Aerobic vs. Anaerobic

Aerobic means “with oxygen” and is any physical activity that lasts longer than 2 minutes.  This form of exercise requires constant oxygen transfer to your muscles. Walking on the treadmill or jogging would constitute as aerobic training.  This form of exercise is crucial to a healthy life and comes with great benefits like:

1. Increased endurance & stronger lungs
2. Increases calorie expenditure
3. Improved immune system
4. Reduced risk of obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and certain types of cancer
5. Improved cardiovascular system and circulation
6. Increased good cholesterol, decreased bad cholesterol
7. Better Moods

Anaerobic means “with out oxygen” and is any physical activity lasting 2 minutes or less.  Anaerobic describes exercise that does not require oxygen to produce the necessary energy (ATP) to carry out the activity.  Weight lifting, Sprinting, and Jumping are all anaerobic exercises.  These quick repetitive movements stimulate muscle and promote increased strength, bone density, lean muscle mass and more. This type of training is beneficial to everyone and anyone.

Its important to understand the difference between Aerobic and Anaerobic exercise.  No one is better than the other, BUT rather BEST when combined together.  This does not mean you have to do both in one day, but make sure you are getting a healthy dose of both through out the week.

BREATH!