what does that have to do with weight loss?
By now you’ve heard...Sitting is the new smoking. You burn about 50 more calories per hour by standing compared to sitting. If you stand for 3 hours a day for 5 days of the week, you’ll burn an extra 750 calories per week. That's equivalent to about 3 hours of exercise per week! But, standing isn’t exercise, it’s NEAT.
Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) is the energy burned for everything we do that is not sleeping, eating or sports-like exercise. Not only will NEAT help you burn more calories, but it can increase lipoproteins which convert fat into energy. When you’re trying to burn more calories and lose weight, it is important to know that NEAT makes up a big part of that equation. Here’s how it breaks down:
"Over-exercising” with activities that you are not used to like flipping tires could also lead to injuries. Excessive cardio could lead to a reduction in your metabolism or a craving for carbohydrates, increasing your hunger. Consider using a heart rate monitor while you exercise. Keep your heart rate in the fat burning zone if you’re trying to lose weight.
Bottom line: Although exercise is important for your overall health, focusing on exercise is NOT the biggest bang for your buck when you’re trying to lose weight. However, NEAT (non exercise activity thermogenesis) makes up more than 2x the calories than that of exercise. Consider taking the pressure of “exercise” off your plate by becoming a NEAT freak.
how to become a NEAT freak:
Use a pedometer: shoot for 8,600 steps per day or slowly increase by 1000 extra steps per day. Don't forget to challenge a friend!
Ask your employer about a standing desk or sit on an exercise ball at work. If you work from home, consider a walking desk.
Do your own housework
Play active games with kids like tag and hide and go seek
It’s okay to fidget. “Naturally thin” people tend to fidget more.
Park farther away from your destination
Avoid “people movers” like elevators, escalators, and moving walkways
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