There are many debates on the Internet that outline the benefits of cardio training and interval trainings. While it is not necessary to explain the benefits of improving our fitness level through exercise and physical activity, it is important to differentiate cardio from interval trainings.
To answer the question which training is better, we must first see what the difference between aerobic and anaerobic exercise is.
Strictly speaking, these two terms refer to the presence or absence of oxygen, respectively. During exercise, if our muscle has adequate fuel and oxygen, it can contract repeatedly its cells without fatigue. But during the higher intensity exercises, our muscle must rely on other reactions in our body that do not require oxygen to fuel muscle contraction.
While at rest, our body can fuel all our needs for energy. We rely solely on our aerobic metabolism. But as the activity increases, the need for oxygen becomes higher and if the activity is high enough it can exceed the capacity of our aerobic metabolism. At this moment we are panting for air and start to feel fatigue in our muscles.
This same principle applies to cardio and high intensity interval training or HIIT.
Cardio training
Cardio training is an aerobic exercise where we keep the pace that is constantly below our metabolic threshold. Examples of cardio training are walking, jogging, swimming, cycling and even dancing. Consider yourself cycling on the stationary bicycle with low to medium intensity. You could work out with this intensity for 30, 60 or as much minutes as we like as long as we are constantly below our metabolic threshold.
Interval training
Interval training on the other hand is where we reach our metabolic threshold. Reaching metabolic threshold is when we start to breathe harder and exercise simply becomes uncomfortable. An example of interval could be the following; light run from 5-10 minutes, gradually increasing intensity until we reach our maximum and hold it ideally for 30-45 seconds, when we feel fatigue we lower the intensity to walking speed or light jog. We repeat this process several times.
Conclusion
Now that we know the difference between aerobic and anaerobic, and how it relates to cardio and high intensity cardio, we can decide which training is better.
The answer is that each must decide for themselves based on what suits him best.
Cardio training is good for those who want to lose weight, gain health benefits and feel better about themselves. Long cardio trainings is primarily for those who want to burn excess calories, be physically fit and have a slim body.
To answer the question which training is better, we must first see what the difference between aerobic and anaerobic exercise is.
Strictly speaking, these two terms refer to the presence or absence of oxygen, respectively. During exercise, if our muscle has adequate fuel and oxygen, it can contract repeatedly its cells without fatigue. But during the higher intensity exercises, our muscle must rely on other reactions in our body that do not require oxygen to fuel muscle contraction.
While at rest, our body can fuel all our needs for energy. We rely solely on our aerobic metabolism. But as the activity increases, the need for oxygen becomes higher and if the activity is high enough it can exceed the capacity of our aerobic metabolism. At this moment we are panting for air and start to feel fatigue in our muscles.
This same principle applies to cardio and high intensity interval training or HIIT.
Cardio training
Cardio training is an aerobic exercise where we keep the pace that is constantly below our metabolic threshold. Examples of cardio training are walking, jogging, swimming, cycling and even dancing. Consider yourself cycling on the stationary bicycle with low to medium intensity. You could work out with this intensity for 30, 60 or as much minutes as we like as long as we are constantly below our metabolic threshold.
Interval training
Interval training on the other hand is where we reach our metabolic threshold. Reaching metabolic threshold is when we start to breathe harder and exercise simply becomes uncomfortable. An example of interval could be the following; light run from 5-10 minutes, gradually increasing intensity until we reach our maximum and hold it ideally for 30-45 seconds, when we feel fatigue we lower the intensity to walking speed or light jog. We repeat this process several times.
Conclusion
Now that we know the difference between aerobic and anaerobic, and how it relates to cardio and high intensity cardio, we can decide which training is better.
The answer is that each must decide for themselves based on what suits him best.
Cardio training is good for those who want to lose weight, gain health benefits and feel better about themselves. Long cardio trainings is primarily for those who want to burn excess calories, be physically fit and have a slim body.
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