How to travel and lose weight in synergy; now that’s NEAT!

NEAT

As I passed the 45 year old mark and the kilo count started to gradually rise, I resorted to all manner of excuses such as “I have heavy bones”, “my metabolic rate is extremely low” or my recent favourite (somewhat justified until now) “I just don’t have time to workout due my business schedule”. If I travel overseas every week, how can I join a Gym for example or follow any regular fitness schedule. Now I have found the answer and it appears to be compelling.

The fact is that science is moving fast in the field of weight regulation. The latest “Buzz Word” that has gained traction and worthy attention is a phenomenon called "NEAT" (non-exercise activity thermogenesis). For purposes of simplicity, this involves the energy expended in everything we physically do that does not involve eating, sleeping or sport-related activities. Examples of such every day physical activity are merely walking to work or to a meeting, typing, fidgeting around, walking whilst on the phone, merely talking (the Ladies are good at that) or performing other necessary tasks such as active Shopping, Gardening or Cleaning.

In a fairly recent study of sedentary lean and overweight people, they were fitted with special underwear that monitored every single movement of their bodies. These subjects were specifically fed 1000 calories above their weight maintenance levels. The results were remarkable, whereby those who engaged in a NEAT program did not gain fat despite being overfed. Conversely, those who did not switch to a NEAT program gained literally 10 times more fat!

More precisely, those who were obese moved around 2½ hours less than lean people, which equates to about 350 fewer calories a day. The results show that ambulation movement seemed to make a notable difference. For clarity this did not come in the form of pre-planned power walking, but instead by constantly taking every potential opportunity to move. It is also worth noting too that most of the subjects had desk jobs.

Just think about the scenarios; there is no reason why people cannot potentially talk on the phone and walk around at the same time or hold one-on-one meetings while walking, or move around whilst cooking or even heaven forbid selecting different activities at the weekend that are perhaps not so screen-related.

The facts speak for themselves
About 30% of a person's daily expenditure comes from NEAT (the other portions are from basal metabolism and the thermic effect of eating). Those who are active have higher percentages of NEAT. Moreover, this is a factor we can assume control over. Put simple, NEAT burns more calories than exercise in most non-athletes.

It will come as no surprise to you to when thinking logically, that in the last 100 years, we have imposed an almighty environmental kibosh on our ancient biology. To illustrate 150 years ago, 90% of the world's population were agriculturists.

NEAT is certainly part of the solution to combat poor health and weight for Perpetual Travellers, however it does not mean we can eat what we like! A balanced protein rich controlled calorie diet when travelling combined with an optimised NEAT program will certainly make a difference to your health, weight and well-being.

I designed this article to motivate those of you who need it the most to shape your own movement-oriented habits when travelling or at home, that will help you reverse the tide of age and the challenges that come with frequent travel.

Here are some top suggestions to help you travel NEAT…

• Use the stairs always at Airports, Train Stations, Cruise Ships, Hotels or Shopping Malls and not the lift or Escalator.
• Refrain from using the moving walkway at Airports, go on your own steam.
• If you are just a little late, run or brisk walk to your gate.
• Every so often physically carry your bag and avoid the wheels.
• Help old Ladies or people that are struggling to take off their luggage from the Baggage reclaim. That goes for loading luggage too at check-ins and over hanging Luggage cabin spaces on planes, trains and even on a Ferry.
• When the Bell Boy offers to take your Luggage to your room, politely refuse. Do it yourself! By the way once my partner left the Bell Boy to take the luggage to the room and when we returned from lunch we found her bag and shirt on a hanger still in Reception for all to see. So with travel NEAT you can always keep an eye on your possessions too.
• Window Shop and walk the length and breadth of the Airport, as you wait for your flight.
• When embarking the train walk to the very last carriage. Take a walk on the train too. Keeping your balance, also keep you fit.
• When on the phone walk around, it’s good for you!
• When going to a Business Meeting get dropped off close to the venue or Hotel and walk the rest.
• When staying at a Hotel for Business, use the Pool and swim, even if only for fun.
• When on the plane do your leg exercises.
• When unpacking do it in a rush and move around the room.
• Take a walk around the Hotel to see all the facilities, meet the staff and check the fire route.

There are of course many other ways that you can enhance your NEAT activity and we welcome your comments.

Stay slim and travel NEAT!

Grant Holmes
Editor Perpetual Traveller

Cancer Survivors are Over-charged for Travel Insurance

A Money Mail investigation has revealed recently that many cancer survivors have to pay 25 times more for travel cover than they should pay. What is more, the specific research presents cases where travelers had to pay more than £2000 for a two-week holiday, when in reality the actual cost was about 90!

There are several insurers and companies who are accused for over-charging travellers and not taking into consideration factors such as stability of their situation and current health conditions! Sometimes, the price is so high that makes it impossible for them to travel or the insurance is more expensive than their holiday costs! Expensive prices sometimes make cancer survivors or cancer patients to hide their health condition as the cost is horrendous.

A key problem is that many insurance companies do not take into account recent researches that show that 4 out of 10 people with cancer survive and are able to live a normal and healthy life. They are over-charging people for treatments and services that there is a huge possibility that they might not need them.

Another major problem is the fact that insurance companies generalise when it comes to disease. There are more than 200 different types of cancer and, each patient responds to treatment very differently. Many patients also find problematic the fact that are treated as sick persons. Also, they believe that insurance companies do not ask the right questions and put all the cancer or ex-cancer patients at the same basket.

Only in UK there are more than 2million people living with cancer and 400.000 people that are clean for at least 20 years. However, they still have to pay a large amount to buy insurance while travelling and many of them find it difficult to buy insurance that covers them for a long period of time. Also, the research presents cases where insurance companies denied to offer cover for more than 90 days.

With no doubt, insurance companies should take into account that their high prices make lots of people unable to travel and some of them to risk their health, as they prefer not to buy travel cover.

Best Reasons to Move to a Tropical Paradise!

1. Sun and fresh air
Escape the torture of cold and dark winters, and enjoy lots of natural sunshine, get your dose of real vitamin D. Enjoy wearing minimal clothing, take walks whenever you feel like it, and never pick up a snow shovel again!

2. Good food
There’s a world of difference between a fruit that grows on a tree and is picked hours before you eat it, and a fruit that is picked too early, shipped over long distances and sold to you for more money.
In the tropical paradises you can eat delicious, cheap, quality, tree-ripened fruits and vegetables, and avoid genetically-engineered foods, irradiation, hot-water treated mangoes and tasteless, imported produce.

3. Less stress
You can reduce stress dramatically by relocating at least part of the year somewhere where the pace of living is slower, more relaxed and where people value real friendship and relaxation over the constant desire to work, work, work and consume, consume, consume.

4. Discover a new culture
You can find excitement and growth by experiencing a different culture and become enriched by it. You could learn a new language, or stay somewhere where people speak English. But in either case, I have found that in many countries people are friendly, welcoming and very helpful.

5. Save money

Don't think we are lunatics but you can really save money by relocating at least part of the year overseas in a tropical paradise. It’s true!

6. Increase in your quality of life

Every year we work, it seems we end up with less in our pockets. Inflation is eating away our buying power, and taxes take up a big chunk of the rest.
But the culture tells us to keep working, keep working, and keep consuming... but for what exactly in the end?

Find the best guidance to starting a new life in a tropical place here

How to grow old healthily

As the Baby Boomers reach the ever expanding retirement age, they will soon desire the great secret of life "How to grow old healthily".

A recent study published in Canadian Medical Association Journal actually identifies 4 healthy behaviors that are widely believed to increase the chances of staying healthy in old age.

The 4 healthily behaviors are a combination of:

1. Regular exercise (at least 2.5 hours a week of moderately intense physical activity)
2. A healthy diet (Eating fruits and vegetables on a daily basis)
3. Moderate alcohol consumption (1-14 units a week for women & 1-21 units a week for men
4. No smoking (absolutely none)

The Canadian study involved no less than 5,100 men and women, who were assessed on their lifestyle choices and health. The first assessment stage took place during the years between 1991-1994 and the follow up in occurred from 2007-2009. During the time of the study, 549 participants died during follow-up, and 953 were classified as successfully aging, while the remaining people aged normally.

The study shows the cumulative impact of healthy behaviors and in essence successful aging can be summarized as maintaining good mental and physical health with no chronic diseases such as cancer or diabetes. Normal aging involves chronic disease or mental health. While individual healthy behaviors are moderately associated with successful aging, the combined impact is far more substantial.

In conclusion, by adopting all 4 simple healthy behaviors indicated above people can increase their chances of reaching old age disease-free and fully functional.