Anaerobic Exercise – What is It?

Article by Donna Morgan

If you’re fit and need to take it to the next level for your wedding, check out Anaerobic exercise. In its most basic definition, anaerobic exercise is a series of exercises that is intended to trigger the anaerobic metabolism inside of the human body. The primary focus of anaerobic exercise is to build muscle mass, but these exercises have also been used to build strength, speed, and power in athletes. The muscles that are developed from anaerobic exercise tend to be of assistance in performing physical feats that are short in duration, but high in their intensity level. If the physical activity level exceeds more than two minutes, then the components of aerobic metabolism come into play.

In French, the term anaerobic literally translates to “without oxygen”. Unlike aerobic exercises, anaerobic exercises do not require the tissues of your body to consume continuous and sizable amounts of oxygen. In essence, during the exercise, your muscles are not powered by oxygen and glucose. Instead, they are powered by glycogen. Engaging in anaerobic exercises has been proven in scientific studies to strengthen an individual’s muscles, as well as their skeletal system. Both aerobic and anaerobic exercises are required to maintain overall good health. The enlistment of a personal trainer may be needed to strike a balance between the two different forms of exercise.

Some of the most popular forms of the exercise include sprinting, running, jumping, stair and hill climbing, and isometrics. The key to successfully performing these exercises is to ensure that they are performed for brief and intense periods, generally no more than 4-6 minutes in duration. Small amounts of this type of exercise can be incorporated into a person’s daily routine by lifting hand weights while they watch television or wearing ankle weights as one walks throughout their day. Once the person’s overall physical fitness level has improved, he or she can begin to incorporate other forms of this exercise, like swimming or rowing, into their daily workout regimens.

If one chooses to begin engaging in anaerobic exercise, it is important to first visit their primary care physician to ensure that they are in top shape. While most of these exercises are brief in duration, they can place an intense amount of pressure and strain on one’s muscles, and an individual does not want to run the risk of injuring themselves. As always, following a proper diet and drinking adequate amounts of water each day are going to be essential to-do items to ensure that a person maximizes the benefits they receive from their anaerobic exercises.

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