|

Author:
Gaby Munteanu

Fitness in general includes both aerobic and anaerobic aspects. According to the priorities of the sportsman, one or the other of the two aspects will be emphasized, but the second one will not be neglected. The purpose of doing fitness exercises is, ideally, to create a complete athlete, able to face various physical and psychological demands.

The object of aerobic fitness is the so-called cardio training, a term which refers to the cardio-vascular system and the heart muscle (myocardium). We'll talk about trainings which do not make oxygen duty and which are generally called 'trainings of aerobic effort'. More exactly, they refer to efforts which take a long time (more than 12 minutes) – usually they take between 20 and 60 minutes and they determine acceleration of cardiac frequency and lung ventilation. Efficiency in training requires a frequency between 60-80% of the maximum cardiac frequency (calculated according to the formula 720-age – in years).

The typical exercises of aerobic fitness come from classic resistance sports (long distance running, cycling, swimming, fast walking, etc.) and from different aerobic training programs (aerobic gymnastics, step-aerobic, tae-bo, dance, etc.).

Aerobic fitness uses specific cardio machines: treadmill, classic or elliptical trainer, stepper,etc. Dosing the aerobic effort depends on the somatic type and the actual objectives of each sportsman.

Normally, the ectomorphic and mezomorphic types, which do not accumulate large quantities of subcutaneous adipose tissue, will need to practice for a rather short time (20-30 minutes per training in two or three trainings a week, in non-consecutive days). This time is necessary for realizing an effective cardiac stimulation, without the risk of losing muscular mass.

For the endomorphic somatic type, 'benefiting' of a lot of adipose tissue, aerobic training must last 45-60 minutes and needs to take place 4-6 times a week.

Even if trainings are extended (time, miles) and they are more frequent, their intensity, which is given by the cardiac rhythm per training, must remain high, so finally the body burns as many calories as possible. It is well-known that only after 20-30 minutes the body starts to mobilize the fat 'deposits'. Before this, at the beginning of the training, the energetic support of the aerobic effort is ensured by the muscular and hepatic glycogen, the same as in anaerobic efforts, which are supported exclusively by the glycogen from the muscles and the liver.

This is one of the main reasons for recommending, in programs designed for losing weight, aerobic exercises – they are the biggest and fastest 'fat burners'. Of course, the other big benefits of these exercises appear at the cardiovascular, pulmonary, psychological and other levels.

A real euphoria is observed at the psychological level during aerobic training. This is motivated by the big number of endorphins produced in the body by this type of effort. Endorphins, also called hormones of happiness, are not produced in such a big quantity during anaerobic effort. Anaerobic training determines a big release of catecholamine (adrenaline, noradrenalin), which are considered stress hormones.

A disadvantage of aerobic fitness is, first of all, non-developing a strong and fortified musculature, because of the reduced muscle efforts. We can also observe (and must resist) the monotony of the training, which is long and repetitive.

However, generally speaking, the advantages of aerobic fitness are remarkable and irreplaceable.

Gaby Munteanu is a fitness trainer, with over 15 years experience, and editor at http://www.healthfitnessworld.com. HealthFitnessWorld.com - Health, Fitness, Body Building, Weight Loss, Nutrition - Articles and Resources.

HealthFitnessWorld.com is dedicated to providing high-quality, free advices, tips and resources on health, fitness, body building, supplements, nutrition, weight loss, beauty, massage, acne, medicine, depression, massage.

This article may be reprinted or published without the author's consent as long as the "About" and "weblinks" are kept intact and active.

| Article Keywords: Fitness

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Fitness... Don't I Need More Protein for More Strength, Energy, Health and Fitness? (Part 2 of 2) And as far as energy is concerned, what are the very best food sources for fuel and energy? Believe it or not, protein is NOT nature’s most efficient source of fuel and energy for our bodies. Without question, carbohydrates are the most efficient sources of fuel and energy for the human body. Contrary to common belief and the doctrines of so many loudly touted and very lucrative weight loss programs and diets, carbohydrates are not always the bad guys, even though they have certainly gotten a bum rap in the last while. Unrefined plant sources of carbohydrates in the form of whole, fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains and beans are our best sources of fuel and energy. They are also the best sources of nutrition for human health and fitness. However, refined carbohydrates, made from white sugar and/or white flour, are the bad guys. It is best to eliminate these refined foods from our diets altogether. You know what they are: refined breads, cookies, cakes, desserts, baked goods, candy or anything at all made with white sugar and white flour. Because human beings get their most efficient fuel, or energy, from carbohydrates, unrefined plant sources, if enough unrefined carbohydrates are not consumed, you will, among many other problems, feel tired. Those people who go on high protein diets, after a while, have a common complaint—they get very tired. Why? Because they load up on animal protein, a poor source of fuel and energy, and they cut way back on the best food sources for energy—carbohydrates from unrefined plant foods (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans). Furthermore, high-protein dieters often crave and binge on refined carbohydrate goodies. These cravings are the body’s way of telling them that they are not getting something they...