What Do You Burn During Anaerobic Exercise?

Cardiovascular fitness is classified as aerobic exercise or anaerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise is defined as a moderate intense exercise, such as power walking, jogging, stair climbing or cleaning. Aerobic exercise uses primarily body stores of carbohydrates with oxygen to supply muscles with energy. Anaerobic exercise is defined as intense exercise, such as weightlifting, sprinting or interval training. These types of exercises use body stores of carbohydrates and phosphates without oxygen.

Anerobic Exercise

Exercise that is termed "anaerobic" is brief and intense exercise approximately several seconds to two minutes in duration. During anaerobic exercise, muscles require energy in order to complete a specific activity such as sprinting. Sources of energy stored in muscle tissue used during aerobic exercise include glycogen and two phosphates, adenosine triphosphate and creatine phosphate.

ATP and CP

The energy storage forms of glucose, ATP and CP do not require oxygen in order to be used by muscle tissues during anaerobic exercise. The body stores a limited amount of ATP and CP in muscle tissue. During the first 30 seconds of anaerobic activity, the body will use ATP and CP to fuel your muscles. After 30 seconds of anaerobic activity, the body will use a second storage form of energy, glycogen.

Anerobic Energy Stores: Glycogen

Consumption of carbohydrates such as pasta, whole grains fruits and vegetables allows the body to convert carbohydrates into glucose. Glucose is stored in muscle tissue and the liver as glycogen. Anaerobic exercise exceeding 30 seconds results in the use to glycogen stored in muscle tissue; glycogen is broken down into glucose, a source of energy for muscle tissues.

Benefits of Anaerobic Exercise

To attain optimal cardiovascular fitness, both aerobic and anaerobic exercises are recommended. Through anaerobic exercise, small short burst of intense activity increases muscle mass, increases bone mineral density and strengthens muscle and bone. Over time, a person's metabolism increases, which alters body composition by decreasing fat mass and increasing muscle mass.