What is Aerobic Activity and What Does it do?

We hear all the time how aerobic activity is so good for you. Many people are aware that it is associated with some kind of exercise, but many people are left asking, "What is aerobic activity?". If you're one of those people, this article will attempt to define and explain exactly what aerobic activity is.

Definition

The word, aerobic, means with air. Aerobic activity is anything you do that increases the heart rate enabling it to deliver oxygen more efficiently to other parts of the body. Oxygen is transported through the body by the blood. Obviously, when the heart becomes stronger, it is more capable of performing this task. It also has to exert less energy to pump the same amount of blood. Basically, what aerobic activity is, is any activity that sustains an elevated heart rate for an extended period of time.

Your Target Heart Rate

The idea of this type of exercise is to reach what is called, the target heart rate. This is the rate you want to maintain for a specific period of time. This rate will be different from person to person, as it depends on age and other factors, such as how hard you want to train and what your resting heart rate is.

What Is Aerobic Activity Going to do for Me?

The benefits of aerobic activity are many, including increased heart and lung capacity, increased endurance, strengthening of bones and muscles, calorie burning and weight loss. It doesn't take as much exercise as one would think to begin enjoying some of these benefits. 30-60 minutes a day, three days a week should be sufficient to begin drastically improving your overall health. The hard part is getting started and sticking to it. Once you begin to see and feel the results, you should have no trouble motivating yourself to continue.

Like any other physical activity, there are certain risk factors involved. If you are in fairly good health, you can feel comfortable to safely begin a moderate aerobic exercise routine. If you are unhealthy, or obese, or have a family history of certain diseases, such as heart disease, you should probably consult your doctor first.

Aerobic activity is a great way to increase your strength and energy, and even slow down the aging process a bit. It will also help to prevent many diseases. If you've been in a rut and find that you continually feel worse physically, aerobic activity is what just might save your life.