We’re always talking about burning fat, but very rarely do we stop to ask where that fat goes. Is it converted into energy and released as heat? Or is it converted to muscle?
Apparently, neither is the right answer. According to a study by Andrew Brown from the University of New South Wales and physicist Ruben Meerman, when you lose weight you exhale your fat. Their study, published in the British Medical Journal, sheds new light on the metabolic process of weight loss. In a press release, Meerman said, “Most of the mass is breathed out as carbon dioxide. It goes into thin air.”
Excess carbs and proteins are converted into chemical compounds called triglycerides (which consist of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen) which are stored in the lipid droplets of fat cells. When you exercise, you’re attempting to metabolize those triglycerides, which means you are basically unlocking the carbon that’s stored in your fat cells. To lose 10 kg, a person must inhale 29 kg of oxygen, produce 28 kg of carbon dioxide and 11 kg of water.
So it turns out, our lungs are the primary excretory organ for weight loss. The remainder is excreted through bodily fluids like sweat, urine and tears.
Written by Saravanan Hariram
“If you make a career out of your passion, you won’t have to work another day.” That’s a belief Saravanan “Sharu” Hariram has held, and since bodybuilding have always been deep interests, it is no surprise he chose to make fitness his profession.
A champion bodybuilder, Sharu realized early on that he loves teaching and helping others achieve their health and fitness goals. That’s what makes him an ideal partner for HealthifyMe. Apart from American College on Exercise (ACE) certification, he has also been endorsed as a nutrition and fitness trainer by Fitness One India and DSW Fitness (USA).
Sharu’s goal is to stay fit at any age, and he believes that everyone else should aim for the same. Make small changes to your diet, and exercise, and give it 21 days to become a habit, he says. To lead a healthy life, he believes your mind must have control over your body and not the other way around. So think healthy, and stay fit.
