Physical activity is basically any body movement. This is a relative easy definition. Physical activity can be as simple as mowing the lawn, sweeping/mopping the floor, or brushing your teeth. When we look at this definition and these examples we can determine that most of us perform some form of physical activity every day. However, one can reason that brushing ones teeth is in no way a way to get fit.

Exercise, on the other hand, is some type of planned or structured activity that will promote ones overall physical fitness. Examples of exercise are brisk walking, jogging, running, and swimming. Part of this definition states that it is planned or structured. This usually helps a person stick with the program. If they can get in a routine it is easier to stick with it once you have got accustomed to exercising.

However, we can't rule our physical activity completely because physical activity does have some health benefits. People who do at least 30 minutes of light to moderate physical activity a day for at least 5 days a week, but preferably 7 days a week will benefit in their overall health. There again all they need to do is get into some type of routine. For example, someone who owns a dog can walk his or her dog everyday before or after work for at least 30 minutes will increase his or her overall health. If walking the dog is too monotonous then you can mix it up walk the dog 3 days a week, rake leaves one-day, garden another, and etc. As you can see, the possibilities are endless when it comes to physical activity. Of course, some activity is better than none , but more activity is better than less.

Ok, I EXERCISED, today, using the weight machines.

and then there are those, that do "exercise type stuff", such as bicycling, just cause they enjoy it. Namely, me.

I love riding my bike. People always say to me, you must be fit, you exercise all the time.

Excuse me, I just ride my bike. Not my fault, that is an exercise for other people. LOL

Honest, I know lots of people that ride a certain mileage weekly/daily, to stay fit. If they don't get that mileage in, they feel like they let themselves down.

Me, I exercise, yes. Mine is a weight workout. I do it for my bone strength. I also walk this time of the year, mostly cause it is really to cold for me to ride. I do call the walking exercise. Mostly, cause I walk the same course, multiple times a week. Boring, just like my weight workout. But I do it, to keep in shape, and the walking, well bad substitute for my cycling cravings, but better than just sitting and letting the pounds accumulate.

I know someone that exercises for 2 1/2 to 3 hours daily, but doesn't do any physical activity otherwise.

To each it's own.

My physical activity in the rest of the year (cept this really cold season) is yard work. Lots of it, including chasing my lawnmower through the yard, LOL, aka lawn mowing.

I really get bored, if I have nothing to do. That is part of why this cold weather and icy roads bother me so much.

Moni

I think of all exercise as being physical activity, but not all physical activity can be considered exercise.

Cooking is physical activity, but I doubt if there are many health benefits to it. Now trimming trees, cutting and hauling brush, or washing windows, painting, etc, though they are just physical activities, I think one reaps the benefits just as if they were exercising, to some degree.

Here is a link that might be useful: Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity

Looking forward to my bone density scan this spring. Hope there is an improvement since I have been doing weights since this past summer.

I consider my physical activity exercise. I'm always on the go.
I push the lawn mower not ride it...I carry each load of laundry up the stairs, etc. You know your physical activity IS exercise when you can drop into bed and pass out! LOL

Thanks ladies... still looking for more opinions out there. This debate got started because i think we need separate questions about enjoyment of physical activity and exercise. She feels it can be a single question.

The exercise physiologist says they are the same thing.
I agree that exercise is a subset of physical activity but I think that psychologically people think of the term exercise as a more negative experience and physical activity as neutral or positive. Our differences of opinion could very well be why she is an "exercise physiologist" and I am a "psychology-public health" person! LOL

(there is actually a little more involved with all this but I am trying to keep it "short, sweet, and to the point")....

If you were answering a survey and saw the following questions, how would you answer them:

On a scale of 1 to 10...
How much do you enjoy physical activity?
How much do you enjoy exercise?
How much do you enjoy physical activity and exercise?

On a scale of 1 to 10...
How much do you enjoy physical activity? 10
How much do you enjoy exercise? 5
How much do you enjoy physical activity and exercise? I guess, I would have to go in the middle, with a 7.5

LOL

Sorry, best I can do. :)

Moni... who exercised today, and had a bunch of physical activity as well.

physical activity is getting out of bed in the morning moving around doing things with your body involved. walking housework etc. Exercise is something you planned to do physically in a measured way. i.e. so many laps so many revolutions, etc IMHO

How much do you enjoy physical activity? 10
How much do you enjoy exercise? 7-8
How much do you enjoy physical activity and exercise? I enjoy the benefits of the physical activity and exercise.
I feel better about myself.

Oh, I forgot to add....

My advisor was really impressed when I described all of you to her. I told her I had a group of "Computer friends" that help each other out and are great for bouncing ideas off of, especially when I need "normal people" insight (vs. professor opinions) LOL.

Certain physical activities result in exercise, IMO.

I consider light gardening to be a physical activity, but if it includes a wheelbarrow and a shovel or the vigorous use of a hoe and gets my heart rate going and gives my muscles a workout, at that point I call it exercise.

If my gardening involves walking around the garden, bending over to pull occasional weeds, maybe sweeping some leaves off the walk, with no vigorous movement and no increase in my heart rate and no real workout for my muscles, I call it physical activity.