Cardio vs Weights and Afterburn effect. A test using HRM.

d2footballJRC
d2footballJRC Posts: 2,684 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Interesting experiment is finally over. Just curious how effective the afterburn effect between lifting and cardio. Equipment used was a Polar FT80, it was only taken off for showers which as I'm a guy never run more than 5 minutes. I did everything the same and didn't do any extra activities on any of the rest days. I work at a desk in an office so that wouldn't change the outcome either. Not saying this is scientific evidence but more of just a test. I can definitely see how I'll not ever give up lifting. Work out times were the same and within 5 minutes of each other in length.

So I did this. I did a turn back to back rest day and this is what I got for calories burnt.
Rest 1: 3182 from HRM per day.
Rest 2: 3091 from HRM per day.

Lifting days (Lift day cals + rest day of next day for a 48 hour period.)
Lift 1: 1208 exercise burnt, 2 day burn: 8306 or 4153 per day.
Lift 2: 965 exercise burnt, 2 day burn: 8072 or 4036 per day.

Cardio days (Cardio day cals + rest day of next day for a 48 hour period.)
Cardio 1: 1593 exercise burnt, 2 day burn: 7493 or 3746.5 a day
Cardio 2: 1686 exercise burnt, 2 day burn: 7681 or 3801 a day

Again not an offical scientific experiment, but I took the same supplements and did the same time working out. I work a desk job and didn't move around anymore than usual. Just said I would for a group of people on MFP that was curious as was I.
From this test it appears for me anyways I get a 300-400 extra calories burnt from lifting. Now just to go back to mixing the two and destroying the fat on muh bellah!!!!

Replies

  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    Seeing as HRM's are not meant to be worn during rest, I wouldn't use those numbers at all..

    If you had a body bugg/body media fit, you could prob, use that to figure out after burn and it would prob. be more accurate then using an HRM.
  • d2footballJRC
    d2footballJRC Posts: 2,684 Member
    One thing to note the 2 day numbers wasn't that my BMR stayed the same on the rest days. My workout day BMR usually close to 4.5-5k on any day that I worked out.
  • d2footballJRC
    d2footballJRC Posts: 2,684 Member
    Seeing as HRM's are not meant to be worn during rest, I wouldn't use those numbers at all..

    If you had a body bugg/body media fit, you could prob, use that to figure out after burn and it would prob. be more accurate then using an HRM.

    Maybe but again was just trying to compare the two numbers and keep everything the same across the board. I plan on getting a body fit which I'll be able to delve more deeply into it. These numbers are jiving close to what a lot of reports say though.

    Add in my rest calorie count for my rest days lines up within 100-150 of what MFP says it should be is encouraging. Also this Polar FT80 has a fit test that is via measuring your heart at rest. For whatever it's worth.
  • chachita7
    chachita7 Posts: 996 Member
    I think this is pretty cool... I wonder how many people are want to know what their results will be and try it....
  • InTenn
    InTenn Posts: 99
    Certainly an interesting outcome. Whether you know exactly how many calories were burned or the statistical signficance of any of it from the initial pass, I think it is reasonable to look at the data and say there may well be a relationship between type of exercise (cardio versus weights) and number of heartbeats (as an indicator of metabolic rate) over a 48 hour period. Randomizing the order and doing a few more iterations might show something pretty conclusive. But for now, it is certainly merits more analysis. Congrats on working through the concept. Nice!

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