What is supra aerobics?
Supra aerobics is not aerobics at all. In fact, the prefix "supra" means "above". In other words, you are working out above the aerobic level. When you are working out in a supra-aerobic zone, you are working out at a much more intense duration. Aerobic means "with oxygen". So you might say that supra aerobics means "without oxygen". In the aerobic zone, your body uses oxygen to burn calories, but when the heart beats much faster than at an aerobic level, oxygen is not used to burn calories.
One of the main purposes of aerobic exercise is to burn fat. When you are working out in an aerobic zone for a certain length of time, about half of the calories that you are burning come from fat. You are also strengthening you heart, lungs, and muscles and training them for endurance. It is a pleasant activity to exercise in this way also because it does not work you to the point of discomfort. But it does take quite a bit of time to complete a workout.
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There is a down side to doing aerobic exercise all the time. The body responds to the activities that it goes through. For example, a body builder lifts weights and consumes high protein, and the body responds by building larger muscles to be able to better handle the weight lifting exertions placed upon it. So it is with any exercise activity. When you are training at an aerobic level, your body responds by building a heart, lungs, and muscles that can handle this kind of workout. So, by doing only this kind of workout over an extended period of time, your heart, lungs and muscles may not be as strong as they could be with more vigorous exercise. Another thing to consider is that aerobic exercise not only burns fat, but can also burn muscle mass.
Supra aerobics consists of workouts of a shorter duration, but working hard enough to be out of breath. Exerting oneself to this point is the very thing that strengthens the heart and lungs to be able to increase their capacity. By doing these workouts on a regular basis, the body will respond by building a stronger heart, lungs that can hold more air, and muscles that can respond to situations that require a sudden burst of energy. By improving your fitness in this way, you will also live longer. The heart and lungs are two of the most important things that keep you alive, and proponents of supra aerobic workouts warn that doing nothing than aerobic workouts could be shortening your life.
What kinds of exercises should you do to get a supra aerobic workout? You can do anything that causes you to get out of breath quickly. For example, in an aerobic workout, you would jog at a steady pace for 30 to 45 minutes. In a supra aerobic workout, you would only work out for about 12 minutes. You would run as fast as you can for about a minute until you are completely out of breath. Then slow it down to a jog and recover your breath for a couple of minutes, and then repeat the whole process about four times.
You can also do some exercises while watching television or in a quiet room. For example, you can use some of the techniques that the military uses for basic training programs such as the squat thrust. Begin by standing upright, squat down as low as you can and put your hands on the ground, stretch out your feet into a push-up position, and then do one or more push ups, and then return to the upright position. Repeat this for as many times as you can in a one minute period of time, and then do something else less intense for a minute, and then repeat.
You may want to check with your doctor before beginning a more vigorous exercise program. Make sure you are in good physical health, and that you don't push yourself too hard and injure yourself.
