Aerobic versus Anaerobic Exercise: What’s the Difference?

“Aerobic” and “Anaerobic” are two words often thrown around when talking about exercise. If you are new to fitness or even just like working out at the gym, it is important to know the difference in these words and how it applies to the exercises you are doing.

Aerobic literally means “in the presence of oxygen” and signifies the point at which you exercise that is still within your comfortable level. Aerobic exercise is achieved when you are performing at a pace, weight or distance that your body is accustomed to through recent training sessions. There is enough oxygen present in the blood to dispose of waste products. Many people associate this level with “fat burning.”

Anaerobic exercise is achieved when the body is pushed beyond its level or comfort. Muscles are challenged above levels of recent training. For a limited time, the muscle frees oxygen that is present in its tissue and waste products are produced that will cause the muscle to become tight and sore.

While aerobic exercise is necessary for health, anaerobic exercise is not, but does give significant benefits in gaining speed, muscle size or strength. Therefore, anaerobic exercise is always necessary for fitness and athletics, which those who have fat burning as their goal may benefit more from increased aerobic exercise.

BOOTCAMP 619 provides a healthy and beneficial balance of both aerobic and anaerobic exercise that helps clients to achieve both fat burning and aesthetic goals, leading to a happier, healthier body and life.