Digging a patio is pretty NEAT

Recently I’ve spent a lot of time digging and moving dirt. You see, we’re building a patio. Actually, Mel has incentivized me to build the patio by allowing me to build a sauna for the patio, too.

So, we just learned something - I am extremely motivated by my own interests. I mean, I’ve now been digging for a cumulative 12+ hours with at least 6 more to go… because I want a sauna 😂

Anyways, something that’s been really fascinating and on my mind while I’ve been doing this is NEAT.

No, I don’t mean digging is neat. In fact, there are a million other things I’d rather do.

NEAT stands for non-exercise activity thermogenesis. That’s just a fancy term that refers to the movement you do throughout the day that isn’t specifically exercise.

Think of it as passive activity. That’s an oxymoron, I know, but it might help you understand it better.

Besides your basal metabolic rate, NEAT is actually where a majority of your daily energy expenditure comes from (or should) compared to that from exercise alone.

What IS cool, is watching this through all of the digging I've been doing.

Just from digging and moving dirt 15 feet at a time, I’ve accumulated over 5,000 steps in just two hours. Not only that, I’m also literally lifting, carrying, and throwing dirt. Have I mentioned how heavy dirt is?!

Today, I walked over 11,000 steps just from digging out our patio. And that’s pretty rad.

I’m not saying everyone needs to go build their own patios now.

What I am getting at, though, is that it’s actually pretty easy to increase your NEAT.

No, no. Not just through yard work and more exhausting things like that, but just by moving more.

Need help with ideas for that?

• Park further away.

• Take the stairs.

• Have a pet? Walk them multiple times during the day!

• Add in multiple 10-minute walks after meals.

• Get movement in early on in your day - this often results in more during the rest of your day too.

• Walking meetings.

• Standing desk, desk treadmill, or stationary bike/desk combo.

• Let yourself fidget.

Little activities like these add up a lot more than you think. They’re easy ways to put yourself ahead each day.

And, if you want a goal, I always recommend my clients get at least 7,500 steps throughout the day.

Well, that’s it for this one! I hope this was helpful!

Stay stoked 🤙