
Cleaning
Cooking
Manual labour
Playing with your children
Most people don’t realise that they are burning calories constantly, and only think calories are burnt when exercising or at the gym. However, the calories you burn when exercising are only minor in comparison to the calories you burn throughout your day with daily activities.
This is especially important if you are going through a transformation. During this period, you need to make the most of every single part of your day to get you closer to achieving your fitness goals. So it’s time to start taking the stairs.
Can you improve your NEAT?
Your body is always burning calories, even when you’re asleep. However, most people rely on a 1 hour gym session 3 times a week to burn fat and get the results they want. But that won’t work. If you’re serious about getting results then you need to move more throughout the day and increase your NEAT.
Why is NEAT important?
Have you ever wondered why your Personal Trainer encourages you to get at least 10,000 steps a day? It’s not because weight-loss increases after 10,000 steps, but because they know the importance of increasing your NEAT. Regardless of what your goal is, increasing your NEAT will improve your lifestyle and make you a healthier human being.
If you’re going through a transformation, increasing your NEAT can be a great way to get results without decreasing calories to a number that doesn’t feel manageable for you. The more calories you can expend in the day, the more calories you can eat and this works the same in reverse. If you do not burn a lot of calories in the day, but still want to lose fat, you will need to reduce your calorie intake to ensure you’re in a calorie deficit.
How to increase your NEAT
If you know you need to move more in the day, here are some ways you can increase your NEAT and build a healthier body without making too many changes to your everyday life.
Park further and walk: Whether you’re going to work or shopping, instead of parking as close to the door as possible, park further away from the door. It’s so simple but can get you a few hundred more steps everyday. Or even better, walk or cycle to these places.
Move at your desk: If you find you’re glued to your desk most of the day, set reminders to yourself to move. Put an alarm on your phone every 30 minutes to hour that forces you to walk around the office for a few minutes, your joints will thank you.
Don’t go straight to the sofa: If you’ve been out all day it can be too tempting to jump straight to the sofa and watch tv all night. Don’t do it. Before you fall to temptation, try and do some house chores whilst you’re up and running. Wash the dishes, do a quick clean up around the house or begin cooking a fresh meal.
Want some other tips on how increasing your NEAT can contribute to your transformation? Get in touch today.
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