Aerobic Exercise Facts

Aerobic exercise also is known as “cardio” exercise. It is exercise that requires your heart to pump blood and deliver oxygen to working muscles. Once it reaches the muscle, the oxygen combines with protein, fat and/or carbohydrates to create fuel for your cardio workout.  

Aerobic exercise by definition is exercise that uses large muscle groups in a continuous, rhythmic fashion that continues for at least 10 minutes. This increases your heart rate and breathing, thus improves your cardiovascular fitness. Examples are: walking, biking, hiking, dancing, aerobic exercise classes, water exercise, swimming and many more.

Other benefits of aerobic exercise include preventing or a decreasing your chance of developing cancer, diabetes, hypertension, depression, heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis and others.

To gain the most benefits for health and weight loss or weight management, aim for a minimum of 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity aerobics (about 3 mph if walking). If your activity is at a higher intensity you do not need as many minutes per week; if your workouts are slower than a 3 mph walking pace, try to move up to that moderate level. If you have specific weight loss goals or are seeking other benefits, you’ll need to boost your workouts above those 150 minutes per week.

Aerobic exercise is one piece of your total exercise plan that improves your health as well as helps with weight management. It’s important to also include weight training for maximum wellness.

Aerobic exercise is awesome stuff! It strengthens your heart, makes you an efficient fuel-burner, and increases your endurance, energy, mood and more.