When it comes to fitness, the words “exercise” and “training” are often used interchangeably.
A guy who goes to the gym regularly and randomly does some weight machines and some cardio can say he’s working out. This same guy is frustrated that he is not making any progress with his strength or appearance despite his regular training.
The problem is that this guy is actually exercising and not training.
The distinction between the words “exercise” and “training” may seem meticulous, but understanding it can be an important step in realizing your fitness goals.
Today, we’re going to dig into the difference between these two ideas.
What is Exercise?
Let’s start by defining the exercise. Exercise can be described as any physical activity that enhances or maintains fitness and overall health in a general way. The goal with exercise is to move your body vigorously so you burn some calories, get warm and sweaty, and maybe feel a pump. Some people exercise to be able to produce endorphins or to stay in good shape.
There is nothing wrong with exercise. Regular vigorous exercise offers many benefits, including improving heart health, mood and sleep quality. Regularly moving your body can help regulate your metabolism and keep your weight under control.
While exercise is universally recognized as beneficial, it is not a workout. Training goes beyond simple exercise.
What is Education?
When someone says they are training, they mean they are actively working to improve a specific aspect of their physical performance. They may be trying to get stronger, run longer/faster, or improve their physique.
Achieving these goals requires a systematic and purposeful approach to exercise. Education is this systematic and purposeful approach.
When you train, you follow a program that is intentionally designed to induce adaptations so that you can improve a given skill.
For example, if you want to get stronger, you need to follow a program where progressive overload takes place. For strength-producing adaptations to occur, you must add more and more stress to your muscles and neuromuscular system by lifting heavier and heavier weights or varying degrees of volume or frequency in your reps/sets. The most basic strength training program takes the form of a linear progression, where you add weight to the bar each workout until you can’t do it anymore. Once this happens, you should modify your training program by adjusting reps, sets and frequencies. All of these changes are made through the lens of the training paradigm: systematic and purposeful engagement in physical activity to achieve the goal of dynamism.
If you are a runner, training will involve following a program of varying degrees of intensity and volume over a long period of time in order to run longer and faster.
Lately, my fitness goal has been to grow and sculpt my physique. Accordingly, my training is designed with these goals in mind. I follow a program designed to work specific muscle groups and add weight and reps each workout so I can stimulate my muscles to grow.
The differentiating factor between exercise and training lies in intention and focus. Exercise does not require a schedule and is not done with a specific result in mind. Training aims to prepare the body to function at a higher level and achieve specific goals. It requires a plan, dedication and commitment to progress over time.
While training is commonly associated with sports or athletic pursuits, it is not limited to the arena of physical pursuits. You can extend this to other areas like music, writing and shooting as well. Take up music: You can pick up a guitar and strum random tunes for half an hour every day just because you enjoy it. While approaching the guitar like this can be fun, it doesn’t guarantee you’ll get better. Improving will require you to deliberately plan a practice schedule that sharpens your skills. Improvement requires deliberate practice. Training is just another way of saying “deliberate practice.”
Exercise or Training: Which is Right for You?
So, which approach should you take, exercise or training? The answer depends on your individual goals and priorities. If your primary goal is to maintain overall health and wellness, exercise alone is generally sufficient. You have the freedom to choose activities that you like and that align with your lifestyle. Whether it’s hiking, ultimate frisbee, or playing pick-up basketball, as long as you get 60 minutes of activity a day, you should be good for maintaining overall physical and mental health.
However, if you’re aiming to get stronger, build muscle, or improve your 5k time, you can’t just work out. you have to train. These goals require a more structured and deliberate approach.
If you feel satisfied with your exercise routine, keep it up.
If you’re feeling frustrated that despite exercising regularly, you haven’t made any progress with your fitness, then it might be time to switch from exercise to training.
