Exercise afterburn?
 

Yes, according to this (if you exercise hard enough). Intuitively makes sense.

I've noticed that after a very hard ride, either inside or outside, and tough training sessions doing core and resistance exercises my body seems to be in overdrive when I lay down to sleep. No matter how tired I am there seems to be waves of energy traveling through my body in sort of a constant pulsing sensation. I don’t feel that way after easy rides. I’m wondering if that relates to what the article explains.

Where is Mrs. A'Jet at the time?:D

My coach, a big advocate of high intensity, will be pleased to read that, although weight loss is not his primary concern. I spent the winter doing several rounds of twice-weekly sessions of high intensity stuff on the trainer and it sure seems to have made me a stronger rider for shorter rides and pushing up hills or riding into the wind. Endurance for longer rides is probably another matter.

That explains part of the reason I slept like crap after doing the TT last evening

I never have a problem sleeping after a hard workout.

I often don't sleep well either after a long physically strenuous day: hard riding, mountainous hiking, etc...

More beer perhaps? pie?

70% of VO2 max for 45 minutes - ouch! It hurts just thinking about that.
I never sleep soundly through the night when I am in training mode. I usually drop off fast but after 4 hours I toss and turn and don't sleep deeply. This usually wears me out over time and my training quality begins to drop off. Others don't seem to have this problem and can sleep soundly all night - I am envious of those. I doubt I am burning those extra calories described in this article, my weight loss progress does not show it.

I know when I was a lot younger I could work out hard and sleep like a rock through the night, loose weight at the drop of a hat. Oh, to be in my 20's again.

My son-in-law is one of the authors on the original research piece and he says they have even more interesting stuff coming down the pike.