By Brian Foley from Activate Fitness

Following on from last week's article 'Can you really flush the fat away?', this week we take a look at Part 2 and examine where the fat goes as we lose weight.

If we eat too much of any macronutrient, it’s converted into fat and stored in fat cells. Out of fat, carbs, and protein, fat is the easiest for the fat cells to hoard, because it’s already in the correct form.

But that doesn’t mean that carbs and protein can’t find their way into fat cells.

It’s not as easy for the body to do that, but yes: if you eat too much protein, it’s eventually going to be stored as fat.

When the fat cells you already have fill up and can’t hold any more fat, new fat cells can grow.

It’s also hugely important to note at this point; that fat cells, like any other cells in our bodies, don’t turn into other cells. For all of those people who swear that not exercising for a long time will turn your muscle into fat, that’s never going to happen.

Fat cells. Muscle cells. Different things.

When fat cells die, they very quickly get replaced by new ones. That’s because the body likes homeostasis, otherwise known as ‘keeping things the way they are’.

In other words, our fat cells don’t go away - ever, not unless they’re surgically removed via liposuction or another procedure.

So…what happens to fat when we lose weight?

Let’s clarify something right off the bat. We lose fat the same way we gain it; in fractions of ounces at a time, not by pounds. Just like you won’t wake up the morning after a huge meal with 1kg of new fat gain, you won’t drop kgs of fat at a time.

Weight loss can be quick, generally when you have a lot of weight to lose – but for most of us, true fat loss (versus water) is an incremental process.

When we lose fat, we literally breathe it out. The fat in our bodies is converted to water and carbon dioxide, and expelled by the lungs and in our urine.

As the fat leaves our fat cells, these cells get smaller. But they don’t disappear completely, even when you lose weight. They stand by if and when they need to get bigger again.

They’re like balloons, except they fill up with fat instead of air. Deflate, inflate. Deflate, inflate.

Trying to lose weight

I get it, it can be impossible to know where to turn, but anyone putting a time limit on it without understanding your unique circumstances is a chancer.

But as I said before, people who try to sell you false information and claims are not who you should be looking to for nutrition advice.

Losing weight is tough, and it can be very complex. It’s truly often a mix of physical and emotional challenges that are best left to a professional who is able to navigate these things - not a supplement selling ‘coach’, someone on Instagram, or a person who doesn’t have credible nutrition and counselling experience.

If you would like some free advice from qualified professionals, visit www.activate.ie/nutrition.