Getting Intense - Anaerobic Exercise

Everyone in the world needs to work out. No matter who we are, cardiovascular exercise is necessary for health and a good quality of life. It has numerous benefits and can improve life for people in all kinds of different ways. There are two kinds of cardiovascular exercise: aerobic and anaerobic. Why do we need to do either one of these?

Aerobic exercise is activity that is usually lower in activity level and longer in duration. The word aerobic means with air or with oxygen. It is done to condition the body to be more active for longer amounts of time. It is often known as endurance training or cross training. Some aerobic exercises include; walking, jogging, biking, or swimming. A great amount of oxygen is required to produce the energy for these activities and maintain the body's endurance. Aerobic exercise is very important for good health and improved performance.

Anaerobic exercise is different than aerobics in that it is usually done in a shorter amount of time at a higher intensity. The term anaerobic means without air or without oxygen. As the body is worked in very strenuous activities it produces a by-product known as lactic acid to keep it energized. While aerobic exercise is done to increase stamina, anaerobic exercise is to increase muscle strength for times when great amounts of energy are required in a short period of time.

The lactic acid that is produced is what causes muscle fatigue. Before more anaerobic is attempted the muscles must use this lactic acid up in a rest period. The muscles use oxygen to restore the energy burned during anaerobics. Lactic acid removal can become more efficient with training. Some examples of anaerobic exercise are; sprinting, hill climbing, running intervals, jumping rope, and other activities that require big bursts of energy.

In general, anaerobic exercise ends up burning less calories than aerobic exercise does, but it does build muscle and lean body mass. Increased muscle mass leads to lost weight and a leaner figure as muscle groups burn more energy than fat cells. As you start to exercise anaerobically, there is a shortage of oxygen to the muscles. With anaerobic training the body can become better equipped to handle fatigue. As the fitness level increases, the body produces less lactic acid and the removal of it from the bloodstream becomes more efficient. With increased muscle capacity, the groups can operate from 12% to 50% more effectively, allowing the body to accumulate higher levels of lactic acid during exercise.

Anaerobic training is generally for people who have already achieved a certain level of fitness and are trying to increase speed, agility, and power. Participants should do a good deal of aerobic warming up and stretching before and after an anaerobic exercise session. It is not recommended to participate in anaerobic exercise if you are a pregnant woman. Also, if you are a beginner to exercise, you should start out at about 50% intensity rate for your particular fitness level.