When you lose weight, where does the fat go?
If you’re thinking, “I sweat it out,” you’re only 20% correct. The real answer might surprise you: you exhale it.
Here’s how it works: when your body metabolises fat, triglycerides are broken down into carbon dioxide and water. 80% of the fat you lose leaves your body as carbon dioxide through your lungs. The other 20% is excreted as water (through sweat, urine, or tears). Yes, your breath is doing most of the heavy lifting!
This can help you reframe your fat loss game. Intense cardio? Sure, it enables you to breathe harder and burn more calories. But overdo it, and your appetite spikes, leading to overeating.
Common amateur mistake: you can’t outrun a bad diet. A 5k run does not a muffin permit.
Instead, try what professional bodybuilders rely on—walking. After meals, take long, steady walks. Pair that with a high-protein, low-carb diet, and you’ll progress steadily. You may not agree with the aesthetic choices of bodybuilders, but that doesn’t mean we leverage their knowledge.
Finally, beware of the scale. That shrinking number might not mean what you think. Rapid weight loss often reflects water loss, not fat loss. Fat loss is a slow, steady process—measured over weeks and months, not days. Boxers and wrestlers get to their category weight through rapid water loss, not fat loss. That doesn’t last.
Pro tip: 15-30 mins walks after meals, ideally preventing the dessert. 🙂
So, the secret? Balance. Consistency beats extremes. Patience outlasts quick fixes. And every breath you take is a small step toward your health goals.
Because, at the end of the day, fat doesn’t vanish—it turns into thin air.
