I talk about this A LOT with my coaching clients.
NEAT is just a fancy word for the amount of energy you spend moving around being active but which isnât formal exercise.
Why is NEAT important for my fat loss goals?
NEAT is notoriously underestimated when it comes to assessing energy expenditure.
Generally we assume we burn a lot of calories exercising and then fairly little the rest of the day, but this is not the case.
We actually burn less calories exercising than we think. For example, a standard hour in the gym lifting weights will only burn around 180 calories and possibly even less depending on your size.
Whereas the amount of calories you can burn by staying as active as possible throughout the day (even at a much lower pace or intensity than at the gym) will have a far bigger impact on your daily energy expenditure.
đ Even trivial-seeming moves like folding laundry, doing the housework and brushing your teeth help counter the negative effects of sitting for long stretches.
This is thanks to âNon Exercise Activity Thermogenesisâ, otherwise known as NEAT, which is the scientific term for the way everyday activities stimulate your metabolism.
Hereâs some simple ways you can increase your NEAT whilst being at home.
WALK MORE- whenever and wherever you can
PARK FURTHER AWAY- these steps really add up
TRY & HAVE AN ACTIVE COMMUTE- can you bike/walk/get off an earlier stop?
GET MOVING ON YOUR BREAKS- get some fresh air it will do wonders for productivity
GET A STEP TRACKER- youâll be amazed at your step count
CAN YOU DO YOUR ADMIN WHILST BEING ACTIVE? On the bike? Make phone calls on a walk?
đŤ Focus on a goal and have fun with it. Find joy đ in movement and live a longer, healthier more fulfilling life đđ¤¸đ˝ââď¸ đââď¸đľđ˝ââď¸đđ˝ââď¸