So we can be healthier and more energetic, we decide to get fit, eat right, exercise...all of it. Then, just as we're getting started, trying to find out what to do, people throw out technical terms we don't understand. Words like aerobic and anaerobic confuse us and make us feel like we're not smart enough to be healthy. If I've just described you, this article will tell you what the words mean and why, in most cases, they don't matter.
Aerobic means 'with air'. When an exercise is aerobic, your body can replenish the needed oxygen (air) to the muscles being exercised. Aerobic exercise is good for heart, lungs, immunity, lower blood pressure, cellular health and helps prevent or control major diseases (like diabetes, cancer, atherosclerosis, asthma, emphysema, sciatica, constipation, etc).
Aerobic exercise is the easiest and the most beneficial. If you feel you need to choose between anaerobic and aerobic exercise, choose aerobic. It's as simple and inexpensive as taking a fast walk 3-5 days per week. Other types of aerobic exercise include swimming, jogging, stationary bike riding, rowing, aerobic dancing (jazzercise), and lifting light weights, quickly. In order to get the full aerobic value, the exercise should be sustained for 30 minutes total. Imagine that...2-3 hours per week could add as much as 15 healthy years to your life and make the other years much healthier and productive.
Anaerobic means the exercise is so strenuous it uses oxygen faster than your body can replenish it. Anaerobic exercise is any exercise that is very strenuous, lifting heavy weights, for example. Other anaerobic exercises include sprinting, climbing, long jump, push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, leg lifts, squat thrusts, etc. Anaerobic exercise builds muscle and is needed so you can perform heavy jobs, like lifting things, running away from danger, take a steep hike, etc. It also helps with the symptoms of some diseases (like arthritis and osteoporosis). Some people use it to get that rugged, buff look, but I'm jealous of them.
Aerobic exercise equipment comes in all shapes, sizes and price ranges, the cheapest and easiest is a pair of walking or cross-training shoes for your aerobic walk. Some of the mid-range exercise equipment includes stationary bikes, treadmills, rowing machines, stair-steppers, etc. You can get really expensive, with electronically assisted equipment that simulates uphill climbs and monitors your blood pressure, heart rate, calories burned, along with charting your whole routine and uploading to computer. For me, I'll take the walks!
There are many types of anaerobic exercise equipment on the market at all price ranges. Some examples of exercise equipment are dumb bells, free weights, home gyms, thigh and abdominal workout equipment. If you're on a really tight budget, you can buy bungee cords or medical tubing and make your own anaerobic exercise equipment. Frankly, you could use a stick attached to 2, 2-litre bottles of water for various weight lifting exercises.
Whatever exercise you do, Choosing The Right Exercise Apparel is important to prevent injury. Whether your preferred exercise is aerobic or anaerobic, if you want more equipment but don't want to spend the money, go to garage sales. I guarantee you will find a wide variety of almost new exercise equipment at less than a tenth of the new price.
For the fitness goals of most of us, any exercise is good exercise. Both aerobic and anaerobic exercise burn calories, reduce blood sugar, and are useful for weight loss. Both types of exercise help with overall fitness. As opposed to no exercise, any exercise improves heart, lungs...the whole body. Any exercise started slowly and built up over time will safely achieve a healthy lifestyle. The most important thing is that your exercise routine be easy to do and not a dreaded chore. Whatever exercise you choose, make sure it's something you could do regularly to keep in shape. If you make it fun enough to do it regularly, you don't even need to know whether it's aerobic or anaerobic...you just need to do it.
If you're looking to improve your health and fitness, you probably want a healthy life...including mind, body and spirit. You can renew your mind and spirit with God's help. He can heal the stuff your diet doesn't control. If you want His help, go to Healing From God.
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