What are the Two Different Types of Exercise? -

Details for What are the Two Different Types of Exercise?

ID:	3305
Author:	traymer
Title:	What are the Two Different Types of Exercise?
Article:	There are two types or categories of exercise: aerobic and anaerobic. Each has its benefits but a combination of both is needed for total health of the body. Lets start with aerobic activity. Everyone knows what aerobic activity is all about. The term has been used to describe a certain type of exercise routine. If you are attending an aerobics class most people imagine that you will be jumping around and performing dance routines to music. By the end of the class you will be soaking wet and panting like a dog. This is the basis of aerobic activity but it is not the only type that exists. Aerobic simply implies the use of oxygen. More oxygen is taken into the body and delivered to the cells so they can perform their job of keeping your body functioning in tiptop shape. Aerobic activity helps the heart and lungs to work better. The lungs receive the oxygen and transport it to the cells via the blood. The heart pumps blood throughout the body and drops off the by-product carbon dioxide to the lungs where it is exhaled out of the body. Regular aerobic exercise keeps our bodies functioning in peak condition. Our muscles need more oxygen when we exercise and aerobic exercise provides that oxygen. At first, our hear rate will soar because our bodies are not used to the increased activity. As we continue to exercise, our heart rate and blood pressure will lower during activity. We will also experience less fatigue. The fatigue is due to the buildup of lactic acid in the muscles. Once we learn to breathe properly during exercise, more oxygen will be delivered to the muscle cells and less lactic acid will be produced. We will be able to exercise longer. Aerobic activity lowers our total cholesterol and raises the level of good cholesterol in the blood. Good cholesterol removes plaque from our arteries so that deposits do not build up and narrow the opening that blood has to flow through. Now we come to anaerobic exercise. These exercises are done without oxygen. You are of course still breathing, but anaerobic exercises are designed to build up muscle. The movements work directly on the muscle fibers to elongate and shorten them, all the while building up more muscle. Growing more muscle means less of a deficit when muscle tissue is lost as we age. For the overall health of the body, muscle burns more calories than fat. Aerobic exercise burns stored fat after a certain point is reached. Anaerobic exercises keep the muscle working even when you are sleeping at night. Imagine your body becomes a fat burning powerhouse 24/7. Anaerobic exercise is also referred to as strength training or weight lifting. Many women do not like the term weight lifting because it brings to mind muscle-bound men with arms and legs the size of tree trunks. Strength training is meant to burn fat and increase muscle growth. How much that muscle grows depends on the repetitions of the exercises and the amount of weight used. Either type of exercise will help keep you fit but it is important to understand the difference but even more important is to do it! About the author of this article: todd raymer health consultant brought to you by viva vitality proud distributors of gbg health and wellness products.
Category:	Health: Fitness: Muscle-Building
Date:	June 23, 2009 04:02:58 AM

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