The Best Type of Exercise

There are advocates of all sorts of fitness trends and fads who often promote them as “gospel-truths” or “the best way to workout”. But when it comes to exercise programs, there is no one-size-fits-all formula. It all depends on what you are trying to achieve.

 

Above all, exercising, due to the body’s responses to it (physiological adaptations due to long term challenge) reduces the risks of many ailments, including certain cancers, and benefits are comprehensive – improving skin, eyes, brain, heart, arteries, immune system, lungs, bones, metabolism, muscles, sexual function, etc.

 

Please note that exercise programs must be age-appropriate, taking into consideration existing medical conditions and current physical fitness shape before starting any exercise program/activity (preferably under a properly qualified instructor).

 

A body built to move

 

As descendants of hunter gatherers – chasing animals over long distances using their own two legs – running and walking come natural to us. In a way, due to that evolutionary and now “fixed” physiological adaptation, it is fair to say that our modern bodies have a need to move, walk and run. 

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WHAT IS “PHYSICAL FITNESS”?

 

Physical fitness refers to the ability of our body systems to work together efficiently to allow us to be healthy and perform activities in an optimal manner, whether regarding tasks pertaining to daily living or to exceptional/non-typical undertakings (e.g. sports).

 

"EXERCISE TYPES"?

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To have an idea on how "exercise" triggers betterment, we should know what happens inside the body as a response to specific physical efforts. All physical activity - when performed correctly - provides health and fitness benefits, but distinct or specific outcomes can only be accomplished with a dominant "type" of exercise.

 

The two main distinct exercise types are popularly known as "Cardio" and "Resistance" training. The reason for that division is that each type is "fuelled" by different energy systems of the body. Each type brings about distinct physiological adaptations and benefits. "Cardio" training is reliant on the 'aerobic energy system' whereas "Resistance" training relies on the 'anaerobic energy system'. 

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Energy systems in a nutshell

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There are three known primary energy systems, each serving a different type of physical effort: 1) Alactic Anaerobic, providing short duration energy for up to about 10 seconds high-intensity activities and does not produce lactic acid as a byproduct; 2) Lactic Anaerobic, dominating from about 10 seconds to up to 60-90 seconds of continuous high-intensity effort, using glucose for fuel and producing lactic acid as a byproduct; 3) Aerobic, providing long-term energy through the breakdown of oxygen, effectively supporting sustained activities lasting several minutes to hours.

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Meanings

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1. Exercise Types = Cardio (aerobic) and Resistance (anaerobic)

2. Physiology of Exercise (body systems involved & consequential adaptations) = skeletal, muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, plasma, endocrinal, etc

3. Exercise Activity or just “Exercises” = walking, running, cycling, etc

4. Exercise Programs (include workouts with a mix of exercises) = Pilates, Yoga, HIIT, Bodybuilding, etc

 

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The Best Type of Exercise​

 

I cannot elect which is the best type of exercise for you, as it all depends on what you are trying to achieve. I would have to personally assess your goals in order to put forward an opinion. The buttons below will take you to individual pages about the two types of exercise, which rely on different energy systems of the body and provide some distinct benefits. There you will find some detailed (but not exhaustive) elucidation regarding each one. That should be enough to help you make a more informed decision on exercising to attain specific goals. But I can certainly advise you to always combine both types, even if a particular type is favoured (dominant) in relation to the other.

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