Health for Body Mind and Soul

Many individuals know the vast benefit of both cardiovascular and strength exercises for better overall health, but there may be more benefits to exercise than you think.

A recent study from Appalachian State University examined the relationship between exercise and the calories burned once a workout is completed. The findings from the study indicated that calorie burn after a workout can continue for up to 14 hours after the initial workout.

Male participants in the study rode an exercise bike for 45 minutes. Over the 14 hours following the workout, they burned an additional 190 calories. These are calories that would have not been burned had they not participated in the exercise session.

The extra calorie burning benefit only applies, however, to moderately-high to high level intensity workouts. This includes workouts where participants had increased body temperature, increased heart rate, and worked up a sweat. Moderate level exercises such as brisk walking did not show the same benefit.

“That means a person would lose one pound after five intense exercise bouts if they resisted the temptation to eat more,” Nieman says. “This shows that intense exercise can have a meaningful impact on your body fat stores if you don’t counter it with an extra piece of cake. I hope this will motivate people to get out there to do sweat-producing activities. You get so much bang for your buck.”

Although the study involved only men, they believe the results will hold true for women as well.