WHAT IS EXERCISE?

Physical Activity is not exercise, but exercise is physical activity. It is a narrower scope focused on a more regimented and planned routine of physical activity. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to read my previous blog on physical activity and what defines it. I consider exercise to be a step up from being physically active when it comes to working towards more concrete or specific goals.

Routine & Progress

Exercise sees the improvement and then maintenance of fitness-related goals through routine and progression. This means yes, you are still moving with intention, but now you are doing it regularly and making it harder over time. You can still continue to exercise outside of a gym to accomplish your goals, but some may find it easier to see progress inside of a gym setting.

What Does Exercise Look Like?

At home, exercise looks like incorporating a certain number of squats when you stand up to get out of bed in the morning. You do this every morning, and when it becomes easy, you increase the number of repetitions you are doing. Over time, you will increase your leg strength. Exercise can also be in the form of cardiovascular fitness. You’ve graduated from walking to the water cooler and back multiple times a day and now want a distance that is a little longer. You can use your breaks to take a walk inside or outside of your work building and progressively make it harder by walking faster or finding longer routes to take.

Inside a gym, exercise can also take many forms through resistance training, cardiovascular training, a mix of both, and so much more. The key to exercising is routine and progression. Find a system that helps you stay accountable, and when an exercise becomes easy, increase the number of repetitions or the weight, or if you’re doing cardio, increase the resistance, time, or distance on the machine you are using.

Starting Out?

If you are starting out, it may be helpful to sit down with a trainer and talk about your goals and what training program will help you see the results you want.