Top 5 Benefits of Anaerobic Exercise

The benefits of anaerobic exercise are powerful, and anaerobic exercise needs to be a part of your fitness program

Anaerobic exercise is high intensity muscular activity that lasts for a short period of time.

Anaerobic means "without oxygen," so your body does not use oxygen to help produce energy when you exercise anaerobically like it does when you exercise aerobically.

Strength training (also known as weight lifting or weight training) and calisthenics (push-ups, pull-ups etc.) are examples of anaerobic exercise.

Strength training is the most effective type of anaerobic exercise. Here are the top five benefits of strength training:

1. Helps prevent health problems.

Strength training helps prevent cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, arthritis and low back pain. Even if you already suffer from one of these ailments, strength training can help alleviate the ailment. Strength training also strengthens your immune system.

2. Builds and maintains lean muscle mass.

The loss of lean muscle mass can begin as early as your mid-20s, and it results in a loss of strength, a slower metabolism and decreased functional fitness. The loss of lean muscle mass is not the normal result of aging, it's primarily the result of a sedentary lifestyle. If you don't use your muscles they waste away. Strength training is the most effective way to build and maintain lean muscle mass and stay strong and functionally fit.

3. Increases bone strength and density.

Millions of people worldwide suffer from osteoporosis. Consuming dairy products and taking calcium supplements to increase bone strength and density is not enough. Bones need to be challenged by weight bearing exercise or they will become soft and brittle. Strength training will increase the strength and density of your bones more than any other type of exercise.

4. Boosts metabolism.

The slower your metabolism, the easier it is to gain body fat and the harder it is to lose it. Strength training boosts metabolism because it builds and maintains lean muscle mass. Lean muscle mass is metabolically active tissue, so the more lean muscle mass you have the faster your metabolism will be.

5. Reshapes the body and improves appearance.

No other type of exercise can reshape your body and improve your appearance like strength training can. Strength training will give you a strong, toned, athletic looking body.

As you can see, the benefits of strength training are impressive. So make sure that strength training is a part of your fitness program.

If you're looking for a good resource that will show you how to develop an effective strength training routine, check out Bodybuilding Revealed. It's an excellent program and I highly recommend it.

Top 5 Benefits of Anaerobic Exercise > Exercise Articles