The Energy Crisis in Your Body

Ever wonder where you get the energy to workout or better yet where that energy went once you started any physical activity? In today's post we are going to dive into the body's Energy Crisis.

Our body creates fuel from a series of chemical reactions called energy metabolism. The source for that energy is found in foodstuffs (carbs, proteins, and fats). Our body will convert those foodstuffs into energy based on what kind of physical activity we engage in. That being said there are four basic forms of physical activity: Strength-Power, Sustained Power, Anaerobic Power-Endurance, and Aerobic Endurance. Each of these forms of activity use a different blend of energy sources. All of which originate as a chemical called ATP (adenosine triphosphate).

ATP is a source of energy normally used during anaerobic exercise the point at which every physical activity starts. As that physical activity is prolonged the energy sources changes to CP(creatine phosphate), Glucose, and Oxygen (combined with lactic acid and glycogen).

If you are wondering exactly which exercises coorelate with what energy source we will get into that next.

• ATP is primarily used during power lifting competitions, golf swing, tennis serve, or any other ballistic movement that requires max output last no more than 3 seconds.  
• CP is the secondary source of energy that is used druing sprints in track, fast breaks in basketball, bouts as in wrestling or football linement blocking.
• Glucose is used during endurance events lasting 1-2 minutes such as a 400 meter dash or a 100-yd swim.
• Oxygen is used during events last over 2 minutes such as distance running, cycling, or soccer.

Maximizing each energy source requires a different form of training. In order to store more ATP/CP so that you can have bigger power you must have bigger muscles. During power-endurance or endurance events you have to build a deeper anaerobic threshold. This is the point at which the muscle fatigues and has to flush out the lactic aacid. This only comes throug experience. The training effect says that the body will adapt to learned and expected stress of an imposed activity. Given this information you must trust that over time your threshold will beceom deeper and your body will convert the lactic acid into lactate which is used to produce more energy. So don't be scared to be sore over time your body will adjust and the very chemical that is making your sore is going to give you more energy.

Ultimately, the most ideal situation to get max energy output from your body for a prolonged period of time would be to combine the training methods so that you are able to maximize each energy source. That is why cross-training has become such an intricate part of the fitness model these days. No athlete at the peak of their game ignores any advantage given to them so why should you? Make sure you have a well rounded workout routine that allows you to build muscle, power, and endurance.

On the next blog we will discuss some basic anatomy it will be more in the for of FACT page just to throw out some interesting information about your body and how it all works together.

Until then stay healthy, infinitely curious, and eternally grateful.

-Micah Hayes