What’s the Difference Between Aerobic Exercise and Anaerobic Exercise?

Find yourself in limbo every time your trainer tells you to make sure you do anaerobic exercise this weekend?  You aren’t the only one confused by the different types. There are many differences between aerobic exercise and anaerobic exercise. 

The scientific definition of aerobic is “with oxygen,” and anaerobic means without oxygen.  Don’t take these definitions literally and stop holding your breath! When doing an anaerobic exercise, your body must rely on energy-creating repetitions of exercise that don’t need extreme quantities of oxygen.   This makes anaerobic exercise very brief and very fast.

Aerobic exercise tones muscles and burns fat.  Aerobic exercise gives you a stronger heart, which reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.  It makes your legs and calves more toned, which will make you look great in your little black dress.  It also makes that size 6 polka-dot bikini you’ve been trying to squeeze into obtainable.

Anaerobic exercise makes your bones stronger.  Anaerobic exercise also increases your speed and power, as well as giving you increased muscle mass and strength (for all you body builders out there). 

It’s crucial that you know the difference between aerobic exercise and anaerobic exercise.  This way, when your trainer asks what aerobic exercise workouts you did over the weekend, you can tell him – but more important, you’ll know that you’re giving your body exactly what it needs to achieve optimal health! 

Examples of aerobic exercise are running, skiing, rowing, swimming, or even doing an exercise video.  Some great examples of anaerobic exercise are tennis, lifting weights, jumping (jumping jacks count), and/or sprinting.