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29 Jul 2006 12:00 PM

Aerobic versus Anaerobic

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

You may have heard these terms used interchangeably when it comes to exercise. So what is the difference between aerobic exercise and anaerobic exercise? A one word answer to that question is oxygen. Let's explore what is meant by aerobic and anaerobic.

Aerobic

Aerobic exercise is defined as exercise that requires and allows the use of oxygen to replenish energy stores. Your body is working aerobically if you are lungs and heart are working overtime to restore you. If it gets your heart pumping (stationary bikes, stair climbers, treadmills, etc) then it is aerobic exercise.

Anaerobic

So if aerobic exercises uses oxygen to replenish energy, anerobic forces your body to make energy without the use of oxygen. Now this doesn't mean holding your breath while doing your exercise, but it means the demand is so much that your body has to get energy from your body's natural chemistry. This type of exercise is usually defined as weight or strength training. You are performing isolated, limited movements on specific muscles. A lunge, for example, requires a great deal of energy to perform and if you are doing a set of 10 to 15 lunges, you will feel your heart pick up, but you are burning more than oxygen to fill the energy deficit.

You Need Both

A balanced fitness program utilizes both aerobic and anaerobic exercise in order to maximize your fitness. This means using cardio (aerobic) for building endurance, heart and lung health as well as burning calories along with strength training (anerobic) for building muscle strength, burning calories and increasing your overall fitness.

What types of aerobic and anaerobic exercises do you perform?

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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