Lack of exercise has become a major problem in our society today. The average person gets 17 minutes of physical activity per day, as opposed to the minimum of 30 minutes they should be getting. Only 28% of the US population meets the standard physical aerobic and weight handling requirements – 72% of the general population (over 18) doesn’t exercise regularly. While it may be easier to overlook it and put it off for the next day, exercise is vital to our health.

What is exercise? 

Exercise is the movement of the body in order to develop physical fitness and overall health. The two main forms of exercise are aerobic and anaerobic. 

Aerobic exercise is any physical activity that increases your heart rate and breathing. Aerobic exercise uses oxygen as its energy source. Your breathing increases, increasing the amount of oxygen your lungs supply. Your heart then pumps faster to provide oxygen-rich blood to your muscles. The oxygen converts to energy in your muscles, and as it is used, gets converted to carbon dioxide, which gets exhaled and starts the process over again. Aerobic exercise is also known as cardio. Some examples of aerobic exercise are running, swimming, cycling, or hiking. 

Anaerobic exercise is a physical activity that can only be maintained for a short while. As opposed to aerobic exercise, anaerobic exercise only uses energy stored in your muscles. Aerobic exercise burns more calories due to the restoration of oxygen after exercise and its exercises are more intense, such as heavy weight lifting, HIIT(High Intensity Interval Training), Sprinting, and Plyometrics. Both aerobic and anaerobic forms are important in keeping the body in shape.

It is easy to think of exercise as only helping the muscular system, but exercise actually helps every system in our body. By exercising more, we gain these benefits:

• Cardiovascular – the heart is better equipped to pump the blood throughout our body, providing our organs with much-needed oxygen.
• Skeletal – bones are hardened, reducing the chance of fractures. The joints are also strengthened.
• Respiratory – lung capacity is increased and helps reduce the risk of asthma.
• Nervous – brain function is boosted, and endorphins are released, improving your mood.
• Endocrine – hormones are better regulated and insulin sensitivity is enhanced.
• Lymphatic – lymph circulation is boosted through strengthened muscles, and the immune response increases.
• Urinary – toxins are removed through sweating, and kidney function is supported by increased blood flow.
• Reproductive – menstrual pain is reduced, and libido increases.
• Integumentary – blood flow to skin increases, reducing acne and boosting collagen production, slowing signs of aging.
• Muscular – muscles are strengthened, improving endurance and flexibility and enhancing coordination and balance.

As a beginner, what kind of exercise should you do? Any kind! The best routine to start with is one you will actually do. Find a workout that gets you going, push past your limits, and workout today!  

https://www.goodrx.com/well-being/movement-exercise/aerobic-vs-anaerobic-exercise

Photo by Andrzej Rembowski