Just read an interesting fact. FACT- The Amish are relatively thin people.
Now that was not the only interesting fact, what was interesting was what they consumed and still remained thin.
Amish diet includes, meats, pies, sugars, and the piece de resistance, FAT! Yes, fat!
How can they eat all these things, that we are constantly told not to eat, and have very low obesity in their community…not only do they stay thin, but, are able to do so without exercise, and that is not all, they also boast lower cancer rates than the rest of the US.
OMG! Seriously?
What is their secret? The secret is not a secret, it is called, NEAT.
NEAT stands for nonexercise activity thermogenesis, or everyday movement that does not include exercise. It seems that an Amish person walks 14,000-18,000 steps per day, which is equal to 7-9 miles! Now here is the sad part, the average American walks about 5,ooo steps per day.
Standing up and moving is the key to keeping fit and trim and it will also help lowering the cancer rate.
So do we have to go and live in Amish territory? Not if we don’t want to.
Here are simple no brainers to keep fit and trim.
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Meet Face to Face: Don’t depend on telephone, emails, or texting to speak to your coworkers, get up and walk to their department or cubicle and get your questions answered face to face.
Schedule Micro Breaks: I sometimes feel like I am shrinking away as I seat at my desk and bang on the keyboard, fervershly. Now I find out it is a true fact. Our posture at work is part of the shrinkage feeling problem. Seems your ligaments and soft tissue deform after 20 minutes of a slumped over keyboard position. The solution, get up every 20 minutes and stretch, take a walk , this will not only improve your posture but also increase your NEAT and help burn more calories
Walk: Walk to work if you can, take the stairs, park further away from the entrance don’t use the escalator or the elevator. Walk, Walk, Walk whenever you can.
Get off a few stops before or after your stop. This will put on some mileage to your NEAT experience.
Walk and Talk! Muti tasking! Another novel idea. Meet your friends for coffee but take the coffee out and walk your coffee break off.
Reach Out – but don’t touch someone. Try keeping things out of reach, in the office, and at home. This way you will have to walk to what every you should need. Hey, you can start by putting that remote control out of reach at home. now this is a NEAT starting point.