Movement vs. Exercise

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Movement vs. Exercise

For anyone that exercises or teaches exercise either as a trainer in a gym or as an instructor in a school, one has to know the difference between movement and exercise.  Unfortunately, too many who "exercise" do movements and think they are benefiting from it.  

It is not easy to find a definition of exercise and it usually is defined by its goals; provide increasing strength, endurance, flexibility, etc.  Exercise is really movement of one's whole body (as in running or swimming) or parts of the body (as in a bicep curl or as in a deep knee bend).  It starts with low effort and progresses to increased intensity and fatigue of the muscles being utilized.  The difference between movement and exercise is the extent of exertion and intensity that is involved.  Also exercise is performed with critical care in execution and form.  Movement is much less concerned in form, time, intensity, and concern about body changes over a period of time.

• Exercise is movement - plus.  It involves the coordination of nerves, muscles, resistance, time, endurance, intensity and effort.  It starts with low effort and progresses to increased effort, intensity, and fatigue of the muscles being utilized.
• Exercised can be characterized by an increase in breathing rate, heart rate, perspiration, energy expenditure (calories), and increased intensity of movement to the extent of failure to  perform more repetitions.  There are also internal changes within the body involving the nervous system, hormonal changes, chemical changes from the period food is eaten and all the way through the digestive track.  To get an idea of whats involved go to you browser, (google search, bing,) and post: Kreb's cycle with equations.  It will blow your mind!
• An example is a walk around the block.  It is definitely movement of the total body but not necessarily to the extent of it being an exercise.  Realize that productive exercise is intensified movement characterized by what is mentioned above.

A beginner should learn what and how to do the movements to make them into an exercising procedure.  Like most everything else in life that is of value, one has to pay the price to advance to a goal.  In a workout, the results you get are totally dependent and propotional to the amount of effort you expend, but more about that in an upcoming posting.

How do you know if you are exercising enough or too much?  How do you feel when your workout period is over? How about the next day? If you feel like you put in a good effort, with increasing intensity, and follow through each exercise to fatigue and your last repetition is really your last repetition that you can possible do, you've done enough!  The next day you probably will feel stiff, have some muscle tenderness, may not be quit as limber, and may be sensitive to pressure on some spots around your body.  Good for you! You did it right the last time you worked out.  Give yourself a day's rest or work on different set of muscles in you exercise daily.

Too much exercise will reduce your progress and slow the attainment of your exercising goals.  If you exercise properly, eat intelligently with the consumption of a well-rounded diet, and get enough sleep and rest, you shouldn't run into any trouble.