Does building muscle mean you can't do aerobic exercise?
Nov 18, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lin Yunfei
Introduction
It's not necessary to avoid aerobic exercise when building muscle. Combining aerobic and anaerobic exercises can improve overall health and cardiorespiratory fitness. Aerobic activities include brisk walking, jogging, swimming, and cycling, while anaerobic exercises include sprinting, high jump, long jump, and tug-of-war. It is recommended that individuals aiming to build muscle should avoid training after drinking alcohol to prevent accidents and protect their health.
Building muscle doesn't mean you should avoid aerobic exercise; rather, aerobic and anaerobic exercises can be combined.
Appropriate aerobic exercise can enhance cardiopulmonary function and improve endurance. Aerobic activities such as brisk walking, jogging, swimming, and cycling are excellent forms of exercise that support muscle building. However, most muscle gain comes from anaerobic exercise, such as sprinting, high jump, long jump, and tug-of-war. These activities cause short bursts of intense effort, leading to muscle contraction, opened pores, and heavy sweating. After such exertion, the body is often temporarily weakened. Therefore, it's advisable to follow anaerobic workouts with light aerobic activity. Combining both types of exercise can significantly improve overall health and cardiovascular fitness.
For muscle building, it's recommended to consume more protein-rich foods such as fish, milk, soy products, and meat. Eating smaller meals more frequently and maintaining a balanced diet is important. Additionally, avoid training after drinking alcohol to prevent accidents.
