Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) is a measurably increased rate of oxygen intake following strenuous activity.

The extra oxygen is used in the processes that restore the body to a resting state and adapt it to the exercise just performed. These include:

• hormone balancing
• replenishment of fuel stores
• cellular repair
• innervation
• anabolism

EPOC is accompanied by an elevated consumption of fuel, including fat.

Experiments have shown EPOC increasing metabolic rate to an excess level that decays to 13% 3 hours after exercise, and 4% after 16 hours.

Experiments also show that anaerobic exercise increases EPOC more than aerobic exercise does.

Reference

• Hill, A. V., Long, C. N. H. and Lupton, H. (1924). Muscular exercise, lactic acid, and the supply and utilization of oxygen. I–III. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 96,438-475.

External link

• Resistance Training and EPOC (http://www.drlenkravitz.com/Articles/epoc.html)