Activity vs. Exercise...What do ya think your doin'???

Sometimes it is hard to distinguish between what an activity is and what an exercise is...to help you do that, there is a guide you can use called The Scale of Perceived Exertion. On this scale, 1 marks a restful state like lounging on your couch and 10 marks an extreme state as if your were running in a full sprint. When you are doing an activity such as walking around a mall or cleaning your house, you may be anywhere from a 2-5 on that scale. When you are exercising, for example going for a jog or jumping rope, you can be anywhere from a 6-8 or even 9 on that scale. It is important to remember that you should never feel out of control when you are exercising, and if you are quickly climbing toward a 9 on that scale you should probably take down your exertion level a notch.
Here is a quick list of activities and exercises that you can refer to when you are confused about what you are doing:

Exercise:
Running
Jogging
Walking Briskly (non-stop)
Weight Training
Boxing/Kickboxing
Vigorous Yoga or Pilates
Jump Rope or Calisthenics (i.e jumping jacks, push ups)
Sports (i.e. Basketball, Karate, Soccer)
Dancing
Biking or Spin Class

Activity:
Walking your dog
Walking around the mall
Cleaning your house
Carrying groceries
Pacing while talking on the phone
Going for a casual bike ride
Running after your kids
Taking the stairs

There is a place for both activity and exercise in your day. You need both in your life in order to be healthy and fit. ...keep that in mind the next time you have a choice between taking the stairs or riding the elevator! Live Well!