What does anaerobic exercise entail?

Anaerobic exercise refers to physical activities that are performed in the absence of oxygen, or predominantly without the use of oxygen for energy production. During these exercises, the body relies on stored energy sources, such as creatine phosphate and glycogen, for fuel. This type of training typically involves short bursts of high-intensity effort, such as sprinting, heavy weightlifting, or high-intensity interval training (HIIT). These activities require a rapid expenditure of energy, which can exceed the oxygen supply available in the body, leading to anaerobic energy pathways being utilized.

In contrast, exercising in a high-oxygen environment or working with oxygen pertains to aerobic exercise, where oxygen is needed to support longer-duration activities. Endurance training is specifically aligned with aerobic exercises, which rely on sustained oxygen uptake over time. Therefore, the accurate understanding of anaerobic exercise is that it fundamentally involves activities performed without oxygen, emphasizing short durations of intense exertion rather than endurance or lower-intensity efforts.