Exercise or Training

There are many different motivations for working out, but most can be reduced to two categories: exercise or training. What's the difference and why does it matter for your results?

Most people think of fitness as something you just do. You show up, work hard, feel good. And that's enough. But the way you approach your workouts determines the results you get. Understanding the difference between exercise and training can change everything about how you progress.

What is Exercise?

"Did you get your sweat sesh in today?"

This is exercise. The workout you do for the benefit you see that day. The endorphins. The stress relief. The calories burned. Or just checking it off your list.

There's nothing wrong with this. Exercise feels good. It helps manage stress. It gives you a routine. For a lot of people, just showing up and moving is a win. And honestly, we'd much rather see someone getting some exercise than sitting on the couch.

But here's what happens over time. You show up, you work hard, you feel good for a bit. Then a few months go by and you realize nothing has really changed. You're not stronger. You're not more capable. You're just maintaining.

Group fitness classes and bootcamps can take you from the couch to fitter pretty quickly. But they're not built to keep pushing you forward. They're designed for the middle of the pack. Everyone does the same workout, the same way, regardless of where they're starting or where they're going. Eventually, you plateau.

And that's fine if that's what you want. But if you're looking for progress, if you want to continue building strength, speed, or mobility as you age, exercise alone won't get you there. That's where training comes in.

What is Training?

Training is exercise with direction. It's working out with a goal in mind and a plan to get there.

Maybe your goal is to move without pain. Or to keep up with your kids without getting winded. Or to feel confident that your body can handle whatever life throws at it. Training gives you a path to get there.

You may be more familiar with the term training in reference to a specific event.

"I'm training for a triathlon."

An event is a goal. Training is the execution of planned exercise to reach a specified outcome. But here's the thing: you don't need a race or competition to benefit from training. You just need something you're working toward.

Maybe it's building the strength to lift your grandkids without your back hurting. Maybe it's being able to hike without worrying about your knees. Maybe it's continuing to get stronger as you age instead of weaker. Or staying mobile and flexible instead of stiff and limited.

Those aren't finish-line goals. They're continuation goals. You're not exercising to check a box. You're training to keep improving, or at least to keep what you've built.

Training isn't about intensity or perfection. It's about progression. Small, consistent steps that build on each other over time. That's how real change happens.

The Difference: Purpose and Planning

For example, a person goes to the gym 6 days a week to burn a set number of calories for that day. For what purpose do they want to burn those calories? Are they trying to lose weight? Are they trying to maintain weight? It could be because they saw someone else on Facebook say that's what they do.

Calories are not meaningless, but they are far less important than most people think they are. What if that same person trained 3 to 4 days a week instead? With a coach. With a program built for their goals. They'd make better progress and have more time for everything else in their life.

That's the shift. Exercise keeps you busy. Training moves you forward.

This new year as you pursue bettering yourself, think about a future beyond today. What would your life look like 3 years from now if you followed a plan?

The difference between exercise and training isn't about one being better than the other. Both have their place. But if you're frustrated by a lack of progress, or you know you're capable of more, training gives you a path forward. It's not about perfection. It's about direction.

If you're ready to move beyond checking boxes and start building something that lasts, working with a coach who understands your goals can make all the difference.