FAT (Part 2)

WHAT HAPPENS TO MY FAT WHEN I LOSE WEIGHT?

Many people assume that fat is “burned” away in the form of energy, heat, or turned into muscle. This is a misconception. To correct it, let’s start by learning how cells store fat. Adipose cells specialize in storing fat. These fat cells store the fat inside them and get bigger and bigger. When you lose the fat, they shrink, but they d

o not go away. Your body creates these cells very easily, but does not tend to eliminate them. All that happens is that the fat inside the cells goes away, quite literally, into thin air. This is part of the reason why people tend to regain weight so easily after they have lost it—because the fat cells are all still there!

WHERE DOES THE FAT GO WHEN I LOSE WEIGHT?

As fat is broken down, about 80% of the fat you lose is exhaled as carbon dioxide. The remainder becomes water and is excreted from your body through urine, feces, sweat, and other bodily fluids. However, it does not mean you can get rid of fat just by hyperventilating! For real, lasting results, you still need to eat healthy and exercise regularly.