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A Calories Burned Calculator is a tool used to estimate the number of calories burned during physical activities, based on your weight, activity duration, and type of activity (measured by MET values). To use this calculator, you need to input details such as your body weight (in kg or lb), the time spent on the activity (in hours and minutes), and the specific activity performed (e.g., running, cycling, or yoga, with associated MET ranges). Based on these inputs, the calculator computes the range of calories burned, calories per minute, and potential weekly weight loss, helping you track energy expenditure and optimize fitness or weight loss goals. This tool is valuable for designing exercise routines, monitoring energy use, and selecting activities for efficient performance in health and fitness planning.
In simple terms, calories are a unit of energy. Though traditionally used as a general energy measure, the term has now become almost synonymous with the energy content in food. A calorie is technically the energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1Β°C. However, in modern usage, 1 calorie is considered equivalent to 4.18 joules.
In nutrition, we primarily deal with kilocalories (kcal), where 1 kcal equals 1,000 small calories. These are often referred to as large calories, or simply as Calories (with a capital "C"). For simplicity, we will use the term "calories" to refer to kilocalories.
When people hear "calories," they often think of nutrition, weight loss, or health problems like heart disease, which are related to being overweight. This connection exists because body fat stores excess calories. Fat is how the body stores the energy we don't immediately use. While fat is often viewed negatively, itβs essential for maintaining energy reserves in our body, as explored in our healthy body fat calculator.
The term "Calories Burned" refers to the amount of energy (measured in kilocalories, kcal) that your body expends during physical activities. It quantifies the energy used to perform tasks like exercising, walking, or even daily activities, helping track fitness and weight management.
For example, during a 30-minute workout like running, the calories burned depend on your weight, the activityβs intensity (measured by MET values), and the duration, showing how much energy youβve used to fuel your movement.
Calories burned can be calculated using the relationship between your body weight, activity intensity (MET), and duration. Here are the key formulas:
1. Basic Calories Burned FormulaThe calories burned during an activity are determined by your weight, the MET value of the activity, and the time spent. The formula is:
To find the calories burned per minute, divide the total calories by the total time in minutes:
Where:
Activity | MET Range (Low to High Intensity) |
---|---|
Aerobics ποΈ | 3.5β12.0 MET |
Baseball, softball βΎ | 3.0β8.0 MET |
Basketball π | 4.0β10.0 MET |
Billiards π± | 2.5β4.0 MET |
Bowling π³ | 3.0β5.0 MET |
Climbing, spelunking, caving β°οΈ | 5.0β12.0 MET |
Cycling π΄ββοΈ | 4.0β16.0 MET |
Dancing π | 3.0β10.0 MET |
Equestrian sports π΄ | 3.5β8.0 MET |
Fencing βοΈ | 4.0β10.0 MET |
Fishing π£ | 2.5β5.0 MET |
Football (American) π | 4.0β10.0 MET |
Football (soccer) β½ | 4.0β12.0 MET |
Golfing β³ | 3.0β5.5 MET |
Gymnastics π€ΈββοΈ | 3.5β8.0 MET |
Hiking π₯Ύ | 4.0β10.0 MET |
Hockey π | 4.0β12.0 MET |
Ice skating βΈοΈ | 4.0β10.0 MET |
Kitesurfing, windsurfing πͺ | 4.0β12.0 MET |
Martial arts π₯ | 4.0β10.0 MET |
Racquet sports πΎ | 4.0β12.0 MET |
Rollerblading πΌ | 4.0β12.0 MET |
Rowing π£ββοΈ | 3.5β12.0 MET |
Rugby π | 4.0β12.0 MET |
Running πββοΈ | 6.0β12.0 MET |
Sex π | 2.5β5.0 MET |
Skiing, snowboarding β·οΈ | 4.0β12.0 MET |
Sleeping π΄ | 0.9β0.9 MET |
Standing π§ | 1.8β3.0 MET |
Swimming πββοΈ | 4.0β12.0 MET |
Using cardiovascular equipment β€οΈ | 4.0β12.0 MET |
Volleyball π | 3.0β8.0 MET |
Walking πΆββοΈ | 2.0β8.0 MET |
Watching TV πΊ | 1.0β1.3 MET |
Water sports π | 3.5β10.0 MET |
Weightlifting/strength training πͺ | 3.0β8.0 MET |
Wrestling π€ΌββοΈ | 5.0β12.0 MET |
Yoga π§ββοΈ | 2.5β6.0 MET |
A Calories Burned Calculator allows you to estimate the range of calories burned by providing your weight, activity time, and activity type (with MET ranges). You can compute:
BMR represents the number of calories your body burns at rest. Itβs the minimum rate at which you burn energy while doing nothing, keeping essential functions like breathing and circulation active. BMR varies from person to person and is influenced by activity level, diet, and muscle mass.
To burn more calories, you have two main options: either increase the duration of your exercise or increase its intensity. If you're short on time, you might want to focus on exercises with higher intensity.
High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is an effective way to burn more calories in a short period. HIIT alternates between short bursts of intense activity and periods of rest, making it a time-efficient calorie-burning method.
While most people associate exercise with fitness and weight loss, itβs also crucial for maintaining a healthy heart. Regular exercise can improve cardiovascular health, boost mood, and increase happiness due to the release of endorphins.
Studies have shown that exercise helps lower the risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death globally. If you want to improve your heart health, try to incorporate regular physical activity into your routine.
Food contains calories, which provide our bodies with energy. However, not all foods provide the same amount of usable energy. Some foods are nutrient-dense, meaning they give you more than just calories but also essential vitamins and minerals.
When counting calories, itβs important to consider both the energy content and the nutritional quality of the food. Just focusing on calories may lead to nutrient deficiencies.
There are three main caloric states:
Itβs a common belief that fat makes you fat, but this isnβt always true. The real issue is the number of calories consumed, not the fat itself. When losing weight, itβs important to focus on overall nutrition, not just calorie counts.
We often wake up lighter than we went to bed, even if we haven't exercised. This weight loss is due to the bodyβs natural processes of breathing and sweating during sleep. The reason? Breathing out carbon dioxide, which has a higher molecular weight than oxygen, causes a slight reduction in weight.
A 200 lb (91 kg) person burns about 96 calories per hour while sleeping. Over 7 hours, that totals 669 calories.
A person weighing 180 lb (82 kg) burns about 71 calories during 10 minutes of squats, which equals 429 calories per hour.
A 200 lb (91 kg) person burns around 60 calories doing push-ups for 10 minutes.
A person weighing 180 lb (82 kg) burns 86 calories per hour sitting and 129 calories per hour standing.