In the world of fitness, you hear a lot of confusing terms being tossed around. One pair that gets used more than most is aerobic and anaerobic exercise. Trainers love to say them and health magazines drop little reminders of them everywhere. The truth of the matter is most people don’t really know the difference or how the difference affects their workout. Until now.
We’re going to give you a super basic primer on the differences, and a bit of insight on how the two can help you achieve your winter workout goals and keep them sailing smoothly into the spring, summer and onto next fall.
Aerobic exercise refers to any and all exercises that use oxygen to create the energy required to break down glucose to use as a fuel. Aerobic exercises help build endurance and strengthen your heart. Common examples of aerobic exercises are as follows:
- Dancing to music or step dancing (fast movements)
- Treadmills
- Exercise bicycles
- Ski machines
- Air gliders
- Jogging
- Sports such as racquetball and handball
On the other hand, anaerobic exercise refers to exercise where your body must create its own energy. Anaerobic exercises are usually things that can only be done in short bursts, and not maintained for longer than a minute or two. Because of the intensity, anaerobic exercise not only strengthens your heart, but also your muscles and bones much more so than aerobic. Some examples are:
- Weightlifting
- Resistance Machines
- Dumbbells
- Resistance Bands
So which do you do? Simple … both. By combining both into your workout routines, you’re ensuring that you get the best of both worlds when it comes to endurance, strength and muscle. You’re making sure that your cardiovascular system as well as your muscles reap the benefits of your hard work. How much of each should you do? Talk to your doctor or trainer first to make sure that whatever plan you follow is custom suited to you, and you alone. Get out there and start going!
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DISCLAIMER ALERT: The ideas expressed in this post came out of my own head, were researched by my own eyes and were expressed by my own hands. They are not intended to serve as medical advice in any way, shape or form. And they do not reflect the views of Humana Inc. or any of its subsidiaries. I take full responsibility if you think this post is awesome or not awesome.
OK, an experiment here . . . how about everyone raise your hand who has ever made a New Year’s resolution that has anything to do with your physical fitness, overall health or exercise plans? Yep, just as we thought, almost every single person you can possibly imagine. We all do it. We all start the New Year with the loftiest goals, the most honest intentions and the purest of plans. Then something happens. I don’t know whether it’s Super Bowl Sunday or just the dog days of January and February, but something changes and we fail to live up to those aforementioned promises. Life.
I have news for all of you sitting with your hands raised in the air: it doesn’t have to be that way. Nope, we can do better, we can be better and we can stick to our New Year’s resolutions. We can, and we will. I just prowled around the Internet looking for all the best advice on how to actually stick to our fitness-related resolutions. I think I found four tips to make 2010 the most foolproof fitness year yet. According to reports, here are the top four ways to make sure you keep your promises when it comes to your fitness and exercise goals:
- Make Time For You – “Start making yourself a priority. Let people around you know that you’re hoping to make a big fitness change in your life and ask them for their support.”
- Write It Down – “Studies show people who write things down – from what they eat to how they feel before, during and after exercise – are more likely to stick to a new healthy living plan. So, before you start any routine, go to your local bookstore and buy a journal to track your fitness goals (or keep one online).”
- Set Realistic Fitness Goals – “Talk to your doctor before starting any fitness regimen to help you set realistic fitness goals. Make an appointment with a qualified personal trainer who can assist you in breaking your larger New Year’s resolutions into smaller more tangible fitness targets and tasks. “
- Enlist Your Friends – “Get your friends to hop on the fitness train with you. People are more likely to stick to a fitness regimen if they have someone to support them. While hiring a personal trainer works, a more cost-effective and emotionally significant way to do this is to work out with a friend. “
There you have it! Head over and check out the full awesome article for more details, but we’re confident that if you follow those tips, you’ll be happier and healthier. You don’t have to let winter drag you down. We’re here to help make sure you don’t!
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DISCLAIMER ALERT: The ideas expressed in this post came out of my own head, were researched by my own eyes and were expressed by my own hands. They are not intended to serve as medical advice in any way, shape or form. And they do not reflect the views of Humana Inc. or any of its subsidiaries. I take full responsibility if you think this post is awesome or not awesome.
