{"id":644497,"date":"2026-08-19T00:15:35","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T00:15:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/644497\/"},"modified":"2026-08-19T00:15:35","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T00:15:35","slug":"why-pamela-anderson-59-swears-by-neat-exercise-i-think-its-better-than-going-to-the-gym","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/644497\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Pamela Anderson, 59, swears by NEAT exercise: \u2018I think it\u2019s better than going to the gym\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

At 59, Pamela Anderson<\/a>\u2019s approach to fitness is refreshingly simple.<\/p>\n

While she\u2019s previously shared that she\u2019s a fan of Pilates<\/a>, she doesn’t currently have access to it at home on Vancouver Island.<\/p>\n

\u2018I have a little basement in my boathouse\u2026I could put a Pilates [reformer] in there, but I\u2019d probably get tangled up in it,\u2019 she told <\/a>ELLE US<\/a> last year<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Instead, she tends to incorporate movement into her everyday life in a less formal way.<\/p>\n

Her go-to activity? Gardening.<\/p>\n

As well as the mental clarity and general wellbeing boost it brings her, Pamela recently told <\/a>People<\/a> that \u2018it\u2019s a good workout! I think it\u2019s better than going to the gym, doing garden work\u2019.<\/p>\n

And while tending to the garden might not look like a conventional workout, there’s good reason to count it towards your daily movement.<\/p>\n

Why gardening counts as exercise<\/p>\n

Gardening can contribute to your NEAT<\/a> \u2013 or non-exercise activity thermogenesis.<\/p>\n

While that might sound complicated, it simply refers to the energy you expend through everyday movement outside of formal exercise (such as running<\/a> or resistance training<\/a>) and sleeping, personal trainer Elliott Upton<\/a> previously explained to Women\u2019s Health.<\/p>\n

Increasing the amount of movement in your day can support cardiovascular and metabolic health, while helping to reduce the amount of time you spend sedentary.<\/p>\n

In fact, a major new study<\/a> that tracked more than 90,000 people found that spending long, uninterrupted periods sedentary was associated with an increased risk of cancer mortality.<\/p>\n

After monitoring participants’ movement using accelerometers over 12 years, researchers found that every additional hour a day spent in prolonged sedentary behaviour \u2013 sitting or lying down while awake \u2013 was associated with a 10% higher risk of dying from cancer.<\/p>\n

But there was good news, too. Breaking up prolonged sedentary time with even light activity, such as household chores or a gentle walk, was associated with a lower risk, with greater benefits observed at moderate and vigorous intensities.<\/p>\n

And gardening can be more intense than you think<\/p>\n

While gardening can contribute to NEAT, some of the more physically demanding tasks can also push you into moderate or even vigorous-intensity activity.<\/p>\n

Think digging, carrying heavy bags of compost or briskly transporting tools from one end of the garden to another \u2013 and given that Pamela lives on a seven-acre coastal property, there could be plenty of opportunity for that.<\/p>\n

Scientists have another acronym for short bursts of vigorous everyday movement: VILPA<\/a>, or vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity.<\/p>\n

A recent study<\/a> published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that just a few minutes of vigorous-intensity activity incorporated into everyday life was associated with heart health benefits in women.<\/p>\n

The takeaway? Pamela is onto something. Formal workouts certainly have their place, but movement doesn’t only count when you’re wearing gym kit. Building more activity into the things you already do each day can make a meaningful contribution to your overall health.<\/p>\n

One of our most frequently asked questions here at <\/strong>Women\u2019s Health<\/strong>? How to build muscle and burn fat at the same time. So, we asked superstar trainer <\/strong>Oyinda Okunowo<\/strong><\/a> exactly how to do it. In this 4-week plan \u2013 created exclusively for <\/strong>Women\u2019s Health<\/strong> COLLECTIVE members \u2013 you\u2019ll get the workouts and nutrition guidance needed to help you on your way to better body composition. Tap the link below to unlock 14 days of free access to Oyinda’s plan and start training today.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Get the plan<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"women's<\/a>\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Hannah Bradfield is a Senior Health and Fitness Writer for Women\u2019s Health UK. An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Hannah graduated from Loughborough University with a BA in English and Sport Science and an MA in Media and Cultural Analysis. \u00a0She has been covering sports, health and fitness for the last five years and has created content for outlets including BBC Sport, BBC Sounds, Runner\u2019s World and Stylist. She especially enjoys interviewing those working within the community to improve access to sport, exercise and wellness. Hannah is a 2024 John Schofield Trust Fellow and was also named a 2022 Rising Star in Journalism by The Printing Charity. \u00a0A keen runner, Hannah was firmly a sprinter growing up (also dabbling in long jump) but has since transitioned to longer-distance running. While 10K is her favoured race distance, she loves running or volunteering at parkrun every Saturday, followed, of course, by pastries. She\u2019s always looking for fun new runs and races to do and brunch spots to try.<\/p>\n