Strenth Training Calories Burned

[princesscko]

Does anyone know why you burn more calories immediately after a strength session than after a cardio session, or if this is even true? I'm curious to know.

Chiquita

 

[jgoycoolea]

I've wondered if this calorie burn was supposed to refer to the period of time immediately after your strength session, or more generally to the calories burned on a routine daily basis because of a gain in muscle mass that results from strength training.

Also if the answer is the period right after the strength session, then does the calories burned end up equalling those burned during cardio after say a 3 hour period or so?

 

[kathryn]

I vaguely recall seeing that the post-workout calorie burn for weight training (especially lower body work and total body workouts, it wouldn't really apply to an "arms-only" workout) is higher for up to 24 hours, sometimes more.

 

[princesscko]

Oh, that's very interesting. I guess that's why people start seeing better results once they add weights to their routine. Thanks.

 

[CathydsRNA]

A Colorado State study demonstrated that post-workout calorie burn was slightly higher following a strength training workout compared with a moderate intensity areobic workout. However, the extra calorie burn was only about 24 calories higher compared to the aerobic exercisers. Total calories burned including the workout was higher in the aerobic exercisers because calories burned during the workout was lower in individuals doing strength training. Circuit training however, is a different beast and calorie expenditure during these workouts goes up.
Also, the estimate of calories burned/day per lb of muscle at rest has been dropped and is now thought to be only 5-10 calories more/day than an equivalent weight of fat tissue.