Temper Your Body
Aerobic vs Anaerobic Exercise
Often, I can easily become obsessed with a bit of film or music that blows my hair back so to speak. Therefore, consuming such a piece of artwork once or twice does not do it for me. Rather, I can be stuck on something for a whole year. When I was a teenager, this was Jimi Hendrix full stop. His music, his life, his everything. Well, I did listen to other contemporary music for sure, but, when I would kick back and relax in my room. Or on my way to school during a long bus ride. It was Hendrix all the way. Around the same time period I would watch the movies Boomerang, Juice, and Point Break over and over and over again. When something is good, I like to study it in a way. But really, I just wanna bask in its glory.
Later on in life my tastes changed in some ways, and stayed the same in others. I discovered the music of Eric Johnson and Jeff Beck. I knew of these two when I was a teenager like the others mentioned above, however, I felt their music was too sophisticated for my teen ears. It was a little more intellectual and less pulsating with raw emotion which is what spiced up my loins at the time. But as an adult, their music was hitting the spot. The other stuff I'd grown up with is still great, but I've heard all those tunes a million times before. These two had music that was fresh and new to me.
As my obsession kept on rollin' along, I became stuck on this instructional video Eric Johnson did in the late 80's. Instructional as in he was basically giving a one-hour guitar lesson. In fact, what turned me onto this man in the first place was a two-minute video on YouTube titled: The most beautiful guitar playing. Or something like that. And it was. What it also, um, was, um was the opening to the instructional video itself. In the body of said video, he detailed how he tuned his guitar using three separate methods. He explained how he felt it tempered the instrument. All three methods, yielding slightly different results. Yet, by combining those three results he resolved on a tuning which was a happy medium.
Upon starting this project, when I was brainstorming about the philosophies I wanted to write about in terms of my health and fitness regimen, this scene from said video struck a chord with me...pun intended. I thought to myself, 'Yeah yeah yeah... Tempering the instrument... I like that.'
Aerobic exercise, defined as movement in the presence of oxygen, are all those movements that are rather steady state and prolonged. Such as running, cycling, dancing when done at a steady pace. During each, the oxygen you take in while breathing has a better shot at giving your muscles energy to complete the exercise.
Anaerobic exercise, defined as movement in the absence of oxygen, are all those movements that are short burst of high physical efforts. Such as weight training, sprinting, etc. During each, the oxygen you take in while breathing has very little shot at giving your muscles energy due to the high intensity applied over such a short amount of time.
Fortunately for your reading pleasure, or displeasure depending on how I'm doing, I have experience in both realms. Here's how it went for me.
When I was 18 I decided to up my soccer ante, if you will, and play in a competitive league for a change. Actually for my school. Basically, I was making up for lost time by doing so since I wish I did this during my high school years. Previously, I had played in leagues that were not extremely competitive but I had enough skills to be a contributor. Anyway, it was the summer so the season was coming up in the fall. I hadn't touched a ball let alone trained since the November prior. Fear not though, my late teen brain came up with a fix. Which was jogging three times for a total 4 – 5 miles. Oh, and my parents had some weird exercise contraption that was like a type of rowing machine that worked with your own body weight. I hit that one for a few times for a total of like a half an hour. Job done. Solid. Way to outdo myself and prep to the max.
Basically I was going into the soccer season trying to rely on off the couch talent alone. And what were my results...? Within my first week of practice, I ended up pulling both my groin muscles and I believe my quads as well. Perhaps even my hamstrings. All I know is that I was only about 50% due to injury for half of the season. This meant I had zero explosive power, my legs felt like petrified wood, and my lungs would burn during practice in August. I had to go see a doctor. She was baffled. Thought I may be on drugs and wanted to do a bunch of tests. Her reaction was so over the top I had to come to the realization that I simply was just out of shape. This explanation made the most sense. I mean, I could play. But, I would've been much much better if I prepared.
During this time period, I was ultra disciplined at my studies having to survive at a fairly high level. It was comforting that. I often think of what if...? What if I dedicated myself towards my athletic performance, to soccer, as much as I did my studies. What if I applied then everything I know now about health and fitness. What would have happened?
After all, when I healed up that season I went from a bench utility player to one of the two strikers on the team (A strikers responsibility is to score goals). Essentially stealing the job from one punk-ass on my team who used to call me Abe Lincoln all the time until I got up in his face when he said that one too many times and I was about to beat his a$$... Haha... We had to be split up that day. Needless to say he got the message and stopped. But I didn't because, as mentioned, I continued on and stole his job since he used to be the striker. I left that school the following academic year. Had I stayed, I would've stole his girlfriend too. She was hot, and I'm sinister like that.
No but seriously folks, my lack of preparation which hindered my season was a no bueno, and a lesson learned. Going in unprepared, unfit, with a lack of core level of strength and conditioning really did not serve me well. Especially considering how I ended up at the season as a starter in the offense responsible for scoring goals. Had I applied myself from the end of that season to strength, conditioning... With mix of cardiovascular training (aerobic) and soccer specific weight training (anaerobic) while playing soccer year-round... Shoot... I may have continued on in the sport at a better school in a higher division. I mean this is essentially what I did academically for if you knew me as a 15-year-old you would not have guessed where I was going to college and what I was studying at 20.
A little later in life, but still young like early 20's, I became a bit of a gym rat. Initially I started weight training 3 hours a week with friends in college. The walls of this place were placard with information about how eating and exercise go hand in hand. We took this a little too literally and after the gym would eat our faces off. Particularly because our meal plans offered access to buffets at the campus dining halls. We would get strong. We would also gain weight. The majority of which was muscle, but a good portion was also body fat. I came home for Thanksgiving after just a few months on this regimen and my dad told me I looked like a meatball... Thanks Dad. No matter, we continued.
Realistically, I was still slim throughout my 20's. However, I was eating in excess and during my mid/late 20's lifting in excess. I became the weight of your standard NFL defensive player, approaching 200lbs. But, I could not move like one. I bought a mountain bike when I was 22 and only rode it about 5 times during my 20's. Going on a jog was like death. Running and sprinting made even my arms hurt. My arms...! Playing soccer was equally as bad. I would think to myself, I'm young and fit. Why can't I play like I used to as a kid...?
This is when it dawned on me that I was too heavily focused on weight training and had neglected cardiovascular, or aerobic exercise. Particularly the kind that conditions your lower body to apply power of both the steady state and explosive variety. In other words, the weight training I was doing had developed power. But, my lack of aerobic work left my body ill equipped to transmit the power into a sportive movement. Kinda like having a vehicle with a very powerful engine but with tires that have little to no traction.
By the time I hit my late 20's, I was sick and tired of just weight training. Especially the fact that I was always indoors when doing so. At around 30, or 31 years old, I dusted off my then 9-10 year old mountain bike which was still like new and started riding it. I also started to do basic speed work, like sprints and things of this nature... All outdoors. The sun. The green grass. The somewhat fresh air. Breaking a sweat. Feathered into my already sound anaerobic regimen. Strengthening my weaknesses. Oh, I also started jumping rope. This really helped as well.
Soon enough, I started to feel like a kid again. Hopping on my bike going for an hour long ride became nothing to me. Shortly thereafter, I would get together with people and play soccer once or twice a week no problem. Sure I would be sore, but not in pain like I was before. My lungs would actually get tired like they used to when I was a kid. A good kinda tired. It was great.
With these stories is a lesson for you the reader. I had to learn my lesson the hard way. Twice. Although I was exercising in my youth, I did in fact lack balance. A balance between aerobic and anaerobic exercise. Once I reached a balance between the two I was truly tempered physically and mentally for there was no longer need to fret over any sort of physical performance scenario. I was well prepared. Little to no weaknesses.
As a final note perhaps a bit of proof. When I was in my early 20's I had an office mate who had to undergo a stress test with a cardiologist. He was in his late 30's early 40's at the time. Recently I had to escort a family member of mine for a similar test who is much older. This is when I learned another family member of mine had a stress test done in their early 40's. To date, I've never had a stress test from a cardiologist needed, knock wood. Why...? Perhaps because every time I decide to go to a gym for a lift, a kickboxing session, or play soccer, I am in fact undergoing a 1-2 hours long stress test. But, by doing so, my cardiovascular system is pushed to just below its limits. Which is a good thing, conditioning the function of your body pushing blood to all areas needed.
Saying you don't like to exercise at this point in human advancement in society is as preposterous as saying you don't like sleep. In other words exercise, especially a mix of aerobic and anaerobic exercise, is essential to a high quality of life and good overall health. All achieved by tempering your body.
To help grow this newsletter please Like, Comment, Share, and Subscribe.
To help support this newsletter, consider purchasing a Subscription.