Hi! Matthew Lawrence here! A 26-year-old architect and gamer by heart. I hope you like this new website. I'll be writing mostly about exercising, fitness, and of course, games. I usually update every 2 days during the weekdays so stay tuned!
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Strength versus Endurance: Which is Better?
Posted under Health and Fitness by matt639
VERSUS
Alright, looking back, I seem to give the impression that I give a lot more focus on anaerobic exercises (read: bodybuilding) than aerobic exercises. Well, I believe I mentioned the reason in this post. Simply put, I’m a bit obsessed with having that perfect beach body. Anyway, aerobic exercise is advantageous as well since it develops cardiovascular strength and reduces the chances of heart related illnesses appearing.
Before we begin, let’s define both types of exercises first. Aerobic exercise refers to exercise that improves oxygen consumption in the body by the body. The word aerobic means “in the presence of oxygen”. The exercises of this type secures your heartbeat to around 60 to 65% of its maximum rate. The exercises are also done in an extended period of time which, as a result, would improve your endurance. On the other hand, anaerobic exercises are designed for training the strength of your muscle and joints. The exercises are performed with high intensity (70% and above heartbeat rate) but for only a short duration. This type of exercise usually have a reference like number of sets and repetitions (like the dumbbell exercises earlier).
Now on to the advantages. Let’s start with Aerobic exercise. Aerobic exercises are known to strengthen the muscles, particularly those involved in respiration and the also the heart. It reduces blood pressure and improves blood circulation. It also increases the number of red blood cells in the body which helps in the transport of oxygen in the blood. It improves mental health and helps treat depression by lowering your stress level. Lastly, it improves the speed of recovery (muscles) from high-intensity exercises. Examples of this type are jogging, long distance running (not sprinting), and singles tennis.
Anaerobic exercises build muscle mass and increases physical strength. It also improves endurance but not as much as aerobic exercises do and also reduces blood pressure. Anaerobic exercises are also known to strengthen the bones. Some sources state that it could help people sleep better. Exercise of this type include weights training and sprinting.
So which one should you pick? Well, aerobic exercises are good for beginners. They would improve your overall fitness and improve your endurance. Afterwards, it would be better to do some intense workout to build your strength and muscles. As someone who used to practice Tae Kwon Do, it was important to perform both types of exercises. Warm ups actually include both sprinting and long distance running. The two minutes of sparring actually feels like forever when you are doing the actual combat (compared to say, just watching). And if your endurance is poor, you’ll find yourself panting and unable to kick. So in conclusion, I’d say a mix of both types is better than only picking one.
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