Does Shaking Or Jiggling Your Leg Speed Up Metabolism?
Body fat is annoying, especially if a person is self-conscious about it, or if it causes thighs to rub together while walking. Does shaking or jiggling your leg speed up metabolism and trigger fat loss from the body? Well, one cannot get rid of body fat by jiggling their legs, but can rather do so by losing weight through exercise and eating a healthy, low-calorie diet. However, according to a study, jiggling and shaking the legs and making other such small movements do help in speeding the metabolism and losing weight. Read further to know more about how shaking or jiggling your legs speed up metabolism.
NEAT: Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis
By shaking their leg and moving around in the seat, one can get rid of extra calories as well. NEAT (Non Exercise Activity Thermogenesis) is a way of burning calories by just maintenance of posture, moving around, and other non-exercise activities of everyday life that help in burning calories. A study was conducted in which volunteers were overfed by more than 1000 calories every day for around 6-8 weeks. It was found that the volunteers who consumed more calories than they needed for carrying out daily functions increased their fidgeting and other activities and as a result burned extra calories. While some people increased their acti8vities by moving around, others who did not, displayed around a 10 times rise in fat storage compared to others. Ones who indulged in activities like shaking or jiggling their leg, standing up, repositioning themselves, walk around, etc, burned up to 360 calories more everyday than people who were sedentary. A repeat study found that obese people tend to be more sedentary. Thin individuals have a habit to fidget more, wiggle in their seats, tap their toes, and stand and move around more and had a higher metabolic rate, thus burning more calories everyday than their counterparts. But just fidgeting and shaking the leg is not enough. One also needs to intersperse walking, standing, and should move about in their daily activities all through the day. Those who are lean, on an average spend around two and a half hours less in sitting than those who are overweight.
Shaking & Jiggling Legs: Not a Replacement for Exercise Though
Shaking and jiggling the legs a lot can help to burn calories; however, it is not the best exercise for losing weight. Experts recommend performing some kind of cardio exercise like biking, running, and jogging, 45 minutes or more at a time, on 5 to 6 days a week, for toning the muscles and losing weight. Adding strength training, to the daily workout regime can also prove helpful as long as it is not overdone.
To Lose Weight, Calorie Deficit & Diet Needed Along With Shaking or Jiggling Legs
For getting rid of body fat, it is extremely important to focus on an overall weight-loss program, and torch more calories than what is consumed. Experts recommend cutting down 500 calories a day from the normal daily diet to create a weekly calorie deficit of 3500 calories, which would allow one to lose 1 lb of fat. Eating healthy, low-fat foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats can help to keep the calories levels down while offering adequate nutrition. Foods which are high in salt, added sugar, and fat, as should be avoided to prevent easy weight gain.
Conclusion
Yes, shaking and jiggling your legs, fidgeting and even making tiny movements does speed up the metabolism and help in losing weight. Where one loses fat in their body is greatly determined by sex, genetics and body type. One should always consult a doctor before starting their weight-loss or exercise regimen. They can check the individual’s health and can make specific suggestions regarding their diet and exercise regimen.
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