The Pros And Cons Of Aerobic, And Anaerobic Exercise

If you step into any gym, you'll see a few different sections. Some sections are for machines, some are for free weights, and others are for the aerobics class and all the stationary bikes, treadmills and rowing machines. All of these can be put into two different, broad, categories: Aerobic, and Anaerobic exercise. In this article, you'll learn the benefits of both, so you can figure out which one you want to focus on more.



First of all, what is aerobic exercise? This simply means that your body is primarily using oxygen in the process to turned stored fuel into your body into energy. When you are breathing hard over a long period of time, your body is producing kinetic energy from the stored energy in your cells. Anaerobic exercise, on the other hand, doesn't use oxygen to create energy. It uses purely stored energy. Energy from anaerobic exercise can only last for a few seconds before it switches over to aerobic exercise. Getting winded after sprinting, or running up some stairs, are examples of the need for oxygen after some anaerobic exercise.



The main purpose for aerobic exercise is to provide fat loss, and cardiovascular health. When you are engaged in aerobic activity, you are likely using your legs to do most of the work, such as jogging, walking, and bicycling. Generally speaking, people that do a lot of aerobic activity are slender and don't carry around a lot of body fat. They are also incredibly flexible.



Since almost all popular aerobic activities focus primarily on the legs, the upper body doesn't get much of a workout. Most long distance runners aren't really known for their six pack abs and stunning biceps. This is likely the main drawback to a pure aerobic activity based exercise plan.



With anaerobic exercise, short bursts of exertion create a growth in muscle tissue, leading to stronger and larger muscles. Through specific exercises, you can sculpt your body any way you like. This is likely the biggest draw to anaerobic exercises.



These kinds of exercises do have their drawbacks. If all you do is anaerobic activity, you won't develop much flexibility. Also, while doing these workouts will improve your cardiovascular health somewhat, they are nowhere near as good as exercises such as running or cycling.



Obviously, you aren't restricted to one or the other. Many people choose a balance, leaning toward whichever is more important. When you choose your exercises based on your own goals, you'll be in much better shape.



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