Aerobic vs. Anaerobic

[MRSchultz]

I am puzzled here on something and thought some of you wonderfully educated individuals could help me out.

I've been trying to lose weight for some time now. I've been a Cathe fan for years and love just about any kind of workout. Now, in the past when I've lost weight (pre-pregnancy) I just strictly walked on the treadmill and ate good. I never pushed myself much at all.

Now, I'm trying to lose and I lift weights, Cathe workouts, run, walk, elliptical - you name it. Now, a lot of the time I push until I'm past that point of having a conversation with someone. I know they always say to you should be able to talk while exercising.

So, should I go back to the aerobic phase and not push so hard that I hit the anaerobic phase so much?

Help........

Marcia.

 

[acatalina]

JMO, I am no pro, but i think as long as you don't stay in the anaerobic stage for too many minutes at a time you should be fine. Like circuit training. Hills, up and down . Get your heart rate up then take it down. It , from what i understand is supposed to burn more ...

Anne
Aka( Storm)

http://www.picturetrail.com/acatalina

 

[kathryn]

> Like circuit training. Hills, up and down .
I think you mean interval training.
Yes, interval training takes you into or to the threshhold of the anaerobic zone for short periods before bringing you down to a steady state, and IT is supposed to be one of the most efficient and effective forms of cardio.

 

[andtckrtoo]

Marcia - unfortunately, as we get older it's a lot tougher to lose weight. I used to be able to lose weight just by thinking about it almost. Now... Well, that stubborn 20 pounds that's hanging around hasn't heard that it should go yet!

Pushing against your anaerobic threshold allows you to go harder longer. There's a lot of talk about the VO2 level and how lower level exercise burns more fat, but it's one of those things that if it sounds too good to be true... Technically working at a lower intensity level does burn more fat per calorie burned, but think about walking for 1/2 and hour and running for half and hour - you burn well over twice as many calories running as you do walking. So, even though you burn a few percentage points more fat per calorie burned while walking, you burn so many more calories and therefore so much more fat by running than you would if you walked. I hope that makes sense, and is what you're looking for as well as the other responses.