Physical Activity vs Exercise

Is there a difference between physical activity and exercise? Most of us hear those words and use them interchangeably. However, there is a distinct difference. Physical activity happens anytime your body is in motion- whether it is voluntary or involuntary movement. Increasing your physical activity can be tailored into the activities of daily living that we are already doing. Honestly, we are all at different levels of physical activity based on age, weight, and current health status.

Exercise is a planned movement that usually is more vigorous and leads to improvements in overall fitness level; for example, going to the gym, attending a pilates class, yoga, running, etc. This usually happens 3-5 times a week but for only a specific amount of time.

Increasing motion with our activities of daily living can burn 200-300 more calories a day and also help build and strengthen the foundation for increased overall fitness for life. In the Habit of Health Book by Dr. Wayne Scott Anderson, he developed a motion system called NEAT (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis). NEAT adds motion gradually to activities that you are already doing. 

There are 6 S’s of Success for NEAT:

Stance – Stance allows you to work on posture and core. Using a chair that helps you sit up straight, flex your core muscles and train yourself to take slow deep breaths. Perhaps use an exercise ball instead of a chair.

Standing – Sitting to standing increases energy consumption because you use weight bearing activity. Weight bearing activity equates to the heavier you are the more calories you expend. If you have a job where you sit at a desk, try and take a break every hour and do some standing at your desk instead. Sitting/Standing desks are amazing.

Strolling – This type of strolling is not included in an actual walking program. Strolling looks like walking to the water cooler, hand delivering a memo to your boss instead of emailing it, shopping for a new dress at the mall instead of shopping online. Parking farther away from the front door of stores or malls.

Stairs – Use stairs instead of the elevator or the escalator. (1 flight of stairs = 100 steps)

Samba – Anybody ready to start tapping a foot or swaying to the rhythm of a favorite song? Singing as loudly as you can.

Switch – Switch to doing things by hand instead of by machine;  i.e., wash the dishes by hand, get up to turn on/off the tv rather than using the remote, use a hand rake rather than a leaf blower, use a manual can opener instead of the electric one, try a shaker bottle instead of the blender, etc.

NEAT is a great way to increase your flexibility, mobility, and total daily motion. It helps to make your body stronger and creates a more solid foundation for leveling up your exercise to 3-4 times a week.

Come experience Beeing Well – let us help support you in becoming a perpetual motion machine!