Incidental and Structured Exercise

By Vanessa Warren, SOS exercise consultant

When embarking on changes to your physical activity levels after any type of weight loss surgery, there are 2 main types of exercise for you to be aware of that will aid your weight loss. Incidental Exercise is exercise that you do on a daily basis such as gardening, playing with your children or cleaning the house. As your weight decreases and you feel more able to do more physical activity, increasing your incidental exercise is a great way to burn more calories without feeling you are doing exercise.

Ways of increasing your incidental exercise include –

• Parking your car an extra 5 minutes walk from work each day
• Taking the stairs instead of the elevator
• Parking your car on the other side of the supermarket car park and carrying your groceries rather than pushing them in a trolley
• Turn up the music and get moving or dancing while doing the housework!

Structured Exercise is when you follow some type of exercise regime, where you go to a facility, or workout at home, in a park, with friends and family or in a group exercise class.
Exercising at a certain time helps with motivation, and this is a concentrated effort on your part to participate in a fitness regime. Structured exercise should include exercises that increase your heart rate for improved cardiovascular fitness, as well as strengthening, flexibility and toning exercises your body.

Here are some types of structured exercise –

• An exercise programme with specific exercises you do at home or at a fitness centre
• Walking with someone or in a walking group at a certain regular time
• An exercise class eg. Zumba, step, aqua jogging or aquacise
• A dance class eg. Salsa

The main thing to remember is to do something you enjoy so you will be more likely to continue this activity long term. Don’t be afraid to try new activities – the aim is to just get moving!

Do get in touch with Vanessa for more ideas that work for you