The Benefits Of Anaerobic Exercise

Anaerobic exercise is high intensity muscular activity that lasts for a short period of time. Anaerobic means "without oxygen," so when you exercise anaerobically your body does not use oxygen to produce energy like it does when you exercise aerobically.

Weight lifting (also known as weight training or strength training), calisthenics (push-ups, squats etc.), and isometrics (one body part resisting the movement of another body part) are examples of anaerobic exercise.

Weight lifting is the most effective type of anaerobic exercise. Weight lifting will build lean muscle mass and increase muscular strength faster and more effectively than calisthenics or isometrics. Weight lifting should be a part of any fitness program.

Top 5 Benefits Of Weight Lifting

1. Reduces health risks. Weight lifting helps prevent cardiovascular disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, low back pain, and certain types of cancer. Even if you already suffer from one of these ailments, weight lifting can help alleviate the ailment. Weight lifting also strengthens the immune system, making you less susceptible to colds and flus.

2. Keeps you strong. People who don't exercise regularly can lose up to 80% of their strength by age 65. More than one-fourth of American men and two-thirds of American women over age 75 can't lift an object heavier than 15 pounds. This loss of strength is not the normal result of ageing, it's the result of a sedentary lifestyle. Weight lifting is the best way to prevent the loss of strength.

3. Strengthens bones. It's estimated that over 200 million people worldwide suffer from osteoporosis. 30-50% of women and 15-30% of men will suffer a fracture related to osteoporosis in their lifetime. Bone loss parallels muscle loss, it's primarily the result of a sedentary lifestyle. Consuming dairy products and taking calcium supplements is not enough. Bones not challenged by weight bearing exercise will become soft and brittle. Weight lifting will increase the strength and density of your bones more than any other type of exercise. And if you've already lost some bone, weight lifting can help restore some of it.

4. Decreases body fat. Weight lifting is just as important as aerobic exercise and healthy eating when it comes to losing body fat. Weight lifting builds muscle, and the more muscle you have the higher your metabolic rate will be. A higher metabolic rate causes your body to burn more fat throughout the day - even when at rest.

5. Improves appearance. Weight lifting is the most effective way to build, shape, and define your body. Whether you want a leaner, more toned body, or a bigger, more powerful body, weight lifting will give you the look your after.

The benefits of anaerobic exercise, specifically weight lifting, are powerful. So make sure that weight lifting is a part of your fitness program.

Visit the Weight Lifting Guidelines page for information on how to safely and effectively incorporate weight lifting into your fitness program.

Visit the Strength Training Videos page for video demonstrations and exercise instructions for more than 130 strength training exercises.

Recommended Resource

• Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle is a best selling e-book that shows you how to create an effective fitness program by combining weight lifting, aerobic exercise, and healthy eating. Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle answers all of the most frequently asked questions about weight lifting, explains why weight lifting is essential for fat loss, and gives you four separate weight lifting programs, one for every level from beginner to advanced.
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