Tropical Weight Loss
Photo by Hans Takiwātanga Pexels Logo Photo: Hans Takiwātanga

Does fat come out in urine or stool?

To keep it simple, as your body burns up excess fat to create fuel after joining a weight loss program, you then breathe it out as carbon dioxide or expel it through your sweat, urine, tears, and feces. Fat is basically stored energy. And your body uses energy in more ways than you'd think.

Is it hard to lose waist fat?
Is it hard to lose waist fat?

One reason belly fat is so hard to lose is that it's considered an “active fat.” Unlike some fatty tissue that simply sits “dormant,” belly fat...

Read More »
What is the white stringy stuff with sushi?
What is the white stringy stuff with sushi?

You will often also see white strips on your plate. This is shredded daikon (radish). It is used as a garnish on sushi plates. Like many garnishes...

Read More »

[updated September 2019]

If you’ve recently joined a weight loss program to help you lose weight, you may be wondering how fat leaves the body once you start losing weight. Weight loss is achieved through a combination of a healthy exercise and a healthy diet plan that focuses on lean protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates from fruits and vegetables. This combination aids the body in burning stored fat for fuel and energy and preventing the body from storing excess fat that you continue to consume.

But what happens to body fat when you shed pounds – do you sweat it out, pee it out or breathe it out?



How Fat Leaves the Body When You Lose Weight

Watch this video for more information about what happens to the fat that is burned off when you lose weight. To keep it simple, as your body burns up excess fat to create fuel after joining a weight loss program, you then breathe it out as carbon dioxide or expel it through your sweat, urine, tears, and feces. Fat is basically stored energy. And your body uses energy in more ways than you’d think. When you are resting your heart needs the energy to pump your lungs to breathe and your brain to think. This is your basal metabolism. When you’re active your muscles need energy. This means anything from getting up from a chair to running marathon. When you’re eating your digestive system needs the energy to break down and store food. When you diet, you take in fewer calories than your body needs. Due to the deficit, your body turns to fat reserves for energy. During the fat burning process, the body converts fat into usable energy for your muscles and other tissues causing the fat cell to shrink. When you exercise, your muscles first burn through stored glycogen for energy. Typically, after 30-60 minutes of aerobic exercise, your body has burned through the stored glycogen and starts burning mainly fat. Most of us really don’t think about where fat goes when we lose it. In all honesty, we’re just happy that the scale says it’s gone and our clothes fit better. But the fat doesn’t magically disappear when your body starts to burn fat. Research shows that 84% of fat loss is exhaled as carbon dioxide. The remaining 16% of fat is excreted as water. During the conversion of energy, carbon dioxide, and water are byproducts of waste. They are excreted via urine, perspiration, and exhalation. Interestingly, research reveals the lungs as the primary organ used to remove from the body.

Key to Losing Fat

According to physicist Ruben Meerman, who has done extensive research in fat metabolism that was published in the British Medical Journal in 2014, calculations show that the lungs are the primary excretory organ for fat. Losing weight requires unlocking the carbon stored in fat cells thus reinforcing the often-heard refrain of “eat less, move more.”

About the Author – Suzanne Gil, M.D.

Dr. Suzanne Gil obtained advanced training in bariatrics (weight loss medicine) and opened Calla Slimspa Medical Weight Loss Center located in Orlando, FL in 2008 when the need for weight-related assistance became a huge priority. She is a member of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP) and dedicates 100% of her professional time to helping as many people as possible achieve their weight loss goals and improve their health. She completed her residency at Orlando Regional Medical Center and is a Board Certified Pediatrician.

Has Ozempic been approved for weight loss 2022?
Has Ozempic been approved for weight loss 2022?

Made by Novo Nordisk, semaglutide (Ozempic) has been on the market since 2017 to help manage type 2 diabetes. But in June 2021, the U.S. Food and...

Read More »
What is the heaviest weight of Kim Kardashian?
What is the heaviest weight of Kim Kardashian?

Kardashian celebrated in August when she reached 125.4 pounds. “I haven't been this in years!!! 5 lbs to go!” she via Snapchat. Nov 10, 2022

Read More »

What happens if you lose weight too fast?

Your blood pressure can drop if you also lose weight too quickly, which can be dangerous. Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance can also occur. Other side effects of quick weight loss include dizziness, constipation, hair loss, headaches, irritability, fatigue, and muscle loss.

To lose weight quickly you usually have to significantly cut back on calories. When you cut calories too low (less than 1,500 calories a day for most women, or 2,000 calories for most men) you end up losing the wrong kind of weight – muscle, instead of fat. Plus, it doesn’t teach you healthy eating habits, and can cause people to give up on their weight loss goals and go back to old eating habits. This can lead to gaining all the weight lost (plus some) back, and tends to be a pattern with those who yo-yo diet. If you do choose to go on a very low calorie diet or other such weight loss plan, it should be discussed with an RD and supervised by a medical professional team.

Does a vegan diet cause wrinkles?
Does a vegan diet cause wrinkles?

Plant-based diet is rich in anti-oxidants, vitamin C and lysine. This helps to boost the collagen at the cellular level, which in turn helps to...

Read More »
How much weight can you lose with meal replacement shakes?
How much weight can you lose with meal replacement shakes?

Also, a thorough review of six studies demonstrated that meal replacement beverages may be more effective than traditional, low-calorie food-based...

Read More »
How do you sit on the toilet after a tummy tuck?
How do you sit on the toilet after a tummy tuck?

Toilet Seat Booster Generally, toilets are fairly low to the ground and we don't realize this until some part of our legs, pelvis or core is sore....

Read More »
How often do you take skinny shots?
How often do you take skinny shots?

one to three times a week Depending upon your needs, you can receive skinny shots as often as one to three times a week. If you'd like lipotropic...

Read More »