NEAT Improvement Strategies to Improve Weight Loss
Replies
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To be honest I'm not getting enough done in the NEAT area. Hardly any at all. I'm either EAT or Netflix at the moment. Hopefully my move back to Cairns will get me more active.9
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One NEAT thing I do regularly is high knee stepping, standing on one foot, or side stepping while I brush my teeth. Just a little 🔥. Also, thanks for that link to the article on calcium. I am going to try to be more intentional about adding dairy.8
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I'm super psyched, because I finally found a desk that should work with my treadmill, which means that instead of doing emails with a *space heater* and then hitting the treadmill when I'm done. I can now just keep moving while I do my computer work, and avoid getting cold, numb feet in the first place.
I will have lower heat bills AND higher NEAT!15 -
I can't see me or anyone doing this but I read this article a couple of weeks ago. Washing your clothes on a washboard burns all kinds of calories!
I can remember as a child my mother having a wringer washer/clothes line. Laundry was an all day affair...It was definitely harder than sticking them in the washer and dryer.7 -
ElizabethKalmbach wrote: »I'm super psyched, because I finally found a desk that should work with my treadmill, which means that instead of doing emails with a *space heater* and then hitting the treadmill when I'm done. I can now just keep moving while I do my computer work, and avoid getting cold, numb feet in the first place.
I will have lower heat bills AND higher NEAT!
I saved $50/month on my heating bill after getting these Sorel Manawan slippers, which I wore with one pair each cotton socks and wool socks at my old place. (Now that I am living w my OH, he won't let me keep the temp low enough to need the wool socks, and I have another pair a size smaller to wear with just cotton socks.)
https://smile.amazon.com/Sorel-Mens-Manawan-NM1466-Slipper/dp/B001OTYZ2U
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kshama2001 wrote: »I saved $50/month on my heating bill after getting these Sorel Manawan slippers, which I wore with one pair each cotton socks and wool socks at my old place. (Now that I am living w my OH, he won't let me keep the temp low enough to need the wool socks, and I have another pair a size smaller to wear with just cotton socks.)
I'm an avid knitter and have *many* pairs of wool socks, and just wear shoes 'round the house, often. The trouble is my blood pressure is very low, so unless I get up and move periodically, nothing circulates enough to keep me warm. :P
I'm kind of like a shark that way.7 -
Bump. Important ideas especially as cooler weather moves in with potential shifts is "what you're willing to do"1
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Doing a check-in for two reasons. One is to offer this link for more info (it's a text article and stream of an audio segment from U.S. National Public Radio):
Wiggle While You Work: Fidgeting May Fight Fat
The other is just an observation: Yesterday, while using the drive-up teller window at my credit union (in a rush), I was thinking about how rarely I use drive-ups anymore, and how much I dislike it when I do. In this scenario, it would've felt more satisfying (for various reasons) to park the car, hotfoot it into the lobby, wait in line (doing my usual low-drama fidgety waiting in line stuff), transact and leave. Because I'm weird, it would've felt like a shorter time, even though I think in this case it would've been objectively longer/slower, because I would've been doing something, rather than waiting in the car all antsy but fairly still, waiting for the teller to Do Stuff.
It's kind of fun, sometimes, to run into the coffee shop (or whatever), note the last car in line at the drive-up, and see if I beat them out of there. It can also be entertaining to watch the car occupants from inside the coffee shop, and see who uses the drive-up (everyone
) vs. who goes in.
Park, sprint, fidget, order, pay, fidget, grab, run, get in & drive . . . vs. drive, idle, order, idle, pay, idle, grab, drive? It's possible to fidget while the car idles, of course. 10 -
Doing a check-in for two reasons. One is to offer this link for more info (it's a text article and stream of an audio segment from U.S. National Public Radio):
Wiggle While You Work: Fidgeting May Fight Fat
The other is just an observation: Yesterday, while using the drive-up teller window at my credit union (in a rush), I was thinking about how rarely I use drive-ups anymore, and how much I dislike it when I do. In this scenario, it would've felt more satisfying (for various reasons) to park the car, hotfoot it into the lobby, wait in line (doing my usual low-drama fidgety waiting in line stuff), transact and leave. Because I'm weird, it would've felt like a shorter time, even though I think in this case it would've been objectively longer/slower, because I would've been doing something, rather than waiting in the car all antsy but fairly still, waiting for the teller to Do Stuff.
It's kind of fun, sometimes, to run into the coffee shop (or whatever), note the last car in line at the drive-up, and see if I beat them out of there. It can also be entertaining to watch the car occupants from inside the coffee shop, and see who uses the drive-up (everyone ) vs. who goes in.
Park, sprint, fidget, order, pay, fidget, grab, run, get in & drive . . . vs. drive, idle, order, idle, pay, idle, grab, drive? It's possible to fidget while the car idles, of course.
You have drive through banks? I’ve never heard of them. The rise of drive through restaurants in the uk is not a good thing imo. It makes me sad seeing people parked in their cars eating food. I get that it’s convenient but I would much rather go in to the restaurant sit down and eat.
I like this thread for the ideas. I actually enjoy fidgeting when I work( I’m a desk jockey) . I find it helps me think.8 -
I will read the article you posted @AnnPT77 . I am a fidgeter for sure. I use the drive up tellers at several banks for work. Maybe I will start to park and go in instead. I also heard an interesting conversation about how shivering burns calories. I haven't experienced shivering since my son played football and we sat in 35 degrees and rain. I could not get warm!1
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This thread needed a bump anyway....
I've been meaning to write this up for a week, but time slips away. It is nothing more than an anecdote; however, I found it interesting when it happened.
It was a Saturday. I had been recovering from a cold, and I hadn't eaten anything all day. I had my morning coffee and a supplement powder in the morning. I went about my chores, but I just never got around to eating anything. I walked downtown thinking I would find something to purchase, but I never did. Later I went out for a pint. Mmmmm.... There's a taco shop a couple doors down, and the tavern lets us bring food in. I usually enjoy their tacos, but for some reason I ordered a burrito. Their smallest size is "medium," and it's as big as your head. That's one reason I usually get a taco or two -- just so much food.
I digress.
I wolfed down the burrito. It was super salty, but it was quite tasty.
Not very long after that, I noticed I was twitching my foot a lot more than I had an hour ago. My NEAT was ramping itself back up after I had solid food in my. Go figure. Yeah -- it happens.
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This thread needed a bump anyway....
I've been meaning to write this up for a week, but time slips away. It is nothing more than an anecdote; however, I found it interesting when it happened.
It was a Saturday. I had been recovering from a cold, and I hadn't eaten anything all day. I had my morning coffee and a supplement powder in the morning. I went about my chores, but I just never got around to eating anything. I walked downtown thinking I would find something to purchase, but I never did. Later I went out for a pint. Mmmmm.... There's a taco shop a couple doors down, and the tavern lets us bring food in. I usually enjoy their tacos, but for some reason I ordered a burrito. Their smallest size is "medium," and it's as big as your head. That's one reason I usually get a taco or two -- just so much food.
I digress.
I wolfed down the burrito. It was super salty, but it was quite tasty.
Not very long after that, I noticed I was twitching my foot a lot more than I had an hour ago. My NEAT was ramping itself back up after I had solid food in my. Go figure. Yeah -- it happens.
I like it: Good insight. Thanks!
Now that I've been in maintenance a while **, I've noticed that certain things seem to happen, too, if I materially over-eat for a day or two. For example, my resting heart rate the day after is up a few beats. My facial hair (eek) seems to grow a little faster (I assume other hair does, too, but that's harder to see). And that's not even starting from deficit: That's just my body revving up a little with a temporary calorie increase.
** I have no idea if that happened when I was fat; I didn't notice it, but didn't have the same tools to see it (like tracker-based resting heart rate). And I know the hormonal profile around eating changes, when we're not obese anymore (not sex-related hormones, which is what most people think of when we say "hormones", but the hormones that influence appetite, hunger, energy, etc.).
Oh and: Now I want a beer and a burrito.
Thanks for that, too. 5 -
@AnnPT77 - you wouldn't have wanted this particular burrito as it had pork in it. I suspect the tortillas they use for burritos also have some lard, but I'm not sure. They do make a good avocado taco I would recommend. I bet their fajita burrito would still be good without any meat, and maybe with tofu instead. I spent 30 years not eating meat, but I've expanded my menu in the past few years, at least for now. There's another burrito shop in town that makes a GREAT veggie burrito. Mmmm. The beer was a Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, and that's the joy of this time of year for me. Good stuff.
Anyway, I just happened to notice this "metabolic adaption" happen within a half hour of beginning to digest. I noticed it and found it really interesting. Again, a sample size of one, but "metabolic adaption" seems real, just not for the reasons some people may believe.
As far as hair growth; another story. On my last Grand Canyon raft trip, one of our crew normally shaves his head. He didn't shave his head OR his face for the trip. What a great trip - I got to celebrate the 50th anniversary of my birth playing disc in Redwall Cavern. Anyway, after we got off the river after 21 days, he got to see his reflection. He told us he had been wondering which would grow faster, the hair on his head or his beard. He was a little surprised to find the answer was.....
His EARS.
That had nothing to do with NEAT, but I will say we got PLENTY of activity every day rowing, hiking, setting up camp, and such. And plenty of relax time just watching the river go by....7 -
I wasn't homesick until your most recent post, @mtaratoot : an Ohioan now in the UK after 10 years living in California. Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale (if I'm thinking the right one) is a very happy place to be, and the burritos I could get in the Mission or in Oakland....
Right, so doing burritos or tacos at home for dinner tonight.
And I've been foot-bouncing my way through this while thread.
I'm a 'walk everywhere'-er, and am currently being driven a bit mad by the fact that instead of having a nice 1-mile each way walk to the train station to get to work, I'm half a mile walk TO THE OFFICE. It's brilliant in lots of ways, I love what I'm doing, but wow, losing about 3 miles just in the commute is getting to me. Add to that it's only one office and on the ground floor...
Let's just say I've been shopping this thread for ideas!6 -
Bump. Important ideas especially as cooler weather moves in with potential shifts in "what you're willing to do"
"There's no bad weather; just bad gear"
I'm getting ready to bundle up and go for a walk. I'll do this all winter long, except for on rainy days, when I do yoga/lift weights.5 -
Can't wait to read!0
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I can't see me or anyone doing this but I read this article a couple of weeks ago. Washing your clothes on a washboard burns all kinds of calories!
I can remember as a child my mother having a wringer washer/clothes line. Laundry was an all day affair...It was definitely harder than sticking them in the washer and dryer.
I have actually always wanted a washboard. The breakdown of a machine would be far less of an issue. We have no laundry mat for over 100km. And no repair shops. Good thing my husband is actually good at stuff like that.
My neat improvements have been:
-yank all the blankets off the bed every morning, shake them outside and then remake the bed. Smells way fresher!
-putting away all the kids laundry instead of stacking it on the stairs for them.
-washing the floor by hand.
-cleaning out my car weekly, needed or not.7 -
I am so sedentary it’s ridiculous. My office building is small. It’s only a few steps from my car to the door, my office is literally right around the corner, and it’s really close to both the bathroom and the kitchen lol.
Physical distance does not matter! You can always take a 5 minute walk to get to the bathroom that is 10 feet away. At work, my bathroom is on the same floor as my office, but I always go three floors up and back on the way to the bathroom.
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Recent additions:
I stand at work for a minimum of 6-8hours (chart at a bar height computer, vs sitting to chart) of my 12.5hour shift. Spend half my unpaid 30 minute lunch break listening to an audible book and walking. I also have to park on the 4th or 5th floor of the employee garage, which is not attached to the hospital. Instead of walking directly to the stairs and down, I walk a spiral down the ramps to the ground floor. I walk circles in my house while on phone calls or waiting for tea to steep, while cooking at the stove, etc. I use the stairs at work if I go to the pharmacy, convenience store or cafeteria.
My work area is also small (nurse's station in front of supply room, nutrition room and medication room, 15 patient rooms, none further than 35 steps from the desk), but I am doing small things and pushing my daily activity so I am at least moderately active on work days and lightly active (+) on non work days.
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BBC 6 has a funk’n’soul show on Saturday night, and ya better believe I’ve been working on NEAT with its help!!4
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Bit of a bump...1
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I did a talk on this subject recently and so it has been more on my mind lately.
There is kind of a running joke about people who declare that someone else is sabotaging their efforts to lose weight. If you ever watch young kids and their parents you have to wonder if some of our parents sabotaged us. I first noticed it in a grocery store. 2 young girls were driving their mom crazy because they were never still. They fidgeted, they danced, and they probably did other stuff but I couldn't pay much more attention without it getting creepy. My parents were always trying to get me to sit still and be quiet. SABOTAGE!!
Ok. Joking aside. Kids do not stop moving largely because they are exuberant. It is not easy to mimic this behavior but it starts each morning with deciding you will have a great day and trying to make it happen. Build habits like getting good sleep that helps support it.
NEAT can and does happen unintentionally. Sure I can choose to park further away or take the stairs but when I move more without even making the choice it is even better.
So this contribution to this thread is to try to intentionally increase your unintentional NEAT.11 -
Tis the season (up north anyway) to shovel your snow... and your neighbours! There's some extra NEAT for sure!2
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I did a talk on this subject recently and so it has been more on my mind lately.
There is kind of a running joke about people who declare that someone else is sabotaging their efforts to lose weight. If you ever watch young kids and their parents you have to wonder if some of our parents sabotaged us. I first noticed it in a grocery store. 2 young girls were driving their mom crazy because they were never still. They fidgeted, they danced, and they probably did other stuff but I couldn't pay much more attention without it getting creepy. My parents were always trying to get me to sit still and be quiet. SABOTAGE!!
Ok. Joking aside. Kids do not stop moving largely because they are exuberant. It is not easy to mimic this behavior but it starts each morning with deciding you will have a great day and trying to make it happen. Build habits like getting good sleep that helps support it.
NEAT can and does happen unintentionally. Sure I can choose to park further away or take the stairs but when I move more without even making the choice it is even better.
So this contribution to this thread is to try to intentionally increase your unintentional NEAT.
Some time after first discovering this thread I observed my 9 year old. Dude is seriously into his trains, and especially loves watching the wheels up close, which involves a lot of eyes-very-near-table-top-level (and a LOT of back and forth...). To find the optimal position, he moves, and moves again, and moves some more. Kneeling, bending over, squatting, standing to consider the next best position (or get more trains... MORE TRAINS?!?!?!) even though he is technically sitting and playing with something, he barely stops moving.
I want to be more like him. With maybe fewer trains.10 -
Tis the season (up north anyway) to shovel your snow... and your neighbours! There's some extra NEAT for sure!
Welllll, maybe. I only need to shovel a few times in a typical Winter, but when I do, it's 4+ inches of snow on about 1500+ square feet of driveway. Takes 2-4 hours, depending on amount and consistency of the snow. Better believe I'm counting that as exercise calories, and eating them!
But yes, if only a bit of shoveling, that's good NEAT!1 -
This won't work as much for anyone in a really snowy or icy winter climate (or an entirely rural, remote area), but I mapped out a circle (in my car) from my house in all directions for two miles. Anywhere I want to go within that 2 miles, I have to walk to and back - no car. I live in a city in Nevada, so this works great. Almost anything I could ever need is within that 2 miles, so it amounts to a lot of exercise without ever having to step foot in a gym.13
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cupcakesandproteinshakes wrote: »Doing a check-in for two reasons. One is to offer this link for more info (it's a text article and stream of an audio segment from U.S. National Public Radio):
Wiggle While You Work: Fidgeting May Fight Fat
The other is just an observation: Yesterday, while using the drive-up teller window at my credit union (in a rush), I was thinking about how rarely I use drive-ups anymore, and how much I dislike it when I do. In this scenario, it would've felt more satisfying (for various reasons) to park the car, hotfoot it into the lobby, wait in line (doing my usual low-drama fidgety waiting in line stuff), transact and leave. Because I'm weird, it would've felt like a shorter time, even though I think in this case it would've been objectively longer/slower, because I would've been doing something, rather than waiting in the car all antsy but fairly still, waiting for the teller to Do Stuff.
It's kind of fun, sometimes, to run into the coffee shop (or whatever), note the last car in line at the drive-up, and see if I beat them out of there. It can also be entertaining to watch the car occupants from inside the coffee shop, and see who uses the drive-up (everyone ) vs. who goes in.
Park, sprint, fidget, order, pay, fidget, grab, run, get in & drive . . . vs. drive, idle, order, idle, pay, idle, grab, drive? It's possible to fidget while the car idles, of course.
You have drive through banks? I’ve never heard of them. The rise of drive through restaurants in the uk is not a good thing imo. It makes me sad seeing people parked in their cars eating food. I get that it’s convenient but I would much rather go in to the restaurant sit down and eat.
I like this thread for the ideas. I actually enjoy fidgeting when I work( I’m a desk jockey) . I find it helps me think.
We have had drive-through banks in the U.S. for at least 50 years. I remember tellers sending lollipops (suckers, hard candy on sticks -- not sure what you call them in the U.K.) -- in the drawer (if you were in the lane beside the teller) or the canister in the pneumatic tube (if you were in the far lane) for me when I was a little girl and my mother was using the drive through.3 -
@RCPV Love that! We're in an area of the UK with more people than the infrastructure was ever intended for, so I joke that it's quicker to walk than drive anyway! As an aside, some of the most beautiful hikes I've taken were in your state!
Here's a pic just for you. Took it this morning. I've also made it my profile pic.
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