CAL verses KCal

mrschappet

Ok so this is probably a dumb question. but i am getting conflicting answers. My HRM says i burned 243.8 KC... I am guess this means 243.8 KCAL.... but anyways what is the difference (if any) between cal and Kcal... is 243.8kcal the same equivalence to 243.8 cal ?

I just want to make sure i am correctly counting my calories burned..

Thanks :-)

NoPyForYou

To my knowledge, what we usually refer to as a "calorie" is scientifically known as a kilocalorie (kCal). I believe it's all the same.

Edit to add in a quote:

"In the United States, the Nutritional Facts label lists the percentage supplied that is recommended to be met, or to be limited, in one day of human nutrients based on a daily diet of 2,000 calories (kcal)."

robin52077

yes, its the same

gtm124

Yes, they are the same.

robin52077

There is a conversion factor depending upon your age if I am not mistaken. Kcal x factor = cal If I find it I will post it.

nope. It's the same.

The previous poster had it. It's just what we commonly call a "calorie" is actually a kCal. But a "Calorie" with the capital C, is 1000 calories. (small c). Or maybe I have it backwards but whatever. For her instance...yes, your exercise calories that you eat back are equal to what your HRM says.
It's obviously NOT that number times 1000, or 1/1000 of that number.

gtm124

There is a conversion factor depending upon your age if I am not mistaken. Kcal x factor = cal If I find it I will post it.

nope. It's the same.

The previous poster had it. It's just what we commonly call a "calorie" is actually a kCal. But a "Calorie" with the capital C, is 1000 calories. (small c). Or maybe I have it backwards but whatever. For her instance...yes, your exercise calories that you eat back are equal to what your HRM says.
It's obviously NOT that number times 1000, or 1/1000 of that number.

Yep. I stand corrected.

robin52077

lol I quoted you before you retracted your statement, so now it looks funny!

gtm124

lol I quoted you before you retracted your statement, so now it looks funny!

BTW Robin, congrats on reaching your goal weight and on maintenance. Keep it going.

obifatkanobi

Ladybug has it correct, in nutritional contexts the calorie and kilocalorie are the same size. In other applications, a kcal = 1000 calories. Note that calories is spelled with a small "c" indicating it is the amount of energy needed to increase the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 °C. On the other hand, one Calorie, with a capital "C" is the energy needed to increase the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1 °C, or the same amount of energy as 1000 calories, called one kcal.

In nutrition, the spelling should be Calorie, not calorie as they are different, but it has become a very common discrepancy and now, in the application of nutrition, one calorie, one Calorie, and one kcal are all the same.

mrschappet

thanks for your help everyone!!!