Exercise tips for weight loss: Exercise vs recreation

Tip: The difference between exercise and recreation

When people tell me they are exercising 'to lose some weight' the first question I ask is, 'What exactly are you doing?'

The answers I get vary, but a common thread is something along the lines of 'Going for a 20-minute walk every other day' or 'Riding my bicycle for an hour every Saturday morning'.

While these recreational activities COULD be effective as PART of an exercise regimen they are certainly not an EFFECTIVE approach to EXERCISING for a couple of vital reasons:

• If you're exercising 'to lose weight' then the first requirement is that your diet is on point. You WILL NOT out-train a bad diet. EVER.
• Also, your exercise must be progressive. If you walk the same distance every other day in the same amount of time for ten years, you will not notice improvement in your weight loss or fitness. This is because your body only adapts up to the point where it can complete the task you set it. You must try to walk further in the same time, or the same distance in a shorter time (which will result in you running eventually) in order to keep your body in a state of (positive) stress and adaptation.

Exercise for weight loss is regular physical activity which is progressive in nature.

It is also safe and does not result in injury (don’t overdo it just to show off!).

The bottom line: If you can do it easily, it's not exercise, it's recreation.

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