Exhale Fat

May 15

“These results show that the lungs are the primary excretory organ for weight loss.”

— Andrew Brown from The University of New South Wales

When fat is broken down, a couple of things happen: Chemical bonds are broken, releasing heat and fuel to power muscles. The atoms—the stuff fat is made of—remain, and much of these leave the body via the lungs as carbon dioxide, say the scientists.

Natasha Youngman tells us how she works with her core keeping her spine stable in our detox sit-up.

Geeking out on the science:

Fat from food is stored in the body in cells called adipocytes. It is stored as a compound called triglyceride. Triglyceride consists of three types of atoms: carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. This means that when it is broken down, around a fifth of it forms water (H2O), and four-fifths become carbon dioxide (CO2). The water formed may be excreted in the urine, feces, sweat, breath, tears, or other bodily fluids and is replenished by drinking water. Exhaled carbon (in CO2) can only be replaced by eating food or consuming beverages such as fruit juice.

Heels remain on the ground as a priority while trying to keep the arms and head together. This keeps the lower back neutral and disengaged, allowing the stomach to contract for a complete exhale. Keeping the arms and head together trains the upper back to disengage, allowing for deeper diaphragm training.

Tracking the atoms

When researchers chose to follow the path of these atoms leaving the body, they found that when 10 kg of fat were oxidized, 8.4 kg were converted and excreted as carbon dioxide (CO2) via the lungs, and 1.6 kg became water (H2O). To oxidize 10 kg of human fat, the researchers calculated that 29 kg of oxygen must be inhaled. Oxidation then produces a total of 28 kg of CO2 and 11 kg of H2O.

To optimize breathing, we need to gain control of our breathing mechanisms. Breath is our body’s communication with the world. Literally, we channel from our mother's womb to connect to Mother Earth's umbilical cord. How we breathe is a continuous exchange in real time. Our breath and pulse are continuously searching for rhythm. Gaining control of our diaphragm optimizes this relationship.

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