Aerobic and Anaerobic Exercise: What are the Differences?

One is to get strong and the other is for greater endurance. To be a good athlete, you need both.

1 min

By Ignacio Heredia
November 28, 2022

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Thanks to aerobic and anaerobic exercise we can activate the metabolism, work the muscles and strengthen the immune and cardiovascular systems. So, in the end, all the exercise we do can be classified as aerobic or anaerobic.

Differences between aerobic and anaerobic exercise

Aerobic exercises are of low or medium intensity and long duration. In this case, the body uses oxygen to burn carbohydrates and fats for energy. These are cardiovascular activities, known as cardio. Examples include running, skiing, swimming, jumping rope, cycling or trail running. Aerobic exercises are ideal for losing fat and increasing our endurance.

Anaerobic exercise, on the other hand, consists of applying a higher intensity for a shorter time, so the body consumes energy without consuming oxygen. Muscles, glucose and phosphocreatine are used. In anaerobic exercise we can include exercises such as weight lifting, squats or sit-ups .

So which is better, aerobic or anaerobic?

The truth is that the priority of one or the other will depend on your goals. Ideally, both types of exercise should be alternated, in order to obtain both muscular and cardiovascular benefits. What’s known as “doing a little bit of everything”.

So a good idea is to plan mixed sports routines, but then give priority to one or the other. For example, the same training session in sets, alternating strength exercises with other types of cardio.

You can also choose to do aerobic and anaerobic exercises in separate sessions. A good routine would be to go running or cycling a couple of days a week and dedicate another two days to strength. This gives the body enough time to recover.

Decide what you want to achieve through doing sport and where you would like to get to. Consult your trainer or someone with experience. Set yourself a definite training plan and stick to it. With some time and effort, you’ll see how you can achieve your goals and feel all the benefits of a good training session.

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