Does your body really burn that many calories AFTER you work

jacolyncoker
jacolyncoker Posts: 86 Member
edited September 21 in Fitness and Exercise
I've heard around that after you are done working out hard core, your body burns an additional 800 calories trying to recover! Is that true?

Replies

  • lilchino4af
    lilchino4af Posts: 1,292 Member
    I know you still burn some calories, but to me the amount doesn't/shouldn't matter. I don't count anything other than my actual workout calories because I want to make sure I don't eat too many calories and unintentionally sabotage my efforts. So far it's worked and I've stayed on track with losing 1 lb per week.
  • LavenderBouquet
    LavenderBouquet Posts: 736 Member
    I know when you do strength training you can burn significant calories from repairing muscles, not sure about cardio.
  • surlydave
    surlydave Posts: 512 Member
    It would stand to reason that you do because your HR remains elevated for some time. I will have to leave my new HRM on for awhile after my next workout and see what it says until I am at or close to my resting HR.
  • aippolito1
    aippolito1 Posts: 4,894 Member
    I've never heard that, but it seems logical. *shrug* I just count what I burn just to be safe and I'm seeing results in the tape measurer (even if the scale isn't budging!). :happy:
  • Iceprincessk25
    Iceprincessk25 Posts: 1,888 Member
    Oh AZDAK where are you when we need you......:laugh: :wink:
  • canstey
    canstey Posts: 118
    I've heard around that after you are done working out hard core, your body burns an additional 800 calories trying to recover! Is that true?

    Only if you expended 800 calories from the exercise not accounted for with traditional measurement (HRM, mechanical work from the machine's calorie count) and it was from the muscle energy reserves. Then your body over the next few days would restore those 800 calories to the muscles. There is some research to indicate traditional oxygen consumption measurement does not accurately measure calories burned when doing anaerobic exercise like heavy strength training or HIIT so that there are some significant calories being restored to muscle reserves over the next 24 to 48 hours but 800 sounds really high for most ordinary people.
  • LBNOakland
    LBNOakland Posts: 379 Member
    Good question!
  • hiddensecant
    hiddensecant Posts: 2,446 Member
    Where did you get that number and exactly what type of workout are you talking about?
  • kwaters7
    kwaters7 Posts: 129
    Check it...

    http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0846/is_8_21/ai_83911021/

    I agree with the above link, I think 800 is sadly! really on the high side..

    the good news is that exercise sure does raise your metabolism and there are other ways to do that too, even eating...

    http://www.fitnesstipsforlife.com/10-foods-to-raise-your-metabolism.html - all good stuff as well, water, apples, cayenne peppers, yogurt, oatmeal, lean turkey and so forth.

    Good luck!
  • jacolyncoker
    jacolyncoker Posts: 86 Member
    Where did you get that number and exactly what type of workout are you talking about?

    I don't know, I've just heard it around...
  • hiddensecant
    hiddensecant Posts: 2,446 Member
    Where did you get that number and exactly what type of workout are you talking about?

    I don't know, I've just heard it around...

    Well it's an arbitrary number, but yes, certain workouts does have an after-burn affect. As mentioned, HIIT and heavy strength training (the kind that makes you reach failure in 8-10 reps) are the big ones.
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