Exercise vs Fitness
Human beings have bodies that have been designed for movements. If one tries to find reasons for so many different types of diseases having plagued the mankind, he finds that the root cause of most of these diseases is the lack of exercise and a fast lifestyle that is taking most of us away from nature. Two words, or rather concepts, namely exercise and fitness, have become buzzwords these days among all those who want to be healthy once again. These two concepts are intertwined with each other, and one leads to another. Let us take a closer look at exercise and fitness.
Exercise
Any physical activity that makes us move or causes movement of our various body parts is termed as exercise. It can be anything from walking to cycling to climbing stairs to skipping to swimming to doing workouts at the gym. There are countless ways to do exercise and these exercises have one simple goal, and that is to lead us to better health and fitness. Exercise is undertaken to strengthen our muscles, to lose weight and to regain a better body shape, to get a toned and muscular body, or simply to have fun and kill boredom. It is not that only lifting weights or doing Yoga or Pilates can be considered as exercises as swimming and dancing can also be excellent ways to have exercise for different body parts. Doctors say that just walking can be a great exercise for our bodies. Exercises make us consume more energy than we normally do and they make our heart beat faster. These exercises make us lose fat and get back into shape.
Fitness
Fitness is both a state of physical health as well as mental health. A physically fit person is one who can complete his chores without getting tired and he is healthy in all respects of the word. Fitness does not mean running very fast or lifting heavy weights though, the more fit a person is, the more complex or difficult physical tasks he can undertake successfully. It also does not mean a small waist or bulging muscles and abs. All fitness means is our ability to function with alertness and vigor and to have energy to complete our daily tasks without getting tired unduly. Having a fit body means you have healthy heart, lungs, bones, and muscles. You can indulge in intense physical activities when you are physically fit. This is not all; you can sleep better and get much better rest than when you are not all that fit. You are mentally alert and can handle stress in a much better manner.
What is the difference between Exercise and Fitness?
• Exercise is physical activity, and fitness is an outcome of this physical activity.
• Exercise in any form is good for our body and heart leading to better fitness.
• Exercise does not need to be strenuous or going to the gym as it can be as simple as walking or even dancing.
• Fitness is a state of health where we can perform our daily tasks with alertness and energy without getting tired.