Think of your body like a burning fire. That fire needs fuel (calories) to keep going, and the amount of fuel it needs is your "total daily energy expenditure," or TDEE for short.
TDEE is like a giant pie, and each slice represents a different way your body burns energy:
BMR (the big slice): This is the energy your body needs just to stay alive, even when you're doing absolutely nothing. Think of it as the baseline fuel for your internal organs and brain.
EAT (exercise activity thermogenesis, a smaller slice): This includes things like workouts, running errands, playing sports, and even just fidgeting. The more active you are, the bigger this slice gets.
NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis, the hidden slice): This is the energy you burn from all the little movements you do throughout the day, like standing up, walking around, and even tapping your foot.
TEF (thermic effect of food): This is the energy your body uses to digest, absorb and store the food you consume.
These slices all add up to your total TDEE, which is how many calories you burn each day.
The cool thing is, your TDEE is like a chameleon - it can change! Things like your age, gender, weight, and even how much muscle you have can affect it. Plus, the more you strength train, the bigger your muscle mass becomes, and that actually burns more calories even when you're at rest (thanks, BMR!). Focus on strength training vs. cardio is the optimal mode of exercise to burn FAT - we all would like to burn more calories watching Netflix, wouldn't we?
So, understanding your TDEE is like having a secret weapon for managing your weight and health. It helps you figure out how much to eat and how much to move to reach your goals, whether it's losing weight, gaining muscle, or just feeling your best.
