ditadinho: When You Lose Weight, Where Does The Fat Go? Science Gives A Surprising Answer

Have you ever wondered where your fat goes when you lose weight? You may have heard it’s “burned” off, lost in sweat, or converted to muscle — as it turns out, these ideas are all wrong.

Where Does The Fat Go?

Apparently, when you lose weight, the fat is breathed out as carbon dioxide!

“It goes into thin air,” says Ruben Meerman, a physicist who became curious about this question himself after losing weight. Up to 84% of your fat content is exhaled as carbon dioxide from your lungs when you breath out. Is that weird or what?!

The other 16% turns into water, which leaves as sweat, tears, and other bodily fluids.You really are “sweating out the pounds” — sort of. You’re sweating out 16% of the weight you lose, at least.

Can You Breathe Away Your Fat?

The short answer: No. Proper breathing can help you minimize muscle fatigue during a run, and certainly has it’s benefits during any kind of exercise. However, simply breathing deeply is not going to help you lose weight; you must first exercise to turn that fat into carbon dioxide. Then your natural breathing will take it away. You don’t have to do any special breathing techniques or anything.

Remember: Fat loss occurs as a result of physical activity, avoiding overeating, and adhering to a nutritious, low-fat diet.

Featured photo credit: Curtis Mac Newton via unsplash.com

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