When I say the word “workout” what comes to mind?
My guess is images of lifting weights, doing push ups, or something along those lines.
What if I say the word “exercise”? What comes to mind now?
My guess is thoughts of running, biking, and walking.
My definition of working out is a planned and organized event, while exercise is just normal daily activities such as: walking, hiking, swimming, playing sports, manual labor around the house, things that will get your heart rate elevated and you moving.
Where am I going with this? Well, there are four kinds of people.
Person 1: No exercise/No working out
Person 2: No exercise/ Works out
Person 3: Exercises/No working out
Person 4: Exercises/Works out
If I were to ask what person would have the best success to lose weight based on this chart, most would say person 4 and you would be correct. In all likelyhood person 1 would not have a great chance of success and persons 2 and 3 would be about equal.
Here is what I am getting at: most people are person 2 or 3. It’s either I workout and then do nothing the rest of the week, or I exercises and working out has no value to me.
Your goal when it comes to losing body fat should be to workout 2 to 3 times a week. Your goal as a human being should be to exercises daily. Remember I did not say workout daily, I said exercise daily (for the person that does manual labor all day this counts as exercise, but don’t eat at every gas station you pass along the way to the jobsite).
That means living an overall active lifestyle. Don’t get this confused with the guy or gal that lives down the street that does daily 90 minutes HIIT workouts and bikes to work while towing his/her car behind them.
The most success people will think “I need to get in seven days of exercises each week with at least two of them being planned”. This sounds like a lot, but it’s not when you realize what exercise is.
Here is what it could look like:
Sunday: Afternoon trail walk
Monday: 60 minutes weight lifting
Tuesday: 60 minutes push mow lawn
Wednesday: 30 minute walk after work
Thursday: 60 minutes weight lifting
Friday: Played basketball with kids
Saturday: 120 minutes yard work and 60 minute bike
What’s the tip? Be active 7 days a week with at least two days of planned workouts. If you do that, you will see change in your health and your life; and if you add in a few improvements to your diet, holy s@%t you are really going to be cooking. Don’t just give yourself credit when you work out, give yourself credit when you are active as well.
Can you add these changes to your daily life? I know you can
Best
JW
