Do you work under the assumption that your aerobic workout boosts your metabolism for hours after you stop working out?
This statement is actually true -- but the calorie burn is probably not nearly as much as you think!
According to coach Eric Harr, author of The Portable Personal Trainer, your metabolism will continue to burn at a slightly higher rate after you finish an aerobic workout. Unfortunately, the amount is not statistically significant. In fact, it allows you to burn only about 20 extra calories for the day. Harr says there is a little bit more of a metabolic boost after strength training, but still he says it is marginal.
Moral of the story: Just because you are working out doesn't mean you can consume all the calories you want.
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Marc Jacobs
confused !
1i'm happy to burn even 20 more calories.... oh working out, how you're like my favorite thing.
2True. But it's nice to know there's even a minimal payoff for kicking my butt in the gym.
3But - isn't it true that a pound of muscle burns an extra 50 calories per hour versus a pound of fat (which only burns 9)? That's reason enough to strength train and do cardio. More muscle = larger calorie burn throughout the day.
4Hey, 20 calories is 20 calories! If you think of it this way, if you workout every day, you'd burn a bonus two pounds every year. I'd rather burn two and gain two!
Muscle cells definitely burn more calories than fat cells though. It's always good to add onto your muscle poundage.
5oops, that should be "I'd rather burn two than gain two"
Darn typos!
6I think this is more for those people who go to the gym so that they can eat curry.
7Or grab a chocolate bar thinking the aerobic workout they just had is TOTALLY going to swallow up those calories fast.
Fluffyhelen, what good is going to the gym if you can't eat curry?
(Okay, I confess, I only have curry once a month or so, but we all need a treat!)
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