Work it out with Wellness Wednesday

Learn the terms

If you’ve downloaded a fitness app, scrolled through a fitness-themed social media, or gone to the gym, you’ve probably heard some new fitness terms you haven’t heard before. Fear not, we’re here to help! Let’s learn some fitness terms to help improve your workouts!

Not all exercise is the same

When it comes to exercise, two common terms you might hear are aerobic and anaerobic. So, what’s the difference? BE KIND CREW member, Lux, is here to help with this informative video!

• Aerobic, meaning “with oxygen”, exercise is when your muscles have enough oxygen to perform efficiently. It also means you’re breathing faster and increasing blood flow to deliver oxygen to your muscles. Some common aerobic exercises include walking, running, or riding a bike.
• Anaerobic, meaning “without oxygen”, exercise is when your body’s demand for oxygen is greater than the amount of oxygen stored. These exercises are usually shorter, but more intense. They make you work harder, but your body might not be able to sustain the exercises for very long. Some common anaerobic exercises include weightlifting, sprinting, and even HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workouts, which we’ll discuss more later.

Remember to stay hydrated! Don’t forget to stretch before AND after each workout.

If you have a lot of time, try AMRAP

If you’ve found a workout challenge while scrolling online, you’ve probably seen the term AMRAP once or twice. AMRAP stands for “as many rounds/reps as possible”. The main goal of AMRAP workouts is to do a set list of moves in a given amount of time. These are popular for at-home workouts or as an alternative for when you’re traveling and don’t have access to a gym. Here are some reasons why AMRAP is popular:

• You’re able to push yourself more because you’re trying to increase the number of reps you complete.
• You continue burning calories after you’ve finished your workout because your body is working hard to return to a pre-workout state.

Here are some great AMRAP ideas to help you get started!

If you are short on time, try Tabata

Tabata is a type of high-intensity interval training (or HIIT). This 4-minute workout consists of performing at maximum effort for 20 seconds, followed by 10 seconds of rest, for 8 rounds. Which makes it a great workout for when you want something quick and effective, or want to slowly start getting into an exercise routine. Here are some reasons why Tabata is popular:

• A quick, intense workout for when you’re short on time
• You continue burning calories after you’ve finished your workout since your body is working hard to return to a pre-workout state.

Click here for an example of a Tabata workout! You can also download apps designed to help keep you on track with timers designed for Tabata.

Move Your Feet!

What are some of your favorite ways to get moving? Do you prefer aerobic or anaerobic exercises? Are you a HIIT Hero, or are you on Team Tabata? Let us know and share your favorite workouts with us!