{"id":601426,"date":"2026-07-24T04:23:27","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T04:23:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/601426\/"},"modified":"2026-07-24T04:23:27","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T04:23:27","slug":"olivia-wilde-42-swears-by-neat-exercise-the-simple-habit-that-burns-calories-without-the-gym","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/601426\/","title":{"rendered":"Olivia Wilde, 42, swears by NEAT exercise \u2013 the simple habit that burns calories without the gym"},"content":{"rendered":"

Between parenting her two children, acting and directing, Olivia Wilde has cemented a foolproof way to stay fit that costs nothing, requires zero equipment and can be done anywhere. Known as NEAT exercise<\/a>, it stands for Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis, and it refers to any movement you do that isn\u2019t planned exercise. <\/p>\n

As Olivia previously told CNBC<\/a>: \u2018There\u2019s often a way to be active. Rather than sitting at home and taking a call and doing a phone meeting, walk around. You could often incorporate activity into your life.\u2019<\/p>\n

She added that while she doesn\u2019t follow a strict workout routine, she walks wherever possible \u2013 and those walks<\/a> always slot naturally into her day. \u2018We already walk more than people in a lot of other cities,\u2019 she said, of living in NYC. \u2018But when you have an option to walk or take a car, walk if it\u2019s an option. I\u2019ll take the stairs.\u2019 <\/p>\n

\"oliviaHollywood To You\/Star Max\/\/Getty ImagesWhy is NEAT exercise so effective? <\/p>\n

This type of non-intentional exercise makes up significantly more of your TDEE<\/a> (total daily energy expenditure \u2013 how many calories you burn across each day), compared to the time you spend doing planned workouts. To be precise, NEAT makes up around 50%, while planned gym sessions typically count for around 10%.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s particularly effective for busy women that struggle to find the time to work out, because the whole point is to fit movement into your day. That might mean taking the stairs instead of the lift, like Olivia, getting off the tube or bus a couple of stops early and walking the rest of the route, gardening, using a standing desk instead of sitting down, or carrying your shopping instead of using a trolley.<\/p>\n

The core benefit is consistency. NEAT exercise removes the barriers to entry that stop so many of us from sticking with movement, like not having the time to get to the gym, not having the money to pay for classes, or simply not knowing what to do, and research consistently shows that regular, moderate exercise delivers meaningful health and fitness benefits \u2013 sometimes the equivalent of fewer but more intense workout sessions. <\/p>\n

\"olivia<\/p>\n

Hollywood To You\/Star Max\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

NEAT exercise examples<\/p>\n

Walking like Olivia is the most obvious option, but there are plenty more forms of NEAT you could try to reap the rewards: <\/p>\n