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<\/a><\/p>\nFactually, any exercise you perform will burn calories. To burn more calories, you need to increase your intensity and\/or duration of your workout. Then why the argument about anaerobic versus aerobic? It boils down to the effect on the cell, which I’d like to make an analogy about so we can keep this discussion simplified.<\/p>\n
Assume that individual cells in your body are like the gas tank on a car, only you have many more \u2018tiny\u2019 gas tanks. To go anywhere you need to put gas in your tank. When your tank is empty, you cannot travel any further. If we transfer this basic scenario to your cells, your cells are filled with glycogen, which is like the gasoline in your car tank. This is the energy that you need to exercise. However, the kind of exercise you do has a significant effect on the glycogen, i.e., fuel level in your cells. This is why the constant discussion between exercise types.<\/p>\n
Let’s compare two exercises, one that fits into each category. First, we’re all familiar with jogging. As we jog, the energy in our cells, i.e., the glycogen, begins to become depleted or to empty, just like the gas in your car tank. As we continue the exercise, the cells will eventually run out of gas (glycogen). At that point in time, there is no longer enough energy in the cells to recover or to continue to fill the cells with glycogen since it takes awhile for the body to complete the restoration cycle. Thus, you have essentially run out of gas. However, you can keep exercising and many do. Because the cells are now emptied of glycogen, the body looks for other sources of energy to burn. Generally, the easiest form or energy to utilize is protein. As a result, the exercise you’re doing begins to force the body to attack protein sources to satisfy it’s need for energy. These protein sources are generally your muscles. The result is that if you run too much or perform any long-term, low-intensity exercise for more than about 60 minutes at a time, you will actually deplete your muscle mass.<\/p>\n
Second, let’s consider sprinting, which is an anaerobic activity. It’s a high intensity, short-term exercise. It’s effects on your cells are different. When you sprint, the glycogen level in your cells rapidly deplete\/empty, but since you must rest for a little after each hard sprint, the glycogen level restores itself quickly. This process will continue over and over as you do your sprints. Your little gas tanks, i.e., your cells, will empty and then refill while you rest. It takes about 20-30 seconds generally to replenish the glycogen, longer if you\u2019re out of shape.<\/p>\n
After about 20-40 minutes of total sprinting time, not counting your rest periods, the glycogen in your cells cannot recover and you’ll then be at the same state as in the jogging example discussed above. What’s the main difference? By performing anaerobic activities for long term, your cells become depleted of glycogen and cannot recover. You’re running on fumes and you need energy. Come on, you’ve done this with your car before, haven’t you? Consequently, protein energy sources are sought, which generally results in muscles being cannibalized for energy and therefore, muscle mass is lost. With anaerobic activities, the same process occurs. But, after 20-40 minutes of total exercise not counting rest periods, one is usually too tired to go on. Since you stop, although the glycogen in your cells is gone, you do not force the body to seek further energy and thus, you preserve muscle mass.<\/p>\n
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