Commercial Fitness Home Fitness

Tag: healthy habits

Understanding The Difference Between Physical Activity & Exercise

Posted on by Angie Tinsley

Physical activity and exercise are both important pieces of a healthy lifestyle and each contributes to your overall physical fitness. However, physical activity and fitness are two different terms with different definitions, and they are often misused.

By understanding what each word means, you will be able to have a better understanding of your fitness and health goals.

What Is Physical Activity?

According to ACE Fitness, physical activity is defined as movement that is carried out by the skeletal muscles that require energy. In other words, any movement you do counts as physical activity.

Examples of physical activity include doing house and yard chores, playing with the kids, and taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

Therefore, no matter what types of moving around you are doing every day, those movements positively benefit to your overall well-being. Physical activity can also range from light to vigorous intensity!

So Then, What Does Exercise Mean?

Unlike physical activity, exercise refers to planned, structured and repetitive movement with a goal of fitness improvements. Exercise can be seen as a subcategory of physical activity and is a more specific form.

For example, running on a treadmill, lifting weights, swimming and more are all different forms of exercise. Keep in mind, that like physical activity, exercise can also vary in intensity but most exercises start out at moderate intensity.

Exercise also helps improve physical fitness and is composed of five specific areas:

  • Cardiorespiratory fitness
  • Muscular strength fitness
  • Muscular endurance fitness
  • Flexibility fitness
  • Body composition

Each of those components of exercise addresses important aspects any healthy lifestyle should include – regular aerobic exercise, conditioning and strength, and even stretching. While all of them are able to be incorporated into a physically active lifestyle, a concrete exercise routine can help you achieve even greater benefits for your body and mental health.

Benefits Of Both:  How To Add Into Your Current Routine

To break it down even simpler:

Physical activity = health outcomes

Exercise = fitness outcomes

Take the time to evaluate yourself for a 24-hour period and see how active you are by keeping a fitness journal. How much moving around do you do from the moment you wake up to the time you go to bed again? Do you find yourself moving around sporadically during the day or having a fairly sedentary lifestyle?

Include your normal activities like going to the gym, gardening, taking the dogs for a walk.

By looking at a day in your life big picture, it will help you determine what you need to include more of in regards to physical activity and exercise. The overlap of physical activity and exercise can provide you with many positive benefits, but it is always important to have a balance of each.

For More Tips On A Healthy Lifestyle

Follow Us On Facebook

&

Instagram

Make Sure You Are Getting Enough Zzzzz’s! It’s Important!

Posted on by Angie Tinsley

One of the most frequently overlooked factors in health and fitness is sleep. As busy as life can get, it is easy to forget to make sure you are getting enough sleep every day. In fact, when it comes to prioritizing fitness goals, many people put sleep as one of the least important factors related to those goals. Not getting enough sleep can affect your focus, energy, body composition, and weight loss or gain. Continue reading “Make Sure You Are Getting Enough Zzzzz’s! It’s Important!”

I Kept a Fitness Journal For a Week…

Posted on by lancel

Let me start by saying, I thought this would be time consuming or that I would forget, but keeping a fitness journal for the week actually helped me stay more accountable than I have been in a while in regards to my overall health. It also helps that when you work for a fitness company, you have access to the equipment they make, so I had no excuses not to work out! Continue reading “I Kept a Fitness Journal For a Week…”

The Simple Basics Of Nutrition

Posted on by Angie Tinsley

Often times, the simple basics of nutrition are overlooked. Many people start the year off by attempting a “diet” and most have likely been deterred from it already. While there are a lot of different aspects to nutrition, sometimes all of the parts get lumped together and the most important pieces get lost. Continue reading “The Simple Basics Of Nutrition”

How to Stay Healthy This Valentine’s Day

Posted on by Angie Tinsley

Valentine’s Day is known as the day of romance that is filled with cards, candies, flowers, chocolates and most importantly – love. With all of the tasteful goodies that are gifted during Valentine’s Day, it may be hard to stay on track with a healthy lifestyle because of the assortment of chocolates surrounding you. Continue reading “How to Stay Healthy This Valentine’s Day”

Finding Your Support Systems

Posted on by Angie Tinsley

All of us need a good support system when we begin exercising, and that support can come in many forms and fashions.

Finding a good workout partner is crucial since you will be working out together and can help motivate each other, which is where a lot of your support will come from.

You can also find support from you family, such as your spouse doing things for you to get your day going or saying encouraging things.

Here’s what you should know about finding your support system. Continue reading “Finding Your Support Systems”

Daily Activities To Improve Your Overall Health

Posted on by Angie Tinsley

If you’re trying to get healthy or find a way to get in more exercise, you have to remember that there is a difference between exercise and daily activity. But don’t let that difference get in your way. There are many daily activities that can help improve overall health while completing chores and spending time with loved ones. Continue reading “Daily Activities To Improve Your Overall Health”

How To Live A Longer And Healthier Life

Posted on by Angie Tinsley

Although many wish to live a long and healthy life, sometimes things like greasy fast food, busy schedules, and guilty pleasures get in the way. What you may not know is that there are simple ways throughout your day to increase your chances to live a longer and healthier life! Check out these lifestyle tips below and be on your way to living a healthier life

Exercise

Two women exercising to help live a longer and healthier life.

Even though this may be the most obvious beneficial act you can do to improve your health, its importance should be restated. Fitness treadmills, stationary bikes, and ellipticals are all simple pieces of equipment that offer easy ways to get in your daily dose of exercise. Dr. Mehmet Oz explained to Good Morning America that instead of fitting in an intense 30-minute workout everyday, you should be working on incorporating more frequent physical activity into your everyday life. For example, Dr. Oz suggested pedaling on a stationary bike while watching TV or taking the stairs rather than the elevator. Either way, exercise should be considered a vital element in your day-to-day life.

Grab A Mint

According to Rodale, peppermint has the power to increase exercise performance.

“Researchers say that the scent of mint alters your perception of how hard you’re exercising. which can make workouts seem less strenuous so you don’t mind exercising longer,” explained Rodale.

A delicious way to be tricked into a better workout? We’ll take it!

Eat Breakfast

You know what they say, breakfast is the most important meal of the day! And for good reason. Not only does it boost your metabolism, according to AARP, but this morning meal also has the power to make you look younger as well! However, make sure you’re not opting for a sugary breakfast. Although Pop-Tarts may satisfy your taste buds, they’re not doing your body any favors. Try oatmeal instead of its high fiber and low-glycemic index, which may help to ward off wrinkles. You can even add your favorite fruits like strawberries or blueberries to add a touch of sweetness to your oatmeal, while still keeping your morning meal healthy.

Stretch

Be sure to stretch your muscles.

Activities requiring stretching, like yoga, have been proven to reduce stress by relaxing the blood vessels. Rodale suggested starting off your morning with a simple cat stretch. This can relieve tension in the body while promoting blood flow and healthier posture. You can also fit stretching into your day by using TV commercial breaks as an easy opportunity to loosen up your muscles.

Catch More Z’s

By heading to bed earlier, you could be lengthening your life. Getting a good night’s sleep can help significantly increase brain power and cognitive function.

“Sleep regenerates neurons that enable the brain to function optimally,” explained Jane Ferrie, Senior researcher at University College London Medical School.

According to AARP, those who received less shut-eye over a five-year span showed decreased mental function, which was equal to 4 to 7 years of aging. So, do yourself a favor and get a good night of sleep. Your refreshed body will be sure to thank you in the morning.

Drink Plenty Of Water

The benefits water provides for your body are truly endless. Getting more H2O into your day can help give you healthier skin and hair, protects your joints and even aids in digestion. A good way to see if your body is fully hydrated is to check your urine.

“You should drink enough water that your urine looks like pale lemonade,” said Chris Mohr, registered dietitian and nutrition consultant to the Cincinnati Bengals.

So, drink up! After all, your brain is made up of 80 percent water.