Understanding Calories and Energy Expenditure

Our bodies use daily calories or energy expenditure in many ways. The three main components are:

1. Resting energy needs: About 60% is used to maintain vital bodily functions during sleep and rest
2. Energy for digestion and breaking down foods: Our bodies use about 10% of our daily calories in this task
3. Calories/energy expended for all other movement: About 30% of our daily calories

The third component is the one we have most control over. How much activity we engage in will either increase or decrease our health and quality of life.

That activity can include work-related tasks; so those with jobs that require physical activity will burn more energy/calories than someone with a desk, or more sedentary job.

Another way we use calories is when doing general domestic needs, such as housework, yard work, shopping, self-care and tasks throughout our day where we are walking, using stairs or standing.

Last But Not Least

Last but certainly not least, is our leisure time activities: recreational pursuits, sports, hobbies and structured or planned exercise. 

Technological advances mean that in our current culture, we have greatly lessened the calorie/energy expenditure needed in work and domestic life.

But - in order to maintain vitality, strength and health throughout our lives, we need to make planned movement and exercise a top priority.

Our challenge is to honestly assess when and where we are not expending energy and then scheduling and following through with a consistent plan that increases additional activities and calorie burning. Let’s do it!