5 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS YOU CAN KEEP!

 Scientists at the University of Missouri studied the physiological effects of sitting by injecting animals and humans with a small amount of fat which contained a radioactive tracer to follow the path of the fat.  The tracer revealed that when the test subjects sat, the fat left the blood vessels, where it could be burned, and was captured by the adipose tissue, a connective tissue where fat is stored.   The researchers also discovered that sitting for long periods of time virtually shuts down the production of lipase, an enzyme critical to the body's ability to break down fat.  This results in fat retention and a reduced metabolic rate.

On another note, but along those same lines, many of us would suppose that exercising the recommended 30 minutes, 3-5 times a week would be sufficient to keep our metabolisms running smoothly.   However, it turns out how much we move around for the other 15 or so hours we're awake is more vital to our weight loss efforts than previously thought.

According to scientists at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, conscious voluntary activities (also termed non-exercise activity thermogenesis, or N.E.A.T.), such as getting up from your seat, changing posture, and pacing to and fro are responsible for burning an additional 300-800 calories per day.  

5 easy ways to boost your N.E.A.T. at work:

1. Think of sitting as the devil.  Set a timer and make sure to get up, stretch, and take a lap around the office every 30-60 minutes.

2. Rather than emailing or faxing, deliver messages personally.  Not only will it get you off your butt, it's a good networking opportunity and a great way to "keep your face in the place." 

3. Use a restroom on a different floor.

4. Take the stairs.  Even if it's only one flight, at the end of the day, those steps add up.

5. Make your lunch a walking lunch, even if it's just for 10 minutes.  Getting outside and breathing fresh air is a great way to clear your head, relieve stress, and energize you for the remainder of the day.

(Tip: When it comes to measuring your N.E.A.T., a pedometer is an invaluable tool.  They're inexpensive and easy to use - simply clip one to your belt and it'll give you a fair assessment of your activity level.)