Why Do Exercise Needs Vary Between Individuals?
How many videos do you see of athletes and their superhuman bodies, and wonder how they got that physique?
And when asked they simply give us a ‘political’ answer like ”I work hard”.
Then you wonder: ”I work hard too but I don’t have an eight-pack”.
(This might be a past moment of my life…not sure).
Exercise is a crucial component of a healthy lifestyle, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution.
The exercise needs of individuals can vary significantly based on a multitude of factors.
In this article, we’ll answer why do exercise needs vary between individuals, and how understanding these variations can help you get to your goals faster.
Why do exercise needs vary between individuals?
The simple answer is that everybody is different, but you didn’t click on this article (thank you) for this simple and boring answer.
This article is separated into 2 sections:
A section on the factors that determine exercise needs
A section on how you can determine your own exercise needs
Factors that determine exercise needs
1. Your Age
One of the most obvious reasons for variations in exercise needs is age.
A teenager’s exercise requirements are very different from those of a middle-aged adult or a senior citizen.
Younger individuals may require more vigorous exercise to build muscle and bone density, while older adults might prioritize exercises that improve balance and joint flexibility, as well as having recovery in mind.
2. Fitness Goals
Exercise goals play a pivotal role in determining individual exercise needs.
Some people exercise to lose weight, while others aim to gain muscle, improve endurance, or boost cardiovascular health.
These varying objectives necessitate distinct exercise routines, intensity, and overall fitness demands.
A sports athlete’s physical activities and demands are different from that of a bodybuilder.
3. Health Status
Your overall health and medical conditions are also significant determinants of your exercise needs.
If you suffer from any type of health problems or chronic health conditions, then you might be limited on what types of exercise you can perform.
Individuals with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, or arthritis may require customized exercise programs designed to manage their conditions effectively and safely.
A person recovering from an injury or surgery will also have unique exercise requirements compared to someone in perfect health.
4. Body Type and Genetics
Genetics also play a role in shaping exercise needs.
Different body types react differently to exercise and nutrition.
Here are the three types of bodies:
Ectomorphs (thin, tall, and lanky body composition).
Mesomorphs (greater than average muscle mass development).
Endomorphs (softer bodies with curves, weight distribution in hips and lower abs).
For instance, an ectomorph may struggle to gain muscle and require different training and dietary approaches than a naturally muscular mesomorph.
5. Lifestyle and Daily Activity Level
How much exercise is required can vary significantly based on your fitness levels.
A person with a sedentary job such as any office work may need more structured exercise than someone with an active occupation (construction workers).
Think of how you spend most of your days and how much you move throughout it.
6. Psychological Factors
Psychological factors, such as motivation, stress, and mental health, greatly influence exercise needs.
Some individuals find peace and stress relief in daily workouts, while others may struggle with motivation.
Understanding how exercise can improve mental health is crucial when tailoring exercise routines to individual needs. It may even motivate you to exercise more.
Also, people who are going through traumas or difficult times tend to have fitness as the last of their priorities.
Some health experts argue that a person suffering from any mental health such as depression and anxiety may actually benefit from exercise.
7. Fitness Level
A person’s current fitness level is a crucial factor in determining exercise needs.
Beginners may need to start with low-intensity workouts to avoid injury and gradually progress to more challenging exercises.
Seasoned athletes, on the other hand, require advanced training routines to continue making progress.
This is typically why when you start working out for the first time ever or after a lengthy break, you get more intense and long-lasting muscle soreness.
Don’t worry, that’s just your body adapting to your new and amazing habit!
8. Gender
Gender is also a factor we simply can’t ignore.
Men and women may have differing goals and physical attributes that necessitate different workout routines.
Hormonal differences can influence fat distribution, muscle-building capacity, and more, making it important to adapt exercises accordingly.
Pregnancy is also a factor when we look at exercise needs…we can’t expect a pregnant woman to have the same exercise intensity as an Olympic athlete.
9. Personal Preferences (Or Sports)
Individual exercise needs are also heavily influenced by personal preferences.
Some people thrive in group fitness classes, while others prefer solitary activities like long-distance running or swimming.
I added sports into it because athletes also vary their exercise programs and fitness needs.
A soccer player may need to build his endurance more than a golf athlete, where the latter would benefit from hip and back strength more.
Tailoring exercise to personal interests and preferences can enhance adherence and overall success.
How can you determine your exercise needs?
Now that you understand what makes your exercise needs vary from others, let us assess how we can determine our exercise in order to properly dive into physical activity.
Determining your own exercise needs is a critical step in creating an individualized exercise program that suits your goals and circumstances.
1. Set Clear Goals
Start by defining your fitness objectives.
What do you want to achieve through exercise?
Whether it’s weight loss, muscle gain, improved cardiovascular health, stress reduction, or a combination of these, having clear goals will help you determine the type, intensity, and duration of exercise needed.
If you aim to lose weight, then you can orient yourself to more regular weight training and fitness.
However, if your goal is to recover from an injury, then your exercise routine might be less intense.
2. Assess Your Current Fitness Level
It’s important to recognize that you are at point A and that this point varies between individuals. As we saw earlier, genetics and other factors can play a role.
Look at how much exercise you can handle in a week, what types of exercise work for you, and what doesn’t.
Assessing your current fitness levels means determining your physical health, your weight, muscle mass, and your personal ability.
When you have noted all that, you can start sailing the boat and orient it toward your goals, whatever they may be.
You are the captain of your fitness journey…or you can hire a personal trainer to be your navigator.
3. Consider Your Health and Medical History
Take into account any existing medical conditions, injuries, or physical limitations.
If you have heart issues, then maybe fitness and conditioning aren’t the best idea for you.
Consult with a healthcare provider, especially if you have underlying health concerns, to make sure that your exercise plan is safe and appropriate for your specific goals.
4. Understand Your Body Type and Genetics
Recognize your body type and genetic predispositions.
This understanding can help you choose exercises and nutrition strategies that align with your natural tendencies and goals.
For example, if you have a genetic predisposition for muscle gain, you might focus on strength training.
Oftentimes we tend to blame our lack of fitness success to our genetics or body types. I would say use it to your advantage.
How, you may ask?
As previously mentioned, there are different body composition and types. Once you identified yours, you can customize workout plans where you will thrive.
Each body type has different ways to physically improve. For example, endomorph bodies need cardio mixed with weight training to lose weight, and they also suffer when overtraining.
There is definitely a way for you to overcome your goals, all you need is to play by your strengths and not focus on your weaknesses too much.
5. Assess Your Lifestyle
Consider your daily routine and commitments.
Are you predominantly sedentary due to work or other responsibilities?
Factor in the amount of movement you do throughout the day. This will help you determine the amount of structured exercise you need.
6. Start Gradually and Listen to Your Body
It’s important to start slowly, especially if you’re a beginner.
Gradual progression reduces the risk of injury and helps your body adapt. The concept of progressive resilience is preached in the fitness world.
Start low, and gradually increase stress and difficulty (safely).
As you exercise, listen to your body. Pay attention to signs of fatigue, soreness, or discomfort.
This feedback will guide you in adjusting the intensity and duration of your workouts.
7. Experiment and Adapt
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of exercise.
Try various activities like cardio, strength training, yoga, or group classes to discover what you enjoy and what works best for you.
As you gain experience, be open to adjusting your routine based on your changing goals and needs.
People need to realize that exercise is not only gym and running. There are so many ways to engage in movement.
An underrated one that personal trainers always recommend for people who don’t enjoy traditional workouts is…dancing. How fun is that?
10. Regularly Review and Adjust
Your exercise needs can change over time due to factors like age, lifestyle changes, or evolving fitness goals.
Your body is always changing, evolving, and adapting. Sticking with the same workout plan won’t always work…
Unless your goal is to simply get yourself to move, regardless of the exercise program…then by all means you are doing the right thing.
Regularly review your exercise plan and make necessary adjustments to ensure it aligns with your current needs and objectives.
The key here is to work around your goals. Consistency is a goal, do not forget it.
Conclusion
Exercise is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution.
The exercise needs of individuals vary based on factors such as age, fitness goals, health status, genetics, lifestyle, psychological factors, fitness level, and personal preferences.
Recognizing these differences and customizing exercise programs accordingly can lead to better results and a higher likelihood of long-term good habits.
So many of us (I included) often forget that exercising is very personal, in the sense that there isn’t one way to achieve our goals, but many ways. Some ways don’t suit us, and that’s okay.
Ultimately, the key to success is understanding your unique exercise needs and crafting a fitness plan that suits you best.
Once you understand that, then you will be on another level!
