Researchers love to study weight loss, and more specifically, fat loss in humans.
Googling the term “weight loss research studies” yields 674,000,000 results in .50 seconds.
Asking “Which research applies to me?” is a fair question.
Confusion over what seems to be conflicting scientific findings, and what may be right for our particular body, may paralyze us from taking any practical, commonly accepted, action to shed or keep off excess pounds.
Occasionally though, an explanation, term or answer pops up that addresses multiple research questions.
Introducing NEAT: Non-exercise Activity Thermogenesis – which is the energy (calories) expended for everything we do that is not sleeping, eating or sports-like or planned exercise sessions.
Here are examples of using NEAT: 1. Parking at the far end of the grocery store parking lot; 2. Taking stairs, if knees allow it, rather than an elevator to go up one or two flights of stairs in a building.
Now samples of not-using NEAT: 1. Driving one block to visit a friend, rather than walking; 2. Keeping the TV remote so close that we NEVER have to stand up to retrieve it to change a channel; 5. Continuous comfortable sitting in front of the computer, rather than positioning it so we have to stand while informing or entertaining ourselves in front of the screen.
I personally realized that the COVID-induced convenient, and now habitual, practice of having groceries delivered to the house was not allowing NEAT to have its way in my life.
Oh No! Was loss of NEAT, and not teaching any Fall 2022 Fitness classes due to shoulder surgery, a contributor to the five pounds I picked up between January, 2022, and now?
Back to Science and the research underlying NEAT – I am quoting from my recent favorite fitness book Ageless Intensity by Pete McCall. Emphasis in bold font is mine…
One reason why constant activity is so important is an enzyme called lipoprotein lipase (LPL) that plays a critical role in converting fat into energy. Remaining sedentary for too long at a time could reduce levels of LPL and reduce your efficiency at burning fat, while using NEAT to move consistently throughout the day can help sustain LPL levels, thus helping your body to maintain its ability to efficiently metabolize fat into energy.
BRING on the SCIENCE!
I’m counting on it and NEAT’s quiet LPL power to thermogenesis (burn calories) out of my last five pounds! WF!
UPDATE ON ZUMBA GOLD AND ONLINE PERSONAL TRAINING CLASSES!!
WE START THIS FRIDAY, THE 13TH AT 9:30 A.M. ON ZOOM..
I HAVE SOME OF OUR RECENT GROUP’S INDIVIDUAL EMAIL ADDRESSES AND WILL REACH OUT TO YOU.
ANYONE ON THIS BLOG LIST WHO WANTS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT WILDFIRE1@TRUETOMYBODY.COM.
