NEPA – The exercise you’re already doing
Well, we’re finally here. Now we’re going to talk about the exercise that nobody talks about. The exercise that you’re already getting, as you live your life day to day. Specifically this exercise is referred to as NEPA.
NEPA stands for non-exercise physical activity, and it is gaining more and more attention in the training literature of the day. This is exercise without really exercising.
Now is simply swinging your desk chair around to grab another doughnut is something that you should be recording in your exercise log? No of course not. But here is what I’m saying. There are any number of an NEPA type activities that you already are or could be enjoying that will contribute greatly to your success as you continue to try to drop those pounds of fat.
All of us are performing an NEPA every day, it’s just that some of us are doing more than others, sometimes intentionally. What I would like you to do is to stop and think about things that require effort before you make the choice. For instance, does it really make sense to stand there and wait for an elevator for a minute and a half just to avoid climbing two flights of stairs? I think not. Do you really have to be parked right next to the handicap spot to reduce your walk into and out of the grocery store by 10 feet? Of course not.
How about the next time you go to the mall or the grocery store you park away from the crowd? This would have more benefit than you think. For instance, if you’re buying groceries, not only are you going to walk farther into the grocery store walk around the grocery store and walked back to the car, but on the way back you’re going to be pushing a cart full of produce. Hopefully. If it’s full of Twinkies I think you’re done.
One of the most common NEPA activities being proscribed for athletes now is walking. And I don’t mean long marathon type walks I mean a quick 20 minute walk after breakfast and before work, or perhaps in the evening after dinner. It aids in digestion, and actually help you to recover from your workouts.
There is another benefit to NEPA that I’ve not seen mentioned in the literature yet. But I think it is very real even though it exists only in our heads. One of the things that’s very difficult to do when we first start an exercise regimen is to get used to moving. I know, it sounds silly. But think about it.
If what you do every day is get up and eat breakfast and then go sit in a car and then sit behind a desk and then sit in a car and then sit in front of the dinner table and then sit in front of the TV and then lay down in bed – you don’t move much at all do you? Take advantage of every opportunity to create NEPA. Every second that you’re moving is burning off fat and bringing you a little bit closer to becoming the person you’re trying to become.
One other advantage of an EPA that should not be overlooked is that it is unique among the exercise types in that you can enjoy it with anybody. Your son or daughter even if they’re tiny can go with you for a short 20 minute walk. Your spouse may not want to go to the gym and lift weights or jump on an elliptical trainer, but they’ll probably more than happy to walk the mall with you. Or around the block. Maybe you have a pair of bicycles sitting in your garage gathering dust. This is a great time of year and a great time in your life to pull those things out, oil them up and get them back on the road.
This ends secret number 2 of the 7 secrets series to burning stomach fat. I hope you come back to read about the other five secrets and to continue your journey to a healthy body.
