{"id":3224,"date":"2019-05-08T19:32:22","date_gmt":"2019-05-08T19:32:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/blog\/aerobic-anaerobic\/"},"modified":"2025-08-28T18:18:24","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T18:18:24","slug":"aerobic-anaerobic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/blog\/aerobic-anaerobic\/","title":{"rendered":"Aerobic vs. Anaerobic Exercise: What\u2019s the Best Balance?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>To reach peak fitness performance, you need both aerobic and anaerobic exercise. But what\u2019s the right balance?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, though, a quick review:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Aerobic exercise\u00a0<\/strong>involves continuous activity that builds endurance, such as cycling, walking and long-distance running.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Anaerobic exercise\u00a0<\/strong>consists of short bursts of intense activity, with a period of rest in between. Think weight training, high-intensity interval training or sprinting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf you\u2019re only training one way, you\u2019re going to hit the ceiling of your overall capacity a lot faster,\u201d says Carlisle Price, a Gold\u2019s Gym fitness expert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is because the steady effort of aerobic exercises helps you gain endurance, and the maximum effort of anaerobic exercises helps you gain strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIn general, a 2-to-1 ratio of these types of workouts is ideal,\u201d he says. \u201cDo aerobic exercise for two days, and then do one day of anaerobic exercise. If you\u2019re switching between them every day, you could be overtraining.\u201d It\u2019s important to allow your body to <b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/blog\/rest-for-success\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>get enough rest.<\/strong><\/a><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A Gold\u2019s Gym personal trainer can help you find your starting point and advise you on a routine suitable to your specific needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Aerobic exercise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In an aerobic workout, you should be able to maintain a steady output and talk while doing the moves. Your body uses oxygen as fuel, and when it gets used to doing that, you can perform for a longer period of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re essentially able to recover while you\u2019re working,\u201d Price says. \u201cThat cardio training allows you to get a lot of work done in a given amount of time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Aerobic workout circuit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Try this aerobic routine, with no rest in between these four moves:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Squats<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lunges<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Push-ups<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pull-ups<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Cycle through the circuit for 15 minutes. \u201cThat constant, steady work has the same aerobic effect as running on a treadmill \u2014 possibly more, since you\u2019re pushing against your body weight,\u201d Price says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Squats.<\/strong>&nbsp;Stand with your legs hip-width apart and toes straight ahead or slightly turned out, based on comfort. Lift your chest and straighten your back as you lower your hips, keeping your knees in line with your feet, as if you\u2019re sitting in a chair. Once you\u2019ve gone as low as you comfortably can (ideally to the point where your hips are level with your knees), return to standing.&nbsp;<strong>The goal: <\/strong>10 reps<br>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-12660 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/ggus-dev\/image\/private\/s--hUmK5DJx--\/c_auto,g_auto,w_480,h_270\/v1\/2405e908\/squat-1.webp?_a=BAAAV6Bs\" alt=\"A person wearing a gray shirt and shorts stands in a dimly lit, gray-toned environment.\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Lunges.&nbsp;<\/strong>Start with your feet shoulder-width apart, arms at your sides. Step forward several feet with your right foot and bend down until your right leg forms a 90-degree angle and your left knee almost touches the floor and come up. Repeat on the opposite side.&nbsp;<strong>The goal: <\/strong>10 reps<br>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12656\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/ggus-dev\/image\/private\/s--j9MCZFFS--\/c_auto,g_auto,w_480,h_270\/v1\/2405e908\/lunge.webp?_a=BAAAV6Bs\" alt=\"A cluttered room filled with various musical instruments, equipment, and shelves displaying an assortment of items, creating an atmosphere of a music studio or workshop.\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Push-ups.&nbsp;<\/strong>Start in plank position, with your arms fully extended and your body in a straight line from head to heels. Keep your hands directly under your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/blog\/7-shoulder-exercises-for-strength-and-stability\/\">shoulders<\/a>, and maintain enough space between your feet so that you can comfortably balance your body weight. Lower your entire body evenly until your chest touches the floor (or as low as it can go). Then press into the floor to return to the starting position.&nbsp;<strong>The goal: <\/strong>10 reps<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/ggus-dev\/image\/private\/s--UfCsLUcp--\/c_auto,g_auto,w_356,h_200\/v1\/2405e908\/push-up.webp?_a=BAAAV6Bs\" alt=\"A person in athletic attire is performing a push-up exercise on a gym floor, with various fitness equipment visible in the background.\" class=\"wp-image-12658\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pull-ups.&nbsp;<\/strong>Depending on your strength, you can&nbsp;<b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/blog\/one-workout-total-body-fat-burn\/\"><strong>loop a band around the pull-up bar for assistance<\/strong><\/a><\/b>&nbsp;or use an assisted pull-up machine. Begin by hanging freely from a bar (or if using assistance, with a foot in a band, or your knee or foot on the machine\u2019s padded support). With your arms fully extended, raise your body up until your chin is above the bar. Once there, lower your body down with control until your elbows are nearly locked.&nbsp;<strong>The goal: <\/strong>10 reps<br>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12657\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/ggus-dev\/image\/private\/s--5rteB9nJ--\/c_auto,g_auto,w_480,h_270\/v1\/2405e908\/pull-up.webp?_a=BAAAV6Bs\" alt=\"The image shows a piece of exercise equipment with various metal bars and handles, set against a plain background with yellow accents.\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember that you want a sustainable pace. Common mistakes are pushing too fast and too hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Anaerobic exercise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Because anaerobic moves are done with very short bursts of high-energy output, these movements demand more oxygen from the body than it can supply and so they draw on energy stored in muscle. (Aerobic exercise draws energy from the burning of carbs and fats, combined with oxygen.) Since you\u2019re working so hard, you can\u2019t talk. Then, during the rest period, you\u2019re breathing so hard, you still can\u2019t talk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe harder you work in an amount of time, the longer your body takes to make up for the oxygen you didn\u2019t take in during the workout,\u201d Price says. \u201cDuring that recovery, you burn more calories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Anaerobic workouts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Give this anaerobic routine a try.&nbsp;There are three moves to choose from:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Burpees<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rowing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kettlebell Swings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You can get a full workout by doing eight rounds of just one of the moves. But to engage more muscles and get more variety, try doing two of the three moves in one workout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Burpees.&nbsp;<\/strong>Start in a squat position with your hands on the floor in front of you. Kick your feet back to a pushup position and chest to floor. Immediately bring feet back to the squat position. Jump up on toes with arms overhead. That\u2019s one rep.&nbsp;<b>The goal:&nbsp;<\/b>For the single-move workout, do as many reps as you can for 30 seconds, and then rest for 90 seconds. Try to complete six to eight rounds. If doing two of the three moves: Do as many reps as you can for one minute, and then rest for three minutes. Do three to four rounds.<br>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12655\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/ggus-dev\/image\/private\/s--HR4tetjW--\/c_auto,g_auto,w_480,h_270\/v1\/2405e908\/burpee.webp?_a=BAAAV6Bs\" alt=\"A person lying face down on the floor, with their legs raised and their arms outstretched, against a dark, hazy background.\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Rowing.&nbsp;<\/strong>Drive hard with your legs first, then swing back so you\u2019re upper body is in a vertical position, then finish by pulling your arms; to complete the sequence going forward, let your arms straighten before your hips begin to move forward, then let your knees bend to slide the seat forward.&nbsp;<strong>The goal:<\/strong> For the single-move workout, do as many reps as you can for 30 seconds, and then rest for 90 seconds. Try to complete six to eight rounds. If doing two of the three moves: Do as many strokes as you can on the machine for one minute and then rest for three minutes. Do three to four rounds.<br>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12659\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/ggus-dev\/image\/private\/s--w8iSmlGY--\/c_auto,g_auto,w_480,h_270\/v1\/2405e908\/row.webp?_a=BAAAV6Bs\" alt=\"A person, likely a woman, sits on a rowing machine in a dimly lit, hazy environment.\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Kettlebell swings.&nbsp;<\/strong>Use the heaviest weight possible. Start with your feet on either side of the kettlebell. Bend down and pick up the kettlebell by the handle, then drop your hips down and back with a slight bend through the knee. Swing the kettlebell up to shoulder height, driving the hips through as you swing the kettlebell up and driving it down to gain momentum. Make sure you keep your core tight and your glutes squeezed, and try not to over extend the back.&nbsp;<strong>The goal:<\/strong> For the single-move workout, do as many reps as you can for 30 seconds, and then rest for 90 seconds. Try to complete six to eight rounds. If doing two of the three moves: Do as many swings as you can in one minute and then rest for three minutes. &nbsp;Do three to four rounds.<br>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12661\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/ggus-dev\/image\/private\/s--uq1awCn7--\/c_auto,g_auto,w_480,h_270\/v1\/2405e908\/swings.webp?_a=BAAAV6Bs\" alt=\"A person in a gray shirt and shorts is holding a large black object, standing in a dimly lit room with a plain background.\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThese are classic anaerobic exercise examples we do in <b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/golds-studio\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>GOLD\u2019S FIT<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/strong><\/a><\/b>,\u201d Price says. \u201cA common anaerobic work-to-rest ratio is 1-to-3, which is why you\u2019ll see a lot of weightlifters taking long breaks between moves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Be sure your moves are done properly. A common mistake is poor movement, which prevents you from achieving maximum output and can lead to injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How the workouts work together<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The endurance and strength benefits of aerobic and anaerobic exercise, respectively, create a perfect training circle, Price says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBecause you work at such a high capacity in anaerobic training, when you go back to aerobic, it feels more relaxed,\u201d he says. \u201cThat\u2019s when you can push yourself to work a little harder for a little longer during those workouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBecause you\u2019re building that endurance, when you go to anaerobic again and push yourself to the max, you will be able to recover more quickly during the rest periods.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Find more fitness tips and workouts from our experts:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/blog\/resistance-bands-workout\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Resistance Bands for Beginners<\/strong><\/a><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/blog\/importance-of-rest-days\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Three Ways to Avoid Workout Burnout<\/strong><\/a><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/blog\/fitness-acronyms-emom-amrap\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Breaking Down EMOM vs. AMRAP Workouts<\/strong><\/a><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/blog\/expect-next-group-exercise-classes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>What to Expect in Your Next Group Exercise Classes<\/strong><\/a><\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&lt;p&gt;To reach peak fitness performance, you need both aerobic and anaerobic exercise. But what\u2019s the right balance? First, though, a quick review: Aerobic exercise\u00a0involves continuous activity that builds endurance, such as cycling, walking and long-distance running. Anaerobic exercise\u00a0consists of short bursts of intense activity, with a period of rest in between. Think weight training, high-intensity [&hellip;]&lt;\/p&gt;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":47,"featured_media":6325,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_post_subtitle":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[130,120,160,79,117,118,186,187,92,171,188,189,124],"class_list":["post-3224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-workouts","tag-bodyweight-workout","tag-build-muscle","tag-coaching","tag-exercise","tag-goal-setting","tag-guidance","tag-improve-cardio","tag-increase-endurance","tag-overall-health","tag-golds-personal-training","tag-rowing-workouts","tag-running","tag-squats"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3224","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/47"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3224"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3224\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10098,"href":"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3224\/revisions\/10098"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6325"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3224"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3224"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goldsgym.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3224"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}