Aerobic vs. Anaerobic Fitness

Aerobic vs. Anaerobic Exercise Health Benefits

The terms aerobic and anaerobic are commonly confused within the fitness industry.  By definition they solely relate to the use of oxygen in the body, with the largest misconception being we train them independently.  In all actuality we are always using both, just transitioning between the two as your exercise becomes more or less intense.  Typically lower intensity exercises fall within the aerobic threshold and higher intensity exercises normally fall under anaerobic exercise.   During aerobic exercise the body uses oxygen to remove the waste products and free radicals in the body caused by exercise in order to prevent fatigue.  Once an individual crosses their metabolic threshold into anaerobic exercise (higher intensities) the oxygen intake cannot keep up and the body/muscles begin to fatigue more quickly. 

So which system should I focus on for the best health benefits?  This alone can be a tricky question.  First, one needs to identify their goals.   If a person were just trying to be like a majority of the population, wanting simply to be healthier and maybe lose a few pounds then they might stick on the side closest to aerobic exercise.  Whereas an athlete trying to meet certain physical demands in a given period of time might train on the side more closely related to anaerobic exercise.  It is important to remember that no matter what you cannot just train one or the other.  You can however do more aerobic training vice anaerobic.  Aerobic exercises such as jogging, walking, bicycling will allow you to train for longer periods of time without fatigue, but will typically take a little longer to achieve the objective you have set for yourself.  While on the other hand people who train using more anaerobic type exercises might get faster results, these results don’t come free.  Anaerobic exercises such as sprinting, weight lifting, etc are typically harder on the body such as the joints and bones causing pain and/or injuries. 

In closing there is no right or wrong answer to this question.  It all depends on the individual and what they look to accomplish.  If you are just the average human looking to live a healthy life then most would agree that a good mixture of the two would suit you fine.  Remember doing anything is better than nothing, and always listen to your body.  If it hurts stop doing whatever it is that is hurting you.  Don’t get me wrong there will always be a level of discomfort when exercising, but one needs to learn the difference between discomfort and pain.