Aerobic exercise is known to increase your metabolism in the short term during exercise activity itself as well as in long term, long after the exercise activity has ceased. Aerobic exercise increases metabolic rate in two ways. The first is the actual number of calories you burn while doing aerobic exercise like jogging running or brisk walking. For example, a five mile run might burn 500 calories during the time you are actually running. A second elevation in metabolic rate occurs even after you have stopped exercising. Your metabolic rate could take as long as 12 or more hours to come back to your normal level after exercise. Thus, the metabolism of a resting person who regularly exercises burns more fat even when the person sleeps-than the metabolism of a person who does not exercise. Higher intensity aerobic exercises that use large muscle groups such as your thighs and buttocks will result in a longer elevation in metabolism after you stop exercising.
