Without getting bogged down comparing training methods (BootCamp; Circuit training; CrossFit; F45; Strongman; Body-building; Calisthenics; Insanity, BodyWeight 44, etc.) or being controversial by critiquing training fads or movements, it has become quite clear that there is a huge misconception about the difference between ‘working out’ and ‘training’.

Yes, there is a big difference! To work out is “to exercise without any long-term performance goals in mind”. Typically, when you work out, you perform similar sessions 3-4 times a week, work up a sweat, maintain a healthy weight and/or cardiovascular fitness level because your main objective is to ‘keep fit’ and ‘be healthy’.

Getting the most bang for your buck

The goal when working out is simply to get the most bang for your buck by ‘feeling the burn’ and increasing your reps, time or distance with no focus on quality – which is ok if that’s what you’re after! You will certainly enjoy some health and fitness benefits by simply working out regularly, but perhaps not achieve your best in terms of physical feats.

There is the school of thought which suggests that working out regularly in a particular way equates to training, but this argument is disingenuous. At the risk of upsetting certain communities, if you’re simply turning up to the gym to participate in WODs (CrossFit), the fact is you’re just working out, not training.

Without a focus or goal and a process, you’re probably not making progress as quickly as you could, and possibly even getting injured more often than you should. If this sounds like you, take some time out, assess your Health and Wellness goals, and ensure you are clear on what your intended exercise regimen outcome is. Believe me, this is time well spent – you’ll never achieve your full potential until you have a clear training plan in place!

Training by definition is “the action of undertaking a course of exercise and diet in preparation for a sporting event or physical activity.” When you’re training, you are very specific with your planning and actions – you train a specific energy system, or group of muscles, either under the guidance of a trainer or coach, with the specific aim of getting better, stronger, faster, more explosive at the movement and by extension the activity.

Improving technique and getting stronger/faster

Training is characterised by having a predetermined goal, and the goals of training can be any combination of: improving technique, getting stronger, getting faster or becoming more efficient on the pathway to achieving the intended outcome.

In a training focused environment, every single rep, set and session should be assessed by your coach and scrutinised by yourself. Because of the focus on technical or physiological improvement, training should always be performed slower than a workout (think work to rest ratios, speed and quality of repetitions).

Whichever way you decide to exercise, please be sure to focus on your form, because if you’re not exercising or moving correctly, you can actually do more harm than good to your body.