The European Way to Stay Fit
September 15, 2026
“Perhaps the best exercise is the exercise that becomes part of everyday life.”
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One thing I’ve noticed during my travels through Europe is that fitness often seems less like something people schedule and more like something they simply do. People walk—to restaurants, shops, train stations and appointments. Bicycles are transportation as much as recreation, and stairs are often just part of getting where you are going. Of course, Europe is a large and diverse place, and plenty of Europeans belong to gyms and train every bit as seriously as Americans. Still, when I return home, I’m often struck by the contrast. In the United States, we tend to drive somewhere, park as close as possible, and then carve out a separate hour of the day to exercise.
There may be an important lesson in that distinction. According to the World Health Organization, physical activity doesn’t have to mean a formal workout: walking and cycling for transportation, recreation, household activity and sports all count. WHO recommends that adults accumulate 150 to 300 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week, along with muscle-strengthening exercise at least twice a week. For those 65 and older, WHO also recommends regular activities emphasizing balance and strength. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers very similar guidance for older Americans—at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity weekly, muscle strengthening at least two days a week, plus activities that improve balance.
Perhaps the best approach is not to choose between the American gym and the European sidewalk, but to borrow from both. Resistance training becomes increasingly valuable as we age, but so does simply moving more throughout the day. Walk to dinner when you can. Take the stairs. Carry your own bags. Ride a bicycle. Work in the yard. Then add purposeful strength training several times a week. The lesson I’ve taken from traveling is a simple one: fitness doesn’t always have to look like exercise. Sometimes it can simply look like living an active life.
The Takeaway: Keep the strength training, but don’t underestimate everyday movement. The healthiest routine may be the one that doesn’t end when you leave the gym.
