Sneak movement into your day with non-exercise activity

When Jenny started using a standing desk, she expected only minor relief from back pain. Within days, she noticed she wasn’t dragging herself through afternoon meetings—her energy rose. She then began pacing for two minutes every time her calendar pinged. Soon she was adding flights of stairs on the way up to her office.

These small shifts—called NEAT (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis)—turned her sedentary job into a series of micro-workouts. Research shows that even standing burns 10 more calories per hour than sitting, and light movement multiplies that effect. Over weeks, Jenny’s basal metabolism ticked upward, and she shed stubborn weight around her abdomen.

For centuries, humans lived on their feet; modern chairs have stolen our built-in caloric burner. By restoring small daily motions, we awaken a hidden engine inside us. It’s not about hour-long workouts; it’s about reclaiming the energy we lose every time we slump into a seat.

NEAT requires no gym, no schedule—just a mindset that every step counts. Once you view your day as a chance to move more, your body—and scale—will thank you.

Next time you’re on a break, stand for two minutes or climb a flight of stairs. Park at the far end of the lot, and pace during phone calls. Dance through one song during TV commercial breaks. These micro-movements collectively fire up your metabolism and end the tyranny of the chair. Give it a whirl today.