Physical Exercise - Aerobic or Anaerobic Workout

Aerobic vs Anaerobic Exercise: What's The Difference?

Physical exercise should become daily routine exercise. You also understand that performing exercise in regular basis is giving various benefits on your body. Upon hearing the word exercise, people tends to think in terms of aerobic exercise such as walking, jogging, running, aerobic dance, swimming, cycling, etc. We seldom heard about anaerobic exercise. So, what’s the difference between the two and what benefit each of the exercise give to our body? The following article hopefully provide information for you.

The words aerobic and anaerobic, literary speaking, refers to the presence or absence of oxygen. Most of our body cells prefer to get their energy by using oxygen to fuel metabolism. Exercise needs energy or fuel. During aerobic exercise, with adequate fuel and oxygen, muscle can contract repeatedly without fatigue. During anaerobic exercise, the muscle must rely on other source beside oxygen to fuel muscle contraction. Anaerobic metabolism produces waste molecules that can impair muscle contraction, this process is what commonly called as fatigue.

Aerobic Exercise - Cardio Workout

The word aerobic means “with oxygen”. Aerobic exercise gets the heart working faster and harder to pump blood through the heart, more than normal. When the blood is quickly pumped, body have to be oxygenated quickly, thus the increased respiration. Aerobic exercise as part of physical exercise strengthens the heart and boost healthy cholesterol level.

Generally, aerobic exercise is a low or moderate cardio workout perform in extended periods of time. Some of common aerobic exercise are running or brisk walk(with intensity where you should be able to talk while exercising without breathing too hard), swimming, cycling, etc. 

Performing physical aerobic exercise in a controlled and correct manner will provide many positive changes within human body. Mitochondria, as “ATP energy source manufacturer” will increase in number. The blood supply to muscle will increase and running smoothly. The will result in more effective energy production system in the muscle, the muscle will be more durable and is not easily exhausted. Other than that, aerobic exercise also inhibit the death of cells that makes someone looks well-preserved and physically stronger than people at the same age.

Anaerobic Exercise

The word anaerobic means “without oxygen”. This type of physical exercise does not requires oxygen for its main fuel. Anaerobic system provides energy quickly in a very large sum but in such a short period. Anaerobic exercise is a high (vigorous) intensity exercise and in short amount of time. Example of anaerobic exercise is sprint, weightlifting, and any activities in fitness room.

If anaerobic as part of physical exercise performed routinely, will increase the size of muscle(hypertrophy). This means larger muscle and stronger contraction. Other than that, there is also an increase in glycogen break down, thus the energy production through glycolysis pathway becomes more effective. Energy production system through glycolysis use limited amount of oxygen. This results in lactic acid built up which causes discomfort and fatigue at sustained level. But the muscle appears leaner and better aesthetically. Larger muscle mass will also result in increased muscle metabolism which requires more energy usage. This will help in losing weight.

Which One Is Better Physical Exercise: Aerobic or Anaerobic Exercise?

Each exercise, either aerobic nor anaerobic exercise give positive impact to your body in a different way. Basically, both are good. Purpose becomes an essential factor in choosing the type of exercise. If you to increase your fitness and endurance, aerobic exercise is your answer. If you to tone up and increase your resistance, do anaerobic exercise. Best way to do it is do the combination of both. Do these exercise in controlled manner, don’t overdo it. Any kind of exercise, if you do it excessively (overtraining) will give negative impact such as muscle injury, chronic fatigue, etc. Be safe and be healthy by Physical Exercise.