Once upon a time I overused the term exercise and workout. I need to exercise, I’d think. I have to fit in a workout before heading out. We should do some exercise at the weekend. Let’s get in a workout at the gym. What do you associate with these terms? Success. Determination. Achievement. Nope, none of that. When I hear people talking about exercise and their workouts my automatic association is weight loss, boredom or doing an activity they don’t want to do, usually the tone of voice reveals this. There’s no association with achieving fitness goals or finishing your first triathlon, or aiming to get in the top five of a body sculpting competition.
Training on the other hand projects a different picture. Training means you have a purpose, a goal to work towards. It means knowing what you’re going to do before you hit the road whether it be a hard intervals on the bike, a hill session or an easy run to add up your weekly mileage.
Mental focus is a significant part of training. With focus you can achieve anything with your training. Today you might not be able to swim more then ten laps of a pool without pausing but by focusing on each session, pushing and challenging yourself you could be swimming a hundred laps of the pool nonstop. Jumping in the pool or hitting the track without a plan may or may not get you the results you’re after, but why take the chance.
“Do you know the difference between training and working out? Training is when you have a progressive plan with measurable goals and continual challenges. Working out is anything that makes you sweaty and tired but not necessarily better because it lacks consistency, direction and specificity.” – Nick Tumminelo
I have to admit, even today I’m guilty of talking exercise and working out. Each time I do, people tell me, ‘you don’t need to work out,’ or ‘what, are you trying to lose weight?’ These types of remarks and questions are frustrating. With so much attention given to eating disorders, obesity and diets, exercise and working doesn’t always leave positive connotations, and that’s a shame as both are important for good physical and mental health and not just when someone is trying to lose weight.
Training vs Working Out – which one are you doing?
