What is EPOC? It stands for "excess post-exercise oxygen consumption." In a sedentary state your body conumes a baseline amount of oxygen - or cells consume oxygen at a certain rate. This is essentially your metabolic rate. After exercise, your cells consume oxygen at a higher rate than this baseline rate for a certain number of hours. This is the EPOC. Maybe a better way to put it is "afterburn." Some forms of exercise like circuit training cause a very long afterburn. Some other forms like straight cardio cause a much shorter afterburn.
I am often asked, "when is the best time of day to exercise?" My answer is morning and evening - yes, that's right, twice daily. When you look at individuals who exercise for 1 hour in the morning versus individuals who exercise 30 minuites in the morning and evening, the latter group loses more weight. Why? The answer is the EPOC. The latter group creates 2 afterburn periods in a 24 hour period. The total time of their afterburn is greater than the once daily exercisers.
This is something to think about this spring as you plan for bathing suit season. The days are longer - it is getting dark later. Think it over. Might be worth your effort.
I am often asked, "when is the best time of day to exercise?" My answer is morning and evening - yes, that's right, twice daily. When you look at individuals who exercise for 1 hour in the morning versus individuals who exercise 30 minuites in the morning and evening, the latter group loses more weight. Why? The answer is the EPOC. The latter group creates 2 afterburn periods in a 24 hour period. The total time of their afterburn is greater than the once daily exercisers.
This is something to think about this spring as you plan for bathing suit season. The days are longer - it is getting dark later. Think it over. Might be worth your effort.
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