What Counts as Exercise?

A client once asked me to describe the difference between “exercising” and “working out” which led me to realize two things. First, I had never considered the difference before and second, I needed to make sure I wasn't discouraging people with the wrong terms.

So What Are They?

Exercise

noun 

• Activity requiring physical effort, carried out to sustain or improve health and fitness.
  

• A process or activity carried out for a specific purpose, especially one concerned with a specified area or skill.

Work Out 

noun

• A session of vigorous physical exercise or training.

“Working out” might look like higher intensity physical exercise that has more structure and routine involved. Workouts are great! They just can’t always plan ahead for obstacles such as sick kids, anniversary dinners, late nights at the office, studying for promotions, and so on.

“Exercising” on the other hand; can be more forgiving. Being active in a way that is purposeful and physically demanding doesn’t always need to be a full-tilt workout. Oftentimes my clients will see more success once they start expanding their ideas of how to stay active and create more reliable plans that fit their lifestyle.

When Does This Matter?

Many of my sessions revolve around organization and planning from exercise to nutrition, and occasionally other life factors that impact those areas. A big challenge that we all deal with is finding time for self-care when we’re juggling careers, marriages, kids, and hopefully a hobby (just in case it’s not exercise). 

A big misconception is that you can only improve your fitness using limited types of exercise. Most people seem to think they'll only see progress if they're willing to hand over the majority of their interests and free time to some boring or tortuous routine. Sure, there are countless influencers today that make their living by showing us the “hardcore lifestyle” that gave them their success but the reality is that most of us won't be getting paid to exercise and stay in shape.

Exercise Is Everywhere

Physical activity, whether it’s general exercise or traditional workouts, should be convenient and enjoyable! Many fail to realize that they have plenty of opportunities to be active each week. Those opportunities just weren’t going to be the traditional ways they imagined.

In my opinion, the best path for success means finding the physical activity in the things you enjoy doing and need to do. Using this approach allows us to focus on our fitness efforts without sacrificing our responsibilities or interests.

Examples That Count

Home Projects

• Using ladders, using tools, moving objects 

• (think) grip, shoulders, back, core, legs

Park and Walk

• Parking further from entrances, walk from one store the next

• (think) legs, hips, heart health

Staying active with family

• Wrestling, chasing, hiking 

• (think) flexibility, mobility, cardiovascular fitness

Yard Work

• Digging, raking, mowing 

• (think) grip, arms, back, core, hips, legs

Other Examples

• Cleaning

• Gardening

• Carrying groceries

• Stairs overs elevators

• The list goes on…

Use Your Imagination, Get Creative

The defining characteristics of a workout would be when the exercise intensity increases and becomes structured as a training session. Exercise keeps us moving and healthy while workouts might be dialing things up a notch. Finding ways to increase the difficulty of everyday activities can be both fun and challenging.

Dial Things Up

Home Projects

• Can you use traditional tools over power tools?

• Create “Who’s the strongest” competitions!

• Create “Who’s the fastest” competitions!

Staying Active with Family

• Can you create new hiking routes?

• Can you complete your usual hiking routes in reverse?

• The first one to finish the hike get to pick what’s for dinner.

Yard Work

• How quickly can you complete your outside chores?

• Can you use a rake instead of a leaf blower?

• Can you use a push mower instead of a riding mower?

• Can you use an axe instead of a chainsaw?

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The Takeaway...

“Almost any physical activity can be turned into exercise”

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“Almost any exercise can be be turned into a workout”

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“Almost any physical activity can be turned into a workout with enough imagination and creativity."