Have you ever asked yourself this question? When you lose weight or get rid of cellulite, where does the fat actually go? You probably suspect it doesn’t simply vanish into thin air… But how does it really work? We explain everything!
Where does the fat actually go?
In short, it doesn’t go into your muscles, and it doesn’t go down the loo either. The answer is rather surprising, and we explain it below.
What people think about how fat and cellulite disappear…
As a reminder, the fat that makes up those little bulges has the same composition as the fat that settles into our adipocytes to form the familiar dimples of cellulite. When we reduce our daily calorie intake and exercise, fat is released into our bloodstream. With cellulite, it’s slightly different: alongside a balanced diet and exercise, many of us also turn to palpate-roll, a massage that targets the areas concerned.
Once that fat reaches the bloodstream, let’s be honest — a great many of us assume it gets eliminated by being converted into energy used by our muscles and body… Right? Others believe it turns into muscle, and others still think it’s flushed out when we use the bathroom. Well, none of these ideas are actually true!
… And what is actually true about how fat and cellulite disappear!
Two Australian researchers, Ruben Meerman and Andrew Brown, looked into this very question. They published their findings in November 2014 in the British Medical Journal. They also noted that 95% of the dietitians, doctors and fitness coaches they surveyed on the topic were unable to give the correct answer!
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To understand how fat is eliminated, it helps to know that fat is made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen molecules. When fat is released into the bloodstream, it comes into contact with the oxygen we breathe. On contact, the carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are converted into carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O).
Once this transformation takes place, the CO2 leaves the body through breathing, while the water is eliminated through perspiration and urine.
In the Meerman and Brown study, it is explained that to eliminate 10 kilograms of fat, the body must burn 94,000 calories, inhale 29 kilograms of oxygen, exhale 8.4 kilograms of carbon dioxide and expel 1.6 litres of water. Quite something…
So, if you’ve been following along, you now know that fat is primarily eliminated through… breathing!
But does that mean breathing helps you lose weight?
Stop breathing frantically right now: you’re far more likely to hyperventilate than to slim down! Fat is mainly eliminated through breathing once it has entered the bloodstream, not before. And for it to get there, it first needs to leave our fat cells… And for that, there’s no secret: regular physical activity and a balanced diet. To look after your skin at the same time, consider body care treatments and regular palpate-roll massages!
Palpate-roll and skincare: complementary habits
Palpate-roll is a massage that targets the areas where cellulite tends to settle. It doesn’t replace exercise or a balanced diet. Instead, it simply complements your routine.
To support your efforts, targeted treatments can be a useful part of your routine to help you look after your skin. For a complete routine, combine a day treatment and a night treatment. You could, for example, opt for the cryo gel in the morning, ultra-refreshing and perfect for summer, and apply the night cream in the evening.
Frequently asked questions
How do you do a palpate-roll massage?
Gently pinch the skin, then roll it between your fingers, working over the areas where cellulite tends to settle, such as the thighs or tummy. You can do it by hand or with a massage tool. It doesn’t replace regular exercise or a balanced diet, but it can sit alongside them and suitable skincare as part of a routine focused on how your skin looks.
Related articles
- Should you exercise every day?
- Slimming your figure in one week: is it realistic?
- Holiday meals: the worst foods!
Useful categories: Everything You Need to Know About Slimming, All About Cellulite.
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