Exercise: Quantity vs. Quality

I came across an interesting post on Diet Blog about exercise. According to experts working with the US government on formulating new guidelines for fitness, what's important isn't how intense your activity is, but how much general activity you get. As cardiologist William Kraus puts it: "Basically, don't sit around all day, and when you do move, you don't have to go at breakneck speed....'Whether you walk a mile, jog a mile or sprint a mile, it burns about 100 kilocalories,' with the same health benefits"

What do you think about this statement? Myself, I'm on the fence.

I do wholeheartedly agree with the idea that people just need to get moving for a certain amount of time each day, no matter what kind of activity they're doing. However, I know from experience that you can be active and not necessarily be 'fit.' I used to walk for an hour each day on a flat route and though that time was better spent walking than lounging on the couch, I still managed to gain weight easily. However, once I started running and changed my walking route to a more hilly one, my fitness level increased quite a bit.

The bottom line, if you ask me, is finding a challenge no matter what you do. If you're the type of person who's biggest activity is walking to the fridge, walking for half an hour each day might make a big difference in your life. On the other hand, if you're someone who is relatively active, it might be time to step it up a notch. Use heavier weights, increase your speed or add resistance to your current workout. It can make all the difference.