Love Your Body Again

The Question: According to my nutritionist, I’ve lost 15 pounds of fat this year. Where did it all go?
The Answer: Our most predominant metaphors for weight loss are words like “melt” or “burn.” But if you consider the actual biochemistry of the weight loss process, it would be more accurate to say that when you lose fat, you’re literally disappearing into thin air.
If this is news to you, don’t worry -- you’re not alone. Physicist and Australian TV science presenter Ruben ...Meerman recently surveyed a group of 150 doctors, nutritionists and physical trainers to ask them what they thought happened to body fat in the weight loss process. Their answers: fat is converted to energy or heat (which violates the law of conservation of mass, notes Meerman), fat turns into muscle (physically impossible) or fat gets pooped out.
They were all wrong.
In truth, human fat cells are made up of triglycerides, which are molecules made of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. When you metabolize fat in your body, the waste products are released as carbon dioxide when you exhale, and water when you excrete body fluids in urine, sweat or tears. Metabolizing those triglycerides involves a complex set of biochemical steps, but the co-authors summarize the process with this formula: C55H104O6+78O2→55CO2+52H2O+energy.
But Meerman and Brown took the calculations one step further and found that 84 percent of the fat lost is through our breath, while 16 percent of it is lost via water.
"Our calculations show that the lungs are the primary excretory organ for fat,” wrote Meerman and biochemistry professor Andrew Brown at the University of New South Wales in their study. "Losing weight requires unlocking the carbon stored in fat cells, thus reinforcing that often heard refrain of 'eat less, move more.’"
"None of this biochemistry is new, but for unknown reasons it seems nobody has thought of performing these calculations before,” they added in a press release. "The quantities make perfect sense but we were surprised by the numbers that popped out." Their findings were published in the typically quirky Christmas issue of the BMJ.
But just because fat leaves the body as air, it doesn’t mean that weight loss is as easy as breathing. Nor does it mean that upping your aerobic exercise will make you breathe harder and thus exhale more fat. The authors note that their calculations show that “physical activity as a weight loss strategy is, therefore, easily foiled by relatively small quantities of excess food.”
But anyone who’s ever struggled with weight loss already knew that!
Have a question for Healthy Living? Get in touch here and we'll do our best to ask the experts and get back to you.
"Ask Healthy Living" is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Please consult a qualified health care professional for personalized medical advice. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…/where-d oes-fat-go_n_6342556…
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I had a patient not too long ago who struggled to lose weight. A quick look at her food journal revealed why. To save calories, she skipped breakfast and simply sipped on coffee or one of those "skinny lattes" that actually contain a good bit of sugar.
She's not alone. "I hate breakfast," many patients candidly reply. That's unfortunate, since studies show breakfast can reduce hunger and cravings, improve cognition, and reduce your risk for obesity and metabolic syndrome.
Eat...
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Jessica Simpson is fitter than ever after her 70-pound weight loss and flaunted her sleek physique on Instagram Dec. 21. Simpson previously credited a low carb Weight Watchers diet, yoga, walking and strength-training workouts for her rapid weight loss and super-toned legs.
Jessica, a rep for Weight Watchers, said her diet typically features a mix of high-quality proteins such as salmon and chicken and fresh vegetables and salads, Celebrity Health reported. Simpson makes a co...ncerted effort to avoid processed foods and sugar.
For exercise, the mom of two walks four to five miles every day (or 8,000 to 10,000 steps) and does yoga. Simpson's longtime trainer, Harley Pasternak, said the foundation of Jessica's workout routine is daily walking.
Pasternak, author of the bestselling The Body Reset Diet, also trains Halle Berry, Lady Gaga, and Kim Kardashian.
Jessica confessed her pregnancy weight gain made her extremely depressed. "I was so insecure; I couldn't even believe what I weighed," she said.
Ironically, Simpson said her weight loss struggles are part of the reason she's so successful with her clothing line, which boasts annual sales of $1 billion. Jessica said women relate to her because she's not naturally skinny and has weight issues, just like many of them do.
“I have been every size on the planet and I understand women,” said Simpson. “I definitely go up and down with my weight, and I'm really honest about it. If I'm 5 pounds heavier, if I'm 50 pounds heavier, or 5 pounds lighter, I just don’t think it should define who you are." http://www.examiner.com/…/jessica-simps on-flaunts-weight-lo…
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Ashley Chung (left) and Conner Rensch on the cover of PEOPLE's Half Their Size issue
By Barbara Kimberly Seigel @BarbaraKSeigel 12/22/2014 AT 10:45 AM EST... Ready for some major New Year's diet inspiration? PEOPLE magazine returns with its annual Half Their Size issue – featuring 17 amazing real-life stories of weight-loss success. Showing off her newly-slim, 123-lb. body on the cover, Ashley Chung, 24, shares the moment she decided to overhaul her diet and get healthy.
"At the first fitting for my sister's wedding in 2012, none of the bridesmaid dresses fit me," says the entrepreneur, who weighed in at 252 lbs. "That jump-started my weight loss."
Chung became a raw vegan, trading in daily restaurant indulgences for homemade kale chips – and she got her fiancé to join her in making healthy choices. "We keep each other on track," says the former childhood soccer player, who now hikes and rides her bike.
Hairstylist Conner Rensch, 25, may now weigh in at a svelte 141 lbs., but she wasn't always confident with how she looked either.
"From the time I was 6, I knew I was bigger than other kids," admits Rensch. "I was bullied and would sneak food into the bathroom so people wouldn't see me eat."
When she returned home after her freshman year of college weighing 271 lbs., she knew she needed to make a change. With the help of a nutritionist, she traded her creamy, cheesy pasta indulgences for clean, non-processed foods, like lean protein and fresh fruits and veggies, and dropped 130 lbs.
Chung and Rensch are joined by 15 other inspirational men and women – including 59-year-old Nancy Perales, who now weighs 104 lbs., and Cecy Rios, 32, who ditched fast food for a 152-lb. weight loss.
For more amazing transformations, diet tips that really work and the hottest Hollywood slimdowns, check out PEOPLE's Half Their Size issue, on newsstands Tuesday http://www.people.com/ar…/half-their-si ze-women-lose-259-lbs
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Experts are saying weight training is underrated when it comes to choosing effective weight loss workouts because prior studies too often tout the benefits of aerobic exercises. A study conducted by researchers at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) compared two different exercises to figure out which ones provided more weight loss benefits, and published their findings in the journal Obesity.
"Because aging is associated with sarcopenia, the loss of skeletal muscle mass,...
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People is celebrating weight loss victories of ordinary people in its latest issue and we have a peek at the subjects who managed to get half their size the old-fashioned way.
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"I had what turned out to be an anxiety attack, which very realistically mimics a heart attack," said Mark Bryant, recalling what got him serious about shedding the pounds. "The cardiologist told me, 'You're not going to live long enough to see your girls get married....'"
At the time, Bryant weighed 442 pounds.
After years of binging on extra-large pizzas and consuming up to 8,000 calories a day, Bryant drastically changed his ways. He began eating lean meats and vegetables and working out five days a week to drop 246 pounds for a dramatic before and after.
"It took about a year and a half before I was to where I am now," said Bryant.
Conner Rensch lost 130 pounds on a diet of non-processed foods and a weightlifting and cardio regimen. Her wake-up call came freshman year of college.
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"It was just a personal decision," said Rensch, who used to sneak food into the bathroom so that people wouldn't see her eat. "I'm so happy I did it. It makes dating a lot easier. It makes me confident in my own skin."
You can read all the inspirational stories when the issue hits stands tomorrow.
"The transformations are absolutely insane to see the photos," said People's features director Zoe Ruderman. "Their confidence really shines through." http://www.etonline.com/…/155568_the_in spiring_weight_loss…/
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An obese weiner dog goes from a couch potato to the star of a canine calendar.
Obie the dachshund became famously fat in 2012 after his whopping 77 pound frame went viral on the internet.
He grew to a massive size after being overfed human food by his elderly owners. He even had to wear a vest to protect his belly from dragging on the ground.
... In 2012 Obie was adopted by a veterinary tech named Nora Vanatta. She put Obie on a weight-loss dry food diet, and the pounds melted off.
Obie has now lost 40 pounds over the past two years, and is showing off his sleek body in a new calender.
Nora documented Obie’s milestones along the way including the first time he ran, and the first time he lifted his leg to pee.
After his amazing weight loss he had a tummy tuck to remove more than two pounds of tissue from his belly.
Obie has maintained a weight of 23 pounds for a year. He now eats half a cup of regular, dry dog food, twice a day.
Obie’s 2015 calender is $25. http://fox8.com/…/16/watch-weiner-dogs- dramatic-weight-loss/
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Getty Images The same philosophy that allowed me to find peace with my fat body also allowed me to make the decision to have weight loss surgery
OK, so this wasn’t really something that “happened” to me. I made an educated decision about my body and my future.
I have always been fat, and for a long time, I really hated it. I spent more than two decades of my life wishing I would magically wake up “normal.” Until I was in my mid-20s, I didn’t know what it felt like to...
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As we count down to 2015 (fun fact! Once the ball drops on 1/1/2015, we will be equidistant from both 2000 and 2030—how nuts is that?!), health experts are also assessing the state of the nation's...diet.
This year's "What's Trending in Nutrition" Survey from Pollock Communications and Today's Dietitian surveyed more than 500 dietitians to see what they think will be the biggest trends in the coming year—and here are a few of them.

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Stacy Keibler lost all her baby weight just four months after giving birth to her first child. Keibler credited a low carb Paleo-style diet, Pilates and ballet workouts for her rapid weight loss.
Stacy, a former professional wrestler, is a longtime workout fanatic who has always made a healthy diet a top priority. Keibler said she was even more careful about what she ate during her pregnancy.
"My diet — during and after pregnancy — was the major reason I was able to shed the ...baby weight," Keibler wrote on her blog Dec. 21. "In fact, what I put into my body was the biggest single thing that helped me get back in shape."
Stacy who showed off her flat abs on Instagram, also exercised almost every day while pregnant, combining Pilates, ballet workouts, walking and hiking.
" [My husband] Jared and I hiked hills and took walks together," said Keibler. "Walking a few miles every day was an essential part of my daily routine and I walked until (and on) the day I went into labor. I also went to Pilates three times a week."
Thanks to her active lifestyle, Stacy said her abs are flatter now than before she had her baby. "The day I was cleared to exercise, I started walking and working with my trainer Nonna Gleyzer to properly re-attach my ab muscles," Keibler.
"In fact, my abs are in better shape now than before I got pregnant! More than three months have passed since I gave birth, and I’m happy because my body is back. I feel strong, flexible, and very high energy."
Keibler previously said she didn't experience many pregnancy cravings, thanks to her low-carb Paleo-style diet, which kept her healthy and nourished, Celebrity Health reported. “I cut out night-shade vegetables, like eggplants and tomatoes, and didn't eat any dairy or gluten," she said. "I saw the difference in my body, my energy and my mental clarity."
Stacy adopted a Paleo-inspired diet in 2013 and said she experienced natural weight loss without exercise. “I was eating protein and vegetables,” she said. “I did no gluten, no soy, no dairy, no sugar. I felt amazing. I actually lost weight without working out.”
The Paleo diet emphasizes high-quality animal proteins, healthy fats, non-starchy vegetables, and excludes gluten, sugar, alcohol, dairy, legumes, and processed foods. The low-carb Paleo diet is the most popular diet around today, and has a huge celebrity following, including Tim McGraw (who credits it for his jaw-dropping 40-pound weight loss) and Megan Fox.
Research suggests the Paleo diet accelerates weight loss, reduces blood pressure, and prevents cancer, diabetes, heart disease, depression, and even Alzheimer's. A recent study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicates the Paleo diet is twice as effective as low-fat diets for promoting weight loss and reducing belly fat. http://www.examiner.com/…/stacy-keibler -s-baby-weight-loss-…
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December 23, 2014 Two Unapproved Ingredients Found in Weight Loss Caps The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers to not buy or use Slim-K, a product marketed for weight loss.
A FDA lab analysis verified that Slim-K was found to contain sibutramine and phenolphthalein. Sibutramine, a controlled substance, was withdrawn from the market in October 2010 for safety reasons. Sibutramine may increase blood pre...ssure and/or pulse rate, and may pose a substantial risk for patients with a history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and arrhythmias, or stroke.
RELATED: Controlled Substance Discovered in Weight Loss Supplement
Phenolphthalein is a chemical is not an approved ingredient in the United States. Some studies have shown that it poses a cancer-causing risk.
Bethel Nutritional Consulting has announced a voluntary recall of Slim-K capsules. The product was sold on various websites and in some retail stores as 30-count bottles. For more information visit FDA.gov. http://www.empr.com/two-unapproved-ingred ients-found-in-…/…/
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At the start of the year, improving your health by getting in shape and losing weight is often at the top of your list of New Year’s Resolutions. Through sports performances classes, coaches, medical weight loss and surgical weight loss, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System can help you reach your goals.
Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System is partnering with STACK Sports Performance to offer safe and professional-level training at the Thomas E. Hannah YMCA.
Coaches first... assess your ability and continuously track your progress through regular testing. A video analysis system allows you to see your progress and helps coaches analyze your athletic improvements. Everyone’s goals may be different but all will achieve tangible results. STACK Sports Performance coaches are degreed and certified and understand the psychology behind the training. Not only do coaches push you, they use effective training techniques using positive reinforcement and other methods that cater to your individual learning style. Visit Velocitysp.com/spartanburg to learn more.
SRHS has also designed a medical weight loss program that focuses on eating habits, weight management and making smart choices. Programs team you with a nurse practitioner and a registered dietitian, monitoring what you eat; meeting with you once a week to hold you accountable. Weight loss medications may also be used if appropriate.
If diets or exercise aren’t working for you, SRHS offers surgical weight loss, including Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, Lap-Band, Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy or Revisional Weight Loss Surgery.
For more information on Weight Loss Services, call Medical Group of the Carolinas – Weight Loss Services at 864-560-7070. http://www.wyff4.com/…/lose-weight-get- in-shape-in…/30356558
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Evan Sklar via Getty Images
A number of studies have shown that criticism (either from yourself or from others) isn't a particularly effective motivator -- and according to new research, this is especially true when it's coming from your family.
Women whose families are critical about their weight tend to put on even more, researchers at the University of Waterloo in Canada found.
... "When we feel bad about our bodies, we often turn to loved ones -- families, friends and romantic partners -- for support and advice," the study's lead author, social psychologist Christine Loger, Ph.D., said in a statement. "How they respond can have a bigger effect than we might think."
The researchers asked a group of college-age women about their height and weight, and about how they feel when they see the number on the scale. Five months later, the researchers asked the women if they had spoken to their loved ones about their weight concerns, and if so, how they had responded. Three months after that, they asked the women to record their weight again, and asked them how they felt about their current weight.
They found that the women who had received a higher number of "acceptance messages" about their weight -- meaning that their loved ones had expressed acceptance of the women just as they are -- experienced better weight maintenance and, in some cases, weight loss than the women who did not receive positive messages from their families.
The women in the study gained some weight overall over the eight-month course of the study, which the researchers note is common for young adults. But the women who received messages from their families that they looked fine tended to maintain their weight or even lose a little weight -- they lost an average of one pound -- while women who received fewer acceptance messages from their families gained an average of 4.5 pounds.
So while family members may think they're making critical comments to be helpful, those words are often misguided. The findings suggest that women benefit more from comments that make them feel accepted.
"Lots of research finds that social support improves our health," Logel said in the statement. "An important part of social support is feeling that our loved ones accept us just the way we are."
Previous research has shown that more extreme weight criticism and discrimination against people because of their weight -- also known as "fat shaming" -- may also do more harm than good, leading people who are trying to lose weight to actually gain weight.
"Everyone, including doctors, should stop blaming and shaming people for their weight and offer support, and where appropriate, treatment," that study's lead author, Jane Wardle, Ph.D., said in a university press release.
The findings were published in the journal Personal Relationships. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…/family- criticism-weight-los…
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Rapper Rick Ross recently sat down with Sara Haines on Good Morning America and he talked about losing 85 pounds, trying to live a better lifestyle also promoting his new album, Hood Billionaire.
Ross says that he realized that he was out of shape when he suffered those two consecutive seizures back in 2011:
“I just feel like I was at the point in my life where, you know, so many other positive things were happening in my career, my life. Two years ago I suffered two seizures...
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Weight loss might become easier for people in the future after two scientists discovered a fatty acid that makes people feel full. Gary Frost, a doctor of philosophy, at the Imperial College London in the United Kingdom, and his colleagues ran a two-part study that the medical journal, Gut, published. In the study, Frost and his colleagues created a form of the fatty acid inulin-ester propionate and examined how it affects weight gain in a group of 60 men and women. Researche...
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Low fat? Low carb? Vegan? Crash diets? Diet soda? Exercise? What’s the most effective way to lose weight? Here’s a look at what 2014’s weight loss studies showed us, including one cautionary tale for all dieters.
The diet battle of the year
What’s better, low carb or low fat for weight loss? A meta-analysis published in JAMA in September suggested: Oh, heck, just follow a regimen. Though low carb very slightly outclassed low fat for weight loss over a course of months, the d...
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A new study makes the case for weighing yourself every day. | belchonock via Getty Images
There are plenty of arguments that advocate throwing away the bathroom scale, but a new study suggests daily weigh-ins may be a key component to weight loss.
The study, published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE and conducted by Elina Helander and co-authors from Tampere Univeristy of Technology in Finland, sampled 2,838 weight observations from 40 people attending a health program an...d found that when people weighed themselves daily they tended to lose weight, while taking breaks from daily weigh-ins for longer than one month led to weight gain in certain cases.
This isn't the first time the odds have been in favor of the bathroom scale.
"Get out of bed, use the bathroom, then step on the scale. Every day," personal trainer Marshall Roy advised in an article for Be Well Philly earlier this year. "It will give you a very reliable baseline and daily data point. It will fluctuate a little bit day to day, but when you look at all the numbers over the course of a week or month, trends will be obvious."
And a University of Minnesota study, cited by Prevention magazine, surveyed 1,800 dieting adults and found that people who weighed themselves every day lost about 12 pounds over the course of two years, while people who weighed themselves every week lost only 6 pounds.
So if weight loss is one of your New Year's resolutions, be advised: The scale may be a better friend than you thought. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…/weight- loss-scale_n_6360310…
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