Aerobic fitness means getting oxygen into our body systems, which is important. Very important.
We need to maintain efficient systems in our bodies to ensure adequate oxygen supply.
The cardiovascular system, made up of our heart, lungs and circulatory network (blood vessels), has to be regularly challenged to maintain fitness and health.
Exercise to challenge us aerobically means raising the heart rate and increasing our breath per minute rate. The heart and breath rate should be increased often enough per session and per week over our lifetime to maintain or improve fitness.
Some exercise, such as a very short quick run can be achieved without an aerobic effect. The body is able to achieve this by using stored energy, however, our system cannot do this for very long as it is inefficient.
Any exercise requiring even a small amount of endurance and challenge requires an aerobic response.
As mentioned in Part 2 Strengthening, exercise has great benefits for our overall health.
We all need to start somewhere, and then continue, if our fitness is to be maintained.
The starting point exercise level depends on the current fitness level.
What to expect from aerobic exercise
Expect to feel mildly out of breath and feel the heart rate elevate. Also, expect to have mild muscle soreness for a few days after exercising. This is normal and good.
Each time exercise is undertaken, the body readjusts itself to the demand placed on it and this is the fitness process in action.
Fitness takes time to develop because the body takes time to rebuild its systems to deal with the increasing loads. Provided the increasing loads are a small challenge each time, the body actually improves its efficiency and overall health is maintained or improved as a result.
Aerobic exercise examples include fast walking, jogging, running, cycling, swimming, tennis, basketball, soccer, hockey….you get the idea.
Once aerobic fitness improves, the choice of exercises available will expand. Not only will the body become physically fitter, but coping skills may improve due to the calming affect fitness brings.
