Energy Systems Exploration
February 16, 2024
As a living, breathing, blog reading individual you’ve probably learned the basics around how food provides the body with energy. There are actually several different ways that this can occur and they depend on the activity being performed. Depending on our sport or activity, nutrition, genetics, and level of training will each play a role which energy system is primarily utilized. As you can see in the pictures above these athletes have trained to optimize a certain energy system in their body to improve performance at their respective sport. Regardless of which energy system is predominantly used all energy is stored in the form of ATP.
Adenosine Triphosphate or “ATP” is the energy currency of the body. Each of the energy systems in the body have their own way of producing ATP to power our daily activities. There are pro’s and con’s to each energy system but ultimately having a better understanding of how our body uses energy can help us make informed decisions on diet and exercise. Let’s learn about each energy system…
Alactic System aka the Creatine Phosphate System
Lactic Acid System aka Glycolytic
Aerobic System aka Fatty Acid Metabolism
“No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying.” —Tony Robbins
Alactic System
(aka the Creatine Phosphate System)
What is it: The alactic system utilizes creatine phosphate (CP) as an energy source. It fuels high intensity efforts. Creatine is able to donate its phosphate molecules to the the Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP) molecule allowing it to return to ATP, with potential energy stored in its chemical bonds. Creatine comes from the food that we eat with the highest levels in red meat, pork, poultry, and fish. It can also be supplemented for vegetarians and vegans.
Time domains: This energy system is exhausted in 8-12 seconds for most individuals and you will fatigue when your CP and ATP stores have depleted. It is great for quick bursts of energy.
Efficiency:It requires 30 seconds to 2 minutes to replenish energy stores.
By products: Heat released from the breaking of chemical bonds.
Examples of activity: You may see this energy system in action through the short powerful bursts seen in weightlifters, powerlifters, pitchers, and shot putters.
What training looks like: Training the CP system means using short time domains with long rest periods in between. In the gym this means keeping rep ranges to sets of 6 or fewer reps.
Lactic Acid System
(aka Glycolytic system)
What is it: The lactic acid system utilizes glycogen (glucose stored in the muscles and liver) as a fuel source. It is for longer lasting high intensity activities. Our body is able to store about 500 total grams of glycogen in the muscle and liver tissue which provides around 2,000 calories worth of energy. Running out of this fuel source is commonly referred to as “bonking.” Some athletes consume carbohydrate foods, drinks, and supplements during training and competition to prevent running out of this valuable fuel source.
Time domains: It is the primary fuel source for activities lasting from 30 seconds to about 3 minutes. You know you have fatigued this energy system when hydrogen ion accumulation causes a burning sensation in the muscles.
Efficiency: The lactic acid system is very efficient at providing fuel but fatigues quickly. Due to the long recovery time it is favorable to alternate levels of intensity between glycolytic and aerobic dependence to sustain high output.
By products: The byproduct of this system is pyruvate. Which must be cleared from the blood to continue to utilize this energy system. This can take 30-60 minutes.
Examples of activity: This energy system would rule during a 400 or 800 meter sprint, a hockey lines time on the ice, or most CrossFit workouts. It is seen in mixed use with the aerobic system during longer workouts or soccer and basketball games where the players alternate between a slower jog pace with periods of intense sprinting and jumping.
What training looks like: To train this energy system you can utilize interval style training. Intense bursts of energy followed by a recovery period that allows you to stay at a threshold of high output. These athletes tend to have increased muscle mass and ideally lower body fat percentage.
Aerobic System
(aka Fatty Acid Metabolism aka Krebs Cycle aka Citric Acid Cycle…)
What is it: This is the creation of energy from fat, glycogen or protein in the presence of oxygen used to power low and moderate intensity activities. The mitochondria present in muscle cells takes the available fuel source through a variety of reactions to produce ATP. Since fat molecules packs 9 calories per gram they tend to be the main choice for this energy system. Even the leanest individuals carry enough body fat to fuel many days worth of activity.
Time domains: Any activity lasting more than 3 minutes in duration.
Efficiency: This system produces energy much more slowly than the others. The good news is it can utilize an unlimited fuel supply of fat.
By products: The aerobic system only produces water and carbon dioxide when generating ATP.
Examples of activity: This energy system is your predominant fuel source for jogging, cycling, swimming long distances, and most of your daily activities.
What training looks like: Athletes who have become efficient at using fat as a fuel source are able to convert the energy from fat more quickly, allowing them to sustain higher levels of work capacity for activities with long durations. These athletes are usually easy to spot as they have exceptional muscle definition and extremely low body fat.
As you can see from the graph, our average work capacity is dictated by the length of time we are performing an activity.By training in all three energy systems we can become more efficient in all areas, thus increasing our work capacity across the board.Individuals who only try to utilize cardio or lifting heavy weights to improve work capacity will fall short of their well rounded counterparts. If you’re an individual who wants to improve general health it is beneficial to train each of the energy systems.
If you’re ready to increase you work capacity and become more fit give us a call today and we’ll help you get started!
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🔥 The Junkie Journal | Mid-August Momentum 🔥 Hey Junkies! 👋 We know summer schedules are packed, but don’t let that stop your progress—this is the perfect time to keep stacking small wins. ✨ Ladies Lift – Final Week! This is the last week of our current Ladies Lift session. Huge shoutout to everyone who has shown up, lifted strong, and built confidence these past weeks! 💪 The next round kicks off mid-September—stay tuned for dates. 📆 Coming in September – Air Squat Challenge! It’s simple. It’s effective. And it’s for everyone. We’ll start at 15 squats on Day 1 and build up to 150 squats by Day 30. All in one session, with rests as needed. You’ll be amazed what consistency can do. Who’s in? 🙌 🏋️ This Week in the Gym Strength focus is ON: ✔️Hang Cleans ✔️Bench Press ✔️Deadlifts Conditioning? Expect those long grinder-style metcons on Tuesday and Thursday to keep your engine sharp. Even when the gym feels quiet, your effort counts double—so show up, put in the work, and keep building momentum heading into fall. 🍂
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🔥 The Junkie Journal | July in Full Swing! 🔥 Hey Junkies! 👋 Summer has officially arrived and the energy in the gym has been awesome. From big lifts to sweaty metcons, you all are showing up strong—keep it up! Here’s what’s happening this week and what you can look forward to: 💪 Programming Focus: Over the next several weeks of summer, we’re taking a page from our past with this well-rounded training block designed to build strength, dial in technique, and keep our conditioning sharp. Here’s what you can expect: 💪 Strength Work You Can Feel: You’ll see consistent progressions in foundational lifts like Cleans, Squats, and Deadlifts—paired with skill-focused Olympic weightlifting. Expect every session to include dedicated strength work to help you move better and get stronger. 🏃♂️ Conditioning Variety: From classic benchmark workouts like Christine to fresh interval pieces and partner challenges, the conditioning will keep you on your toes. We’re mixing short, intense AMRAPs with longer grind-style workouts to build both engine and grit. 🔧 Movement Quality & Mobility: Each day kicks off with intentional warm-ups and mobility prep—think hip openers, thoracic work, and activation drills—so you feel primed for training and can move safely and effectively. 🔥 Scaling Options for All Levels: Whether you follow StormKing, Pyramind Peak, or Spruce Railroad every workout has built-in modifications so you can get the most out of your training, no matter where you’re starting. This is a great month to stay consistent, hone your technique, and push your capacity. Let’s keep showing up and getting after it together! 💥 July Push-Up Challenge: We’re halfway through our 30-Day Push-Up Challenge! 🙌 Remember—these can be done at home or in the gym. You’re adding 2 push-ups each day (resting every 7th), building strength and consistency. Keep tagging us in your updates—we love seeing your progress! 👭 Ladies Lift: Don’t forget—Ladies Lift returns July 17th! This is a great chance to lift heavy, learn new skills, and connect with the other strong women in our community. If you haven’t tried it yet, come check it out—good vibes guaranteed. Our women-only strength class kicks back off on Thursdays at 5:00pm. Grab your spot early—email us at stormkingcrossfit@outlook.com to sign up. Let’s keep showing up, cheering each other on, and making July a strong month together. #StrongerTogether #StormKingStrong
The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a d🔥 The Junkie Journal | Jumping Into July 💪 Hey Junkies! 👋 A new month means new energy—and July is already coming in hot. Let’s kick it off strong with everything happening this week at StormKing: July 4th – Gym Closed Heads up—we’ll be closed Friday for the holiday. Enjoy your time off, get outside, and celebrate safely! 🎉 July Gym Anniversaries! Whether it’s your first month or your fifteenth year—we’re so glad you’re part of the crew. Heather Thurman 2 years Krysta Parker 2 years Travis Waddell 8 years 🎉 July Gym Birthdays! Clara Dostie July 3 Debbie Givens July 6 Trina Hathaway July 7 Tommy Simpson July 10 Leslie Arango July 18 Corkey McKeown July 20 Katherine Braun July 21 Mike Soiseth July 28 Damun Seera July 30 💥 New 30-Day Push-Up Challenge Starts July 1! Our July challenge is all about building upper body strength and consistency—just like last month’s planks. Here’s the format: ✅ Start Day 1 with 5 push-ups ✅ Add 2 reps daily, with a rest day every 7th day ✅ Suggested modification...we recommend elevated pushups! ✅ Stay consistent for 30 days ending at 60 pushups on day 30! ✅Reps can be broken up into manageable sets but must be done in the same session. Tag @stormkingathleticclub and post your progress in the Junkies group—we’ll cheer you on every rep of the way! 👶 Childcare Reminder Childcare with Katelyn during morning 9:30am classes! Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It’s FREE! 🏋️♀️ Weekly Programming Preview Your strength days this week: Monday – Bench Press Tuesday – Endurance Metcon Wednesday – Front Squat Thursday – Endurance Metcon Friday – Closed for the 4th!! Saturday – Partner WOD (20–30 min) 🗓️ Ladies Lift Returns July 17! Our women-only strength class kicks back off on Thursdays at 5:00pm. Grab your spot early—email us at stormkingcrossfit@outlook.com to sign up. Let’s start July strong, focused, and fired up. Push-ups, PRs, and positive vibes only! 💚 Your SKAC Team
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Hey Junkies! 👋 Can you believe we’re already halfway through June? The sun’s out ☀️, the energy is high, and your commitment hasn’t gone unnoticed. Let’s dive into what’s new at StormKing this week: 🧘 Plank Challenge: Midway Check-In! We’re officially halfway through our 30-Day Plank Challenge! If you’ve been holding strong, your core is thanking you—if not, it’s never too late to jump in. Just a few focused minutes each day builds strength and mental grit. 💥 Keep tagging us and sharing your plank pics in the Junkies group—we love seeing your progress! 📅 New Class Schedule Starts TODAY! Thanks for your feedback and patience—our revised schedule launches today! Here are the key changes: ✅ We’re keeping both the 4:30pm and 5:30pm classes on M/W/F—no change here, thanks to your input! ✅ Pulse on Tuesdays now moves to 5:00pm (no more 5:30pm class on Tuesdays) ✅ The 9:30am class now replaces the 9:00 and 10:30 slots on M/W/F 💚 Don’t forget: Pulse counts toward your 3x/week membership—come try it out! 🙌 Coaching & Childcare Updates! We’ve got exciting additions to the SKAC fam: 👶 Welcome Coach Danielle Sily – Danielle is back to the gym after welcoming her new baby, Grace! We’re thrilled to have her energy and expertise join our coaching staff! You will see her shadowing in classes over the next couple weeks. Introduce yourself! 💪 Coach Paisley will now be leading the M/W/F 9:30am class .👏 Come say hi and crush your morning workouts with her! If you haven’t taken a class from Paisley yet...do it! 👶 New Childcare! Longtime member Katelyn is stepping in to support our families with on-site childcare during our 9:30am class on Mon, Wed, and Fri. We’re so excited to have her in this role—thank you, Katelyn! 💥 Weekly Programming Highlights Our current training block continues, blending barbell strength and metcons throughout the week. Here’s what’s on deck: Barbell Strength Focus This Week: Monday – Push Press Tuesday – Endurance Metcon Wednesday – Front Squat Thursday – Long Endurance WOD Friday – Clean and Jerk 💥 Plus a spicy finisher on weightlifting days, of course. Saturdays = Partner WODs!! Bring a friend, share the work, and kick off your weekend right. 💃 Ladies Lift Returns in July The next session of Ladies Lift kicks off on Thursdays at 5pm after the July 4th holiday. If you’re looking to level up your lifting in a supportive, female-led space, email us now to grab your spot: 📧 stormkingcrossfit@outlook.com Thanks for being the heart of this gym. 💚 Whether you're crushing planks, welcoming new faces, or simply showing up—you’re part of what makes StormKing so strong. Let’s finish June STRONG 💪 💚 Your SKAC Team
