But first, whether you’re working aerobically or anaerobically, is determined by a combo of the following 4 factors: But first, whether you’re working aerobically or anaerobically, is determined by a combo of the following 4 factors:

1) YOUR INTENSITY: there’s a relationship between how hard you’re working and the type of fuel your body uses. Higher intensity anaerobic activity saps energy from glycogen (sugar) stored in your liver, rather than your fat stores, as glycogen can yield energy for your muscles far quicker than fat. Conversely, at lower intensities, most of your energy comes from your fat stores.

2) THE DURATION: The longer you train, the more you’ll push into the anaerobic zone, and thus the more of your glycogen you consume. Also, you’ll toast more fat as your glycogen supplies gradually get exhausted.

3) ACTIVITY TYPE: If you’re going for a gentle walk, you’re probably not going to see the Nike ‘swoosh’ peel off your T-shirt from sweating. Likewise, if you’re playing a competitive game of badminton, I’d be shocked if there were a single light coloured (dry) patch on your grey vest. Activity type tends to govern the ‘Duration’ component.

4) YOUR FITNESS LEVEL: Totally variable, but as you get fitter, your body becomes more efficient at using fat as energy, which makes your ’emergency stores’ of glycogen last for longer. I.e. you can keep going at what you’re doing for longer. Think about Totally variable, but as you get fitter, your body becomes more efficient at using fat as energy, which makes your ’emergency stores’ of glycogen last for longer. I.e. you can keep going at what you’re doing for longer. Think about Djokovic ‘s exceptional ability to keep chasing down the crosscourt shots long into the 5th set; he’s got an efficient furnace, capacious lungs, and a deep store of glycogen, all of which makes him soldier on to the end!