How’s your NEAT? NEAT stands for Non-Exercise-Activity-Thermogenesis. These are activities that we do that don’t fall into the categories of sleep, exercise, or eating. When it comes to movement and exercise, increasing your NEAT is a low hanging fruit that everyone can do. Over the last few years, we have heard about getting “10,000” steps. This is an attempt to increase your NEAT. Can walking be part of your fitness program? Absolutely. Walking is low impact and if you pick up the pace a little bit, it will get your heart rate up. The 10,000 step idea, in my opinion, was more to get you out of your chair. For example, when I am at work (seems like a million years ago) if I have to go to the copy room, I’ll take the most indirect way there. Sure it is going to take an extra minute or so to get to my destination, but I will squeeze out a few extra steps. Parking far away from the grocery store will add a few more steps as well. One place where you can increase your NEAT is while working out (if your gym is open). In between sets, instead of sitting on the bench and scrolling through social media, walk to the end of the gym and back. Over the course of a year, these steps can add up. What else can count as NEAT? Playing with the dog, yard work, cooking, cleaning, playing a musical instrument etc. What is your favorite way to include NEAT?
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