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Weight lifting is a form of anaerobic exercise. It is very demanding, requiring a great deal of energy, which quickly depletes the body’s oxygen reserves. Sprinting and push-ups are other examples of anaerobic activities. They each create a situation called oxygen debt, which requires us to breathe deeply and rapidly in order to restore a proper oxygen level to the muscle cells.

Let’s take a look at this woman exercising her right biceps muscle. Repetitions of this exercise cause her biceps muscle fibers to increase in size. As she works out, if no more oxygen is available, her muscles convert a starch, called glycogen, into energy. This conversion process creates a waste product called lactic acid, which can be partly responsible for her muscle soreness the next day.

Conversely, jogging is a form of aerobic exercise. Exercising over a long duration requires a steady level of energy for the body. If properly conditioned, the body will be able to supply adequate oxygen to meet its energy requirements during aerobic exercise and much less lactic acid will be formed in the muscles.

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Review Date: 7/21/2022  

Reviewed By: Frank D. Brodkey, MD, FCCM, Associate Professor, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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