Why some workouts keep burning calories longer
EPOC Comparison Between Isocaloric Bouts of Steady-State Aerobic, Intermittent Aerobic, and Resistance Training
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
After working out, your body keeps burning calories even when you're resting. This study found that lifting weights and doing short bursts of fast cardio made your body burn more calories for hours after than steady jogging, even if you burned the same total calories during the workout.
Surprising Findings
Steady-state aerobic exercise did not elevate resting metabolic rate at 12 or 21 hours post-exercise.
Most people believe any aerobic exercise—especially long, moderate ones like jogging—will keep the metabolism elevated for hours. This study shows that under matched conditions, it doesn’t.
Practical Takeaways
If your goal is to burn more calories throughout the day, prioritize resistance training or high-intensity interval workouts over long jogs—even if you have the same amount of time.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
After working out, your body keeps burning calories even when you're resting. This study found that lifting weights and doing short bursts of fast cardio made your body burn more calories for hours after than steady jogging, even if you burned the same total calories during the workout.
Surprising Findings
Steady-state aerobic exercise did not elevate resting metabolic rate at 12 or 21 hours post-exercise.
Most people believe any aerobic exercise—especially long, moderate ones like jogging—will keep the metabolism elevated for hours. This study shows that under matched conditions, it doesn’t.
Practical Takeaways
If your goal is to burn more calories throughout the day, prioritize resistance training or high-intensity interval workouts over long jogs—even if you have the same amount of time.
Publication
Journal
Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport
Year
2015
Authors
B. Greer, Prawee Sirithienthad, R. Moffatt, Richard T. Marcello, L. Panton
Related Content
Claims (2)
After doing weight lifting or short bursts of intense cardio, your body keeps burning more calories for hours afterward than it does after a long, slow jog—even if you burned the same total calories during each workout.
Resistance training is energetically inefficient in terms of total caloric expenditure due to predominant eccentric muscle actions and prolonged inter-set rest periods.