NEAT stands for Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis, which simply means burning energy through daily activities that do not include sleeping, eating, or exercise. It’s oftentimes the missing piece of the puzzle for those who have a hard time losing weight, despite having a healthy diet. It’s also extremely important for people who want to maintain their healthy weight.

By making small daily choices and setting the stage for exercise at your own pace, here are some ways you can maximize NEAT:

• Stand when you can. Get out of your chair as much as possible. Instead of sitting at work, stand while you're at your desk. If you need to share a message with a colleague, get up to go talk to them instead of sending an email.
• Track your steps. Set a personal goal for the amount of steps you take daily. Try using a fitness tracker or pedometer to monitor your steps and fitness activity.
• Actively relax. Instead of sitting on the couch, try active relaxing activities such as yoga or taking a casual stroll. If you do choose to sit and relax, take note of your posture and focus on your core position. Try to get up and take a few steps every 20 – 30 minutes.
• Use the stairs. Climbing one flight of stairs is equivalent to walking 100 steps. Instead of taking the elevator at work, use the steps to burn some extra calories.
• Have fun cleaning. Chores don’t have to be boring. Turn on the music and get moving while you clean! Or try simple exercises such as bicep curls while taking out the trash or lunges as you vacuum to enhance your motion and burn more calories.
• Go Manual. Do things by hand instead of using a machine. Instead of loading the dishes in the dishwasher, take the time to wash them by hand. If you’ve been getting a lot of snow this winter, assemble a team to shovel instead of using the snow blower.

Ask me, your OPTAVIA Coach, about other ways to get moving on your journey to Lifelong Transformation, One Healthy Habit At A Time™.

Identifying your WHY is a crucial step in setting goals for your health and all other areas of your life. Your goals should have enough purpose that you are driven to achieve them. While change can be accomplished without a sense of purpose, the extra drive and motivation will make the results more meaningful.  Answer these questions to help identify your WHY and put you on the fast track for reaching your health goals:

• What is your end goal? First, define your goal. What would you like to achieve in the next six months to one year? If you clearly define what you want, you’ll be able to take actionable steps to reach your objective.
• What are the benefits of reaching your goal? Make a list of all the potential benefits of reaching your goal. You may discover some additional rewards that you weren’t originally seeking in the process.
• What is the root cause for your change? Understanding the root cause is a key factor in achieving our health goals. For example, if you are an emotional eater, your root cause may be that you see food as a comfort outlet. It’s important to identify and figure out how to address the root cause to eliminate the chance of it resurfacing.
• What are your passions? This is the part of the WHY that’s bigger than you. It’s about connecting with what you love and focusing on endeavors that fuel your fire.

After you have defined your WHY, the next step to success is to develop your action plan for reaching your goals. Continue reminding yourself of your reasons for change by writing them down in a journal or pinning them to a vision board where you will see them regularly. That way, you’ll have the confidence and momentum to achieve success.

Ask me, your OPTAVIA Coach, how you can increase your motivation to achieve your goals on your journey to Lifelong Transformation, One Healthy Habit at a Time™.

Fight for Your Health

“Three years ago, I not only experienced an emotionally painful year, but I had also sadly come to a point in my physical health where I accepted being overweight. I even started preparing for the likelihood of diabetes and the possibility that I would have a shorter life.”

Angela was constantly feeling awful, fatigued, and had been under a year of physical therapy due to back pain.

“My body was unhealthy, but so was my mind. I feared many things—what others thought of me when I stood in front of them, that I would face other health concerns due to my weight, and that I would miss most of my children’s lives because I was too tired to do anything with them.”

But hope began to blossom for Angela when she saw her friend’s transformation and success with OPTAVIA. She decided to give the Program a try with her friend as her Coach.

“She asked me to trust her until I could believe for myself! So I took the first step, then the next, until one day I began to believe that this dream actually could become reality! The chains of bondage began to break away and the impossible became possible.”

Angela lost 105 pounds*, and gained the freedom to run with her young children, get down on the floor and actually get up again, and focus on loving others by sharing the gift of health she had received.

“Sometimes the smallest steps in the right direction end up being the biggest steps of our lives! What began as a “diet” has become life transformation of body and mind! Never regret your fight for your health.”