2/3/14    Your Job is Not Exercise

 

     Yesterday most of us watched the Superbowl and saw some of the world’s best professional athletes (debatably) doing their jobs.  They ran, tackled, blocked, threw, caught and kicked.  Their job, literally, is to exercise.  Yours is not.  Now, if you ARE a professional athlete, firefighter, construction worker, soldier, or the like, feel free to sit this one out.  The rest of you, I hate to burst your bubble but your job is NOT considered exercise.

 

“But I stand on my feet all day!”  Nope.  Not exercise.

“But I walk around all day at my job!”  Still no dice.

“But Brandon I LIFT THINGS at work!”  Nice try, but no.

 

     Do you see a pattern forming here?  Don’t get mad, but here’s the reality:  Even though your job may be difficult, physically demanding, and even exhausting, it is not, from a fitness perspective, exercise.  Yes, technically, pretty much any amount of movement is exercise but this is a fitness blog here so let’s get real.  As a trainer, I often hear people use the excuse that their job IS their form of exercise and therefore they don’t need to go to the gym or work out.  Sometimes I give them the benefit of the doubt and refer to their physical activity at work as “accidental exercise” but it is qualitatively and quantitatively different from “intentional exercise,” ie. the kind that helps you lose weight, become stronger, and get healthy.  In fact, Webster defines exercise as “physical activity that is done in order to become stronger and healthier.”  Yes walking around the office burns a few calories and yes it is better than sitting at a desk, but for exercise to be effective in your life it must be INTENTIONAL.

 

     Let’s say you DO walk around quite a bit at work.  Why not consider that BONUS exercise?  Add that to a serious, established exercise plan and you will begin to see significant benefits.  In fact, the beauty of a legitimate exercise program is that it will make you better at your job!  It will make the walking, lifting, and standing that much easier!

 

     As a trainer, here are some examples of intentional exercise as opposed to accidental exercise:

 

-30 minutes of sustained, consistent movement that significantly increases heart rate for the duration of the activity.

 

OR…

 

-Three 10 minute sessions of VIGOROUS physical activity, keeping  the heart rate at 80% of maximum heart rate.

 

OR…

 

Continual, controlled, repetitive motion utilizing multiple muscle groups for no less than thirty minutes per session. (ie. resistance work/weight lifting)

 

     Our motto here at Too Fit to Fail is “No more excuses.”  If you’re ready to stop making excuses as to why you aren’t where you would like to be in terms of your physical condition, drop us a line.  We can help.

 

Be Well,

Brandon

 

 

 

Date:

2.3.14

 

Title:

"Your Job is Not Exercise."

 

Author:

Brandon Walker