Exercise Vs Physical Activity
There are benefits to both physical activity and exercise, and when you want to move more and improve your health, it is vital to understand what type of movement will help you achieve your goals. Therefore, what is the difference between physical activity and exercise?
Physical Activity is any bodily movement you complete throughout the day. This includes grocery shopping, running errands, mopping the floors, and gardening.
Exercise is physical activity with a defined goal and purpose to improve your health and fitness. This includes a brisk 30-minute walk, attending a yoga class, or completing strength training.
Which is better?
Physical activity has its place in our life as it’s how we get jobs done. However, it is not a replacement for exercise as exercise has a clearly defined goal. When you go for a 30-minute walk, it’s to help maintain your fitness and overall health and wellbeing. You do strength training to increase the function of that muscle or to reduce pain. You vacuum the floors so that they’re clean, not to give your arm a workout.
Therefore, exercise will have the greatest benefit in improving your health and well-being.
However, prolonged physical activity can have similar benefits to exercise. Mowing the lawn for one hour while putting in your best effort can count as exercise. As a general rule, it is better to be moving than not, but physical activity should not be used as a substitute for structured exercise.
Ideally, you want a balance of both.
How Much Exercise Should You Do?
The minimum exercise target recommended by health and government institutions is 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week. That is 30min 5x/week. This is so you can be deemed ‘physically active’ and maintain your current state of health. However, if you’re aiming for greater change, 300 minutes/week is recommended.
Additional strength training 2-3x/week is also recommended to maintain healthy muscles, joints, and bones.
Benefits of Exercise
Honestly, there is no downside to safe exercise as structured activity will:
- Improve cardiovascular health
- Manage body weight
- Increase muscular strength
- Improve glucose tolerance
- Boost the immune system
- Reduce your risk of chronic disease and cancer
- Enhance mobility and coordination
- Improve mood
- Reduce stress
- Increase energy levels
- Improve quality of life
- Make you feel accomplished and good about yourself
Exercise Ideas
Aerobic exercise is exercise that increases your heart rate for more than twenty minutes and focuses on improving the health of your heart and cardiovascular system. It is the best exercise for overall general health because where does the cardiovascular system run? Everywhere! So, what part of the body does aerobic exercise benefit? Every part!
Get your aerobic exercise by taking a brisk walk and putting in your best effort. This can be as easy as venturing out your front door. You can increase the intensity by jogging or running. Cycling is a great non-weight-bearing option, as is swimming. You can also do an aerobic exercise class at the local gym (or Achieve!) or attend a class like Zumba!
Strength training involves putting your muscles and joints through their paces. This can be by lifting external weight or through body-weight exercises. Strength training is key to injury prevention and rehabilitation.
There are several effective ways to strengthen your muscles. You can follow a home-based strength program without equipment, join a gym, or try boot camp, aerobic circuits, water aerobics, Pilates, or yoga.
Exercise is for everyone. Talk to us today about choosing the right exercise for you.
Links to more educational reading:
