Despite
the fact that the daily world of most serious exercisers is inexorably
intertwined with fitness and an intense commitment to maximizing their
physicality, the simple fact remains that many individuals, as a general rule,
appear to have only a minimal appreciation or understanding of what constitutes
sound aerobic fitness. For many people, aerobic fitness is often perceived to
be something associated with that strange group of isolationists who spend
countless hours pounding the highways and roadways in search of the elusive
“runner’s high.” Regrettably, such individuals tend to discount the possibility
that aerobic exercise is something on which they should spend a substantial
amount of time and energy. Unfortunately, they are mistaken.
Aerobic fitness is an important (most physicians would state categorically that it is the most important) component of physical fitness. When your muscles need oxygen, your aerobic (cardiovascular) system must be able to efficiently deliver it to them. When your body has waste products that need to be expelled (e.g. carbon dioxide and metabolic waste products), your heart-lung complex must be up to the task. These two tasks form the functional basis of aerobic fitness.
Aerobic exercise has another possible function, which is of substantial interest to almost every individual who spends time working out. It burns body fat. Engaging in aerobic exercise can burn up to one thousand calories an hour depending on the specific type and intensity of activity. As a result, individuals who want to reduce their level of body fat sensibly, instead of starving the weight off, have a positive, user-friendly option at their disposal. The potential health implications of adhering to sound nutritional principles and practices, instead of primitive starvation techniques, are extensive and the results are proven to be long term.
The value and impact of aerobic fitness to the exercise enthusiast extends beyond the boundaries of the workout room. At the very least, engaging in aerobic exercise can increase your life span. Research indicates that for every hour you spend exercising aerobically, you extend your life two hours. In anyone’s value system, that’s an extremely good return on your investment. Aerobic exercise also can improve the quality of your life, as well as the quantity of your life.
Aerobic exercise increases your level of available energy. The old adage, “Add life to your years, as well as years to life, by exercise,” has considerable merit. A properly designed aerobic exercise program will give you more energy to do the activities you enjoy.
Aerobic exercise aids in relieving depression. In her book Mental Skills for Physical People, Dr. Dorothy V. Harris concluded that “exercise is nature’s best tranquilizer.” Researchers have found, for example, that individuals suffering from moderate to light depression who engage in aerobic exercise fifteen to thirty minutes at least every other day typically experience a dramatic improvement in their condition.
Aerobic exercise aids in preventing certain types of cancer. Studies have found that men and women who exercise are less likely to get colon cancer. Research has also suggested that women who do not exercise have more than two and one-half times the risk of developing cancer of the reproductive system and almost twice the chance of getting breast cancer.
Aerobic exercise enhances self-image. Research has documented the assertion that individuals who exercise regularly feel better about themselves than sedentary individuals.
Aerobic exercise relieves stress and anxiety. Exercise dissipates those hormones and other chemicals that build up during periods of high stress. Exercise also generates a period of substantial emotional and physical relaxation that sets in approximately an hour and a half after an intense workout.
Aerobic exercise reduces the risk of heart disease. Experts have found that non-exercisers have twice the risk of developing heart disease than individuals who exercise aerobically on a regular basis.
Aerobic exercise can “slow” the aging process. By counterbalancing the age-related decrease in work capacity and physical performance, aerobic exercise can help you maintain and sustain your ability to perform work and to be independent.
Aerobic exercise increases the good (HDL) cholesterol. Exercise is one of the few voluntary activities that is effective in raising your level of HDL, the type of cholesterol that lowers your risk of heart disease.
Aerobic exercise improves the quality of sleep. Researchers have found that exercisers go to sleep more quickly, sleep more soundly and are more refreshed than individuals who do not exercise.
Aerobic exercise improves mental sharpness. Numerous studies have shown that individuals who exercise regularly have better memories, better reaction times and a better level of concentration than non-exercisers. As an exercise enthusiast, there are certain rules to which you strictly adhere in your quest to “be the best you can be.” If you want to be aerobically fit, and you should, you need to learn the “rules” for developing aerobic fitness and implement them as an integral part of your regular conditioning routine. Similar to any of the critical tasks in your life, you need to undertake the same systematic, ordered approach to ensuring that your heart-lung complex is in optimal shape. Quite simply, your health demands it, and your body deserves it. Be smart, heart smart!
Aerobic fitness is an important (most physicians would state categorically that it is the most important) component of physical fitness. When your muscles need oxygen, your aerobic (cardiovascular) system must be able to efficiently deliver it to them. When your body has waste products that need to be expelled (e.g. carbon dioxide and metabolic waste products), your heart-lung complex must be up to the task. These two tasks form the functional basis of aerobic fitness.
Aerobic exercise has another possible function, which is of substantial interest to almost every individual who spends time working out. It burns body fat. Engaging in aerobic exercise can burn up to one thousand calories an hour depending on the specific type and intensity of activity. As a result, individuals who want to reduce their level of body fat sensibly, instead of starving the weight off, have a positive, user-friendly option at their disposal. The potential health implications of adhering to sound nutritional principles and practices, instead of primitive starvation techniques, are extensive and the results are proven to be long term.
The value and impact of aerobic fitness to the exercise enthusiast extends beyond the boundaries of the workout room. At the very least, engaging in aerobic exercise can increase your life span. Research indicates that for every hour you spend exercising aerobically, you extend your life two hours. In anyone’s value system, that’s an extremely good return on your investment. Aerobic exercise also can improve the quality of your life, as well as the quantity of your life.
Aerobic exercise increases your level of available energy. The old adage, “Add life to your years, as well as years to life, by exercise,” has considerable merit. A properly designed aerobic exercise program will give you more energy to do the activities you enjoy.
Aerobic exercise aids in relieving depression. In her book Mental Skills for Physical People, Dr. Dorothy V. Harris concluded that “exercise is nature’s best tranquilizer.” Researchers have found, for example, that individuals suffering from moderate to light depression who engage in aerobic exercise fifteen to thirty minutes at least every other day typically experience a dramatic improvement in their condition.
Aerobic exercise aids in preventing certain types of cancer. Studies have found that men and women who exercise are less likely to get colon cancer. Research has also suggested that women who do not exercise have more than two and one-half times the risk of developing cancer of the reproductive system and almost twice the chance of getting breast cancer.
Aerobic exercise enhances self-image. Research has documented the assertion that individuals who exercise regularly feel better about themselves than sedentary individuals.
Aerobic exercise relieves stress and anxiety. Exercise dissipates those hormones and other chemicals that build up during periods of high stress. Exercise also generates a period of substantial emotional and physical relaxation that sets in approximately an hour and a half after an intense workout.
Aerobic exercise reduces the risk of heart disease. Experts have found that non-exercisers have twice the risk of developing heart disease than individuals who exercise aerobically on a regular basis.
Aerobic exercise can “slow” the aging process. By counterbalancing the age-related decrease in work capacity and physical performance, aerobic exercise can help you maintain and sustain your ability to perform work and to be independent.
Aerobic exercise increases the good (HDL) cholesterol. Exercise is one of the few voluntary activities that is effective in raising your level of HDL, the type of cholesterol that lowers your risk of heart disease.
Aerobic exercise improves the quality of sleep. Researchers have found that exercisers go to sleep more quickly, sleep more soundly and are more refreshed than individuals who do not exercise.
Aerobic exercise improves mental sharpness. Numerous studies have shown that individuals who exercise regularly have better memories, better reaction times and a better level of concentration than non-exercisers. As an exercise enthusiast, there are certain rules to which you strictly adhere in your quest to “be the best you can be.” If you want to be aerobically fit, and you should, you need to learn the “rules” for developing aerobic fitness and implement them as an integral part of your regular conditioning routine. Similar to any of the critical tasks in your life, you need to undertake the same systematic, ordered approach to ensuring that your heart-lung complex is in optimal shape. Quite simply, your health demands it, and your body deserves it. Be smart, heart smart!