Gross Calories Burned vs Net Calories Burned

Hello!

I realize that CC already does this. However, I'm trying to figure out how to do it myself using the Benedict Formula. Now then, I'm slightly confused about a couple of points here. It appears that the BMR is the amount of calories an individual burns in order to maintain simple bodily functions such as breathing, heartbeat, etc. After you find your BMR, you then have to add in the activity level you are in. These are the choices:

Sedentary - BMR X 1.2

Lightly Active - BMR X 1.375

Moderately Active (Exercise most days a week) - BMR X 1.55

Very Active (Exercise Daily) - BMR X 1.725

Extra Active (Hard labor or are in athletic training) - BMR X 1.9

Now, I understand that being sedentary is basically sitting most of the day with no exercise. But, isn't that the same thing as your BMR? What I mean is, when you're doing nothing but sitting, doesn't that mean that the calories your body is using is only for bodily functions? Therefore, Sedentary activity is the same as your BMR?

Question two:

When it comes to calculating how many calories an individual burns during any kind of exercise, how would a person go about doing that? What I mean is, there are all kinds of calculators that give burn estimates for exercises based on a person's weight, the exercise intensity, etc. Are these figures generally the "gross" amount burned (including what your BMR figure would burn)? If that is so, I would assume that in order to figure the amount each activity would burn by itself would be to take your BMR and divide it by 24 (as in 24 hours per day). Then, take that new figure and subtract it from an hour you spent exercising.

For example:

Let's say I burned a gross estimate of around 800 calories doing 50 minutes of Tae Bo. My BMR (or should this number be my Sedentary burn?) divided by 24 would be  85.24. Which means, that I burn 85.24 calories per hour doing nothing except my body maintaining its inner activities. Now then, I would take 800 - 85.24 = 714.75. This would mean that instead of counting the entire 800 calories burned during this workout, I would only count approximately 714.75 calories burned because my previous calculations would -already- include my BMR burn.

Does this sound right to you all? And I do hope that I am posting this in the right section. If not, my apologies and feel free to move it.

Thanks much.

Your BMR number assumes that you are laying in bed.  By using the sedentary multiplier the assumption is that you sit some of the day, occationally use the bath room or walk a few steps to you car and drive somewhere, move from one room to another, etc.

And secondly, yes you need to subtract the number of calories you would have been burning anyway from any activity you add but also you should only add activities if you are using the sedentary level.  Otherwise, you are already accounting for your activities and will count some calories twice if you add them.

No, BMR is what you would burn if you were in a coma.  Sedentary means you walk to the bathroom, prepare dinner (even if you just stick it in a microwave), walk to your car, do a load of laundry, take a shower.  All the little things that almost everyone who is not bedridden do.  It doesn't burn a lot of calories, but more than if you just lay in bed without moving. 

As for your other question.  Yes, those estimates that you can find include your regular calories  -- it is a "gross" amount.  That is why  CC asks you to put in the amount of time you spent doing activities.  When you log those extra activities CC  takes into account the amount you would have burned if you weren't exercising.  That is why if you add an activity that burned 300 calories for 30 minutes you burn meter may only show an extra 250 or so calories added to your regular stuff.