A Lesson From The Alpacas

Today I walked Alpacas with my family in the Gold Coast.

Mine was called Ed Sheeran (didn't talk as much as I thought he would), my brothers was called Snowflake (he was all white) and my mother in-laws was called Mac.

As we were walking them around on a lead I couldn't help but think about the idea of NEAT.

NEAT is non planned exercise activity and produces the most calorie expenditure for us throughout the day.

It consists of our steps, fidgeting, wriggling around and small movements that we do with our body etc.

It even has more calorie expenditure than our workouts, so it must be important right?

When we diet (caloric deficit) we NEAT less because we are more lethargic.

When we are in a surplus we NEAT more. because we have energy.

Now Alpacas don't hit the gym so the only way for them to burn calories above their BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) is NEAT.

If they ate too much without enough NEAT, they would gain weight.

If they didn't eat enough and got walked too much by people like me, they would lose weight.

I felt like I was doing them a service today, like I was their coach walking them around teaching them how to stay in shape through lifestyle changes they can make almost sub consciously.

Playing my part in the Alpaca community to raise their NEAT.

No fat alpacas on my books!

It painted me a picture of how we can help our family and our friends that are just like the Alpacas.

The ones that don't workout, that don't tend to make the healthiest food choices, the ones that say "gym isn't for me" and "I can't stand to eat healthy! It's yuck and expensive!"

We can help them by letting them know about the idea of NEAT and how they can make small alterations in their life to be healthier.

We don't have to walk them on a lead (some you may LOL), but we can tell them to walk to work.

We can tell them to take the stairs instead of the elevator.

We can encourage them to have walk and talk meetings instead of sitting at a cafe.

We can push them to play with their kids at a park more often instead of watching MAFS.

Look, here's the facts...

We can't force people to workout. I know, this is pretty much my job.

But we can give them a nudge in the right direction to get off their ass and increase their NEAT.

So please, if you take anything from this email.

Tell one friend or family member (I'm going to tell my Dad who is overweight and doesn't workout) that you know needs to live a healthier lifestyle about the idea and importance of NEAT.

It could literally save their lives, and if not, enhance it.

Thank you.

Brock.