Effects of consecutive exercise days of jogging or cycling on the resting metabolic rate and nitrogen balance.

The resting metabolic rate (RMR) following recovery from level jogging, which includes an eccentric component, was hypothesized to be greater and remain elevated longer than following concentric cycling due to repair of exercise-induced muscle damage. Nine males participated in both a jogging and cycling protocol. RMR measurements were determined by indirect calorimetry before and on the seven mornings following three consecutive days of 45-min exercise sessions performed at equal energy expenditures. Daily protein intake and urinary nitrogen (N) output were measured throughout both protocols. No differences were observed in the resting oxygen consumption, respiratory exchange ratio, or heart rate between baseline measurements and from any of the postexercise days following the third exercise bout. Urinary N and the estimated N balance during postexercise also did not change from baseline values over time or mode x time. However, the overall estimated N balance for the jogging protocol was less positive than for the cycling protocol (p < 0.05). Muscular soreness was greater (p < 0.05) and lasted longer from the jogging protocol. Although, muscle damage may have been more severe in the jogging protocol, RMR and N balance were not different between the two exercise modes.