Understanding Total Cal on Fitness Apps
When you use a fitness app, you might come across the term “Total Cal.” This typically refers to the total number of calories burned throughout the day, which can include various factors like exercise, daily activities, and your basal metabolic rate (BMR).
Components of Total Cal
- Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR):
This is the number of calories your body needs to maintain basic physiological functions while at rest, such as breathing, circulation, and cell production.
Exercise Calories:
These calories are burned during physical activities, whether it’s a workout session at the gym, running, or even walking around your home or workplace.
Active Calories:
This encompasses calories burned during any activity beyond resting. It includes daily activities such as climbing stairs, doing housework, or walking.
Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT):
- This refers to the energy expended for everything we do that is not sleeping, eating, or sports-like exercise. This includes the calories burned while standing, fidgeting, or moving around during the day.
Purpose of Tracking Total Cal
Tracking your Total Cal can be beneficial for several reasons:
Weight Management: By understanding your calorie expenditure, you can better manage your dietary intake to align with your fitness goals, whether that’s losing weight, gaining muscle, or maintaining your current weight.
Fitness Planning: Knowing how many calories you burn can help you adjust your exercise routines and set realistic fitness goals.
Awareness: Keeping an eye on your Total Cal consumption can increase your overall awareness of your activity levels throughout the day.
Conclusion
In summary, “Total Cal” in fitness apps is a comprehensive measure of the calories you burn within a given time frame, factoring in your resting metabolic rate and physical activities. By monitoring this data, you can gain insights into your health and fitness journey, making it easier to achieve your personal wellness goals.