Filed under: Advice, Health, Fitness, Fit Family Guy
To answer the question posed in the title, no, it doesn’t; the opposite is true.
Please don’t shoot the messenger.
I’m a big fan of exercise for a number of reasons, one of which is that it increases the rate at which you burn calories, but this is just temporary; it ONLY increases the caloric-burning furnace while you’re actually engaged in exercise.
Exercise enough so that you “get in shape” and lose a bunch of fat, and your metabolic rate drops. This means you will burn fewer calories while you sleep, while you exercise, while you watch reality TV, or while you do… other stuff.
Bummer.
Think of this: You’re in lousy shape and you run a mile. You sweat like crazy, your heart races, your lungs burn etc. Your metabolism is operating at a high level because it’s not used to this kind of crap, and your heart and breathing rates stay elevated for a while even after you stop running.
Next scenario: Six months later you weigh less and are in much better shape and you run that same mile. You hardly sweat, your heart rate isn’t that high and you aren’t breathing very heavy. Also, your metabolic rate returns to normal not long after you stop. Ergo, your metabolism isn’t working that hard because it has become accustomed to the exercise.
Guess which mile burned more calories?
Find out more after the jump.
Continue reading Does Getting in Shape Boost Your Metabolism?