Please explain kcal ....

lonypony
lonypony Posts: 130 Member
edited September 21 in Fitness and Exercise
Just started using my new HRM (Polar FT7). Previously I have just been using the data on my treadmill and I have been thinking for a while that it is not accurate (heart rate and calories) :ohwell: . A lot of my MFP pals record such big calorie losses with exercise and I only ever burn a dingy 100 or 200 cals while busting my gut trying to get my heart rate up (always around the 80 mark on my treadmill) !!

BINGO - what once was recorded as 150cals for 30 mins C25K on treadmill, while wearing my HRM today exact same exercise 309 kcals. Woo Hoo :happy: My heart rate according the treadmill, highest was 82 but with my HRM got it up to 170 odd.

My question is are kcals the same as plain old cals and if different what should I be recording on MFP data? Also do you adjust your weight record in the HRM as your weight drops?

Replies

  • lilmissy2
    lilmissy2 Posts: 595 Member
    Well, to be honest it is the 'worst used' term for energy ever! In your case, I would say it means calories but sometimes it is used (incorrectly) to mean kilojoules.
  • Galathea
    Galathea Posts: 420 Member
    kcal actually means kilocalories. 1 kcal is 1000 cals. BUT most people used this term wrongly also for 1 cal. It's just a mistake that became a habit. Nowadays speaking about kcal means only calories, not kilocalories. My treatmill also shows kcals, but means calories. =^_^=
  • lilmissy2
    lilmissy2 Posts: 595 Member
    Oh yeah, forgot about that one! probably because it's so rarely (if ever?) used in the correct sense.
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