Strength Training versus Aerobics - what is the difference?

Strength Training versus Aerobics - what is the difference?
If you are looking for a total body workout, you want to
combine strength training and aerobics. These are two very
different types of exercise but the work together to turn
your body into a finely tuned machine. Weight training will
tone your muscles, making you stronger while aerobics will
make your heart and lungs stronger, giving you more stamina
while burning the fat. These two disciplines of exercise
work best when you combine them with a sensible, sound
nutritional plan. When you combine good nutrition, strength
training and aerobics you can get the body you have always
wanted.

Strength Training

Strength training is typically weight bearing exercise or
resistance training. It does just what the title suggests,
it builds strength. Weight lifting and exercise machines
are examples of strength training devices. However, pilates
and yoga can also be methods of strength training. You
don't necessarily have to hold free weights to use a
machine to strength train. You can use the weight of your
own body to provide resistance and increase your strength.

It is a good practice to strength train one set of muscles
(such as the upper body) one day and another set (such as
the lower body) the next. Most muscle groups need time to
rest and recover after exercise. So while you can work out
every day, you should work out different muscle groups each
day to give worked muscles time to rest and repair. This
will give you optimal results.

Aerobics

Aerobics is a cardio exercise that gets your heart rate up
and keeps it up. This can be anything from walking to
riding a bike. You can run on a treadmill or take an
aerobics class. If it gets your heart rate up, it is an
aerobic activity. You generally move a lot during aerobic
exercise.

You can do aerobic exercises every day because they do not
focus on specific muscle groups. Where strength training
makes you strong, aerobics makes you lean. It also
strengthens your heart and respiratory system, giving you
increased stamina. With regular aerobic exercise, you will
find that you can run faster and longer as well as perform
better.

Interval Training

Interval training is a combination of weight training and
aerobics and is attributed to effective weight loss and
conditioning. During interval training, you do your
regular weight training, but intersperse with brief spurts
of aerobic exercise. For instance, you do a set of curls,
then walk on the treadmill for five minutes. Next, you do
a bench press and then ride a bike for seven minutes. In
short, you do an aerobic activity such as jumping rope,
walking on the treadmill, running or riding a bike for
short bursts in between each set of weights or nautilis
machines.

Interval training is very popular among athletes because it
builds stamina and strength. With people who want to lose
weight, it can bring about fantastic results. Interval
training utilizes the best results of strength training and
aerobics.

What is a Total Body Workout?

A total body workout involves both strength training and
aerobic exercise so that your entire body is worked. You
get the benefits of being stronger as well as having
enhanced endurance. A typical total body workout consists
of working one muscle group (such as the upper body) for
thirty minutes or so a day three times a week - Monday,
Wednesday and Friday, then the other muscle group (such as
the lower body) for thirty minutes or so three times a week
- Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Aerobic activity is
practices every day for about thirty minutes. Some workouts
differ in times, some go longer and some are shorter, but
that is the basic total body workout.

Nutrition

If you are working your body with strength training and
aerobics, you need to have the proper nutrition to fuel
your body so that is can perform at an optimum level. You
should eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole
grains and lean meats. You need a lot of protein to fuel
your muscles, muscle growth and loss of fat. The various
fruits and vegetables give you the vitamins and minerals
that you need. Whole grains like brown rice and quinoa also
offer protein, fiber and minerals. If you are training
intensively you may find that you need nutritional
supplements. This is very common for people who train
vigorously.

There are specific differences between strength training
and aerobics. Actually, these two types of exercise work
together to form a total body workout. When you combine the
two you will find that you body is stronger, leaner and
have better stamina. If you want to tune your body to an
optimal level, strength training and aerobic activity are
the way to accomplish it.

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Ron Godlewski has written many articles on health,
wellness, and maintaining vitality as we manage our weight
through lifestyle diets. You can read more about the
importance of nutrition while strength training or doing
aerobics in his articles library at
http://www.pillfreesupplements.com and even receive your
own complementary quart of a leading nutritional supplement.