What does exercise really mean? Everyone has their own interpretation of this term. Some might think of it as lifting weights, moving their body, or participating in sports. While these definitions aren’t wrong, a broader understanding is essential.
According to various sources, including insights from ChatGPT, exercise is defined as “physical activity that improves health.” I love this definition because it encompasses a wide range of activities, not just specific forms like lifting weights. For example, lifting is just one type of exercise among many.
What makes lifting weights special?
Lifting weights is unique because it offers a variety of ways to train your muscles. For instance, if you want to target your back muscles, you have several options, including:
- Dumbbell Bent-Over Row
- Seated Row Machine
- Barbell Bent-Over Row
Each of these exercises targets the back muscles but does so in a different manner. Lifting is one of the most muscle-specific forms of exercise. It allows you to tailor your training to meet specific muscle goals by manipulating different forces at play.
Understanding Force
The term "force" can be quite abstract, but from a technical standpoint, force is defined as mass multiplied by acceleration. While this may sound complicated, there’s no need to get bogged down by the math. The key takeaway is that understanding force helps when choosing exercises.
To observe force, we need at least two objects in relation to one another. For example, consider me sitting in a chair—there's no force acting in isolation; rather, it exists due to my weight pressing down on the chair and the chair pushing back.
Although force itself isn’t visible, it's definitely measurable.
In upcoming blogs, I’ll dive deeper into the properties of force and how they relate to your lifting goals.
More Than Just Muscles
A lot of people think that lifting weights will only make their body bulky, but this thought is wrong. It’s important to note that lifting challenges not only your muscles, but also your bones, nerves, ligaments, tendons, and joints. All of these elements come into play during workouts, helping your body function properly and grow stronger.
Conclusion
Understanding forces on a broad level will help you identify what each exercise achieves and which movements align best with your fitness goals. Always start with your goals in mind before you step into the gym.