Where Does Lost Fat Go?

July 22, 2021| Marjorie Arnold| 0 Comment| 10:56 pm

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If you’ve been working on improving your activity and nutrition with the goal of losing weight, you’ve probably asked yourself this question at least once.

As you probably know, energy (in this case, fat) cannot be created, nor destroyed.

So the question here is – How do your fat deposits transform when you are on a weight-loss diet or taking supplements?

In this article, you’re going to learn more about fat loss and what happens to the weight that disappears from the scale during a successful diet.

Let’s get to it, shall we?

How Do You Lose Weight, Even?

Though many fad diets have taken priority spots in people’s lives, fat loss is mainly about one specific principle, called “Eating in a caloric deficit”.

Your body requires a certain amount of energy to maintain its physiological processes and mass in space.

That amount of energy depends on the following factors:

Gender
Age
Height
Weight
Non-training activity
Training activity
Food intake

If you consume more energy from food than your body needs to maintain its weight, you will progressively gain weight.

On the other hand, if you consume LESS energy from food than your body needs to maintain its weight, you will LOSE fat.

It’s quite simple and there is no way around it! Every fad diet that makes you lose weight, does so not because of the diet itself, but because of the caloric deficit that it helps you establish.

But Where Does Lost Fat Go?

When you’re in a deficit of energy, your body uses its energy deposits (fat) to compensate for that deficit.

That is to say that during fat loss, your body actually burns off the fat in order to use it for a variety of functions.

When oxidized (burned with the help of oxygen), fat leaves the body in the form of carbon dioxide and water!

That is to say that the two main “exhausts” for lost fat, are:

The lungs
The urinary system

In other words, when you lose fat, you exhale the carbon dioxide and then the water gets into your circulation, until it leaves the body as sweat and urine.

How Much Of The Fat Is Water?

Interestingly enough, when you lose fat, most of it comes out as carbon dioxide, through your lungs.

To be precise, about 80-85% of lost fat turns into carbon dioxide, while the other 15-20% turn to water.

For instance, if you lose 10 kg of fat, roughly 8 kg of it comes out through your lungs and the remaining weight is excreted in the form of urine/sweat.

Fun Fact

As a matter of fact, basically everything you consume comes out as carbon dioxide!

Nearly every gram of carbohydrate, protein, fat, and even alcohol, get converted to carbon dioxide and water, while the byproducts of the food leave the body as excrements.

The only exception for a nutrient that reaches your colon intact, is dietary fiber, which cannot be absorbed or digested but may help the digestive processes.

Everything else besides fiber is absorbed and then takes exit via the lungs!

Conclusion

Fat loss is simple, yet interesting – It only requires a caloric deficit but can make your body undergo drastic visual changes over a short period of time.

The process becomes even more interesting when you think about the fact that 85% of the weight that disappears from the scale, takes its exit through your lungs!

If you have any other interesting questions, let us know in the comments below!

What Are the Chakras and How Are They Related to Hatha Yoga? A Guide for Mornington LocalsWhat Are the Chakras and How Are They Related to Hatha Yoga? A Guide for Mornington Locals

April 15, 2025| Rebecca Washington| 0 Comment| 8:05 am

In recent years, the interest in holistic wellness has grown exponentially across Mornington and the broader Mornington Peninsula. Among the practices drawing increasing attention is Hatha Yoga, particularly its deep-rooted connection with the chakra system—a concept that intrigues both beginners and experienced yogis alike. But what are the chakras, and how exactly do they relate to Hatha Yoga? With Jane Benson of Bikram Yoga Mornington, we will explore this relationship and how it connects to everyday wellness, especially for those living in coastal Australian communities like Mornington.

Understanding Chakras: The Body’s Subtle Energy Centers

The word chakra comes from Sanskrit and translates to “wheel” or “disc”. In the yogic tradition, chakras are seen as spinning wheels of energy located along the spine, each representing different physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of a person’s being. There are seven main chakras in the human body:

Root Chakra (Muladhara) – Located at the base of the spine; associated with safety, stability, and grounding.
Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana) – Just below the navel; governs creativity, sexuality, and pleasure.
Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura) – Upper abdomen; linked to confidence, willpower, and personal identity.
Heart Chakra (Anahata) – Center of the chest; tied to love, compassion, and emotional healing.
Throat Chakra (Vishuddha) – At the throat; governs communication and self-expression.
Third Eye Chakra (Ajna) – Between the eyebrows; associated with intuition and insight.
Crown Chakra (Sahasrara) – At the top of the head; symbolizes spiritual connection and higher consciousness.

Each chakra is considered both an energy center and a gateway to deeper understanding of oneself. When energy flows freely through these centers, it is believed that physical, mental, and spiritual well-being is optimized.

How Hatha Yoga Aligns and Activates Chakras

Hatha Yoga, one of the oldest forms of yoga, places a strong emphasis on balancing the body and mind through asana (postures), pranayama (breath control), and dhyana (meditation). These three pillars of Hatha Yoga are intentionally structured to open, activate, and balance the chakras.

For example:

Root Chakra: Grounding poses like Tadasana (Mountain Pose) or Virabhadrasana I (Warrior I) help connect practitioners to the earth, reinforcing a sense of safety and security.
Heart Chakra: Poses such as Ustrasana (Camel Pose) and Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose) open the chest and encourage emotional release and love.
Crown Chakra: Meditative practices such as Shavasana or seated silence invite connection with higher consciousness.

In Mornington, yoga studios like Bikram Yoga Mornington, The Yoga Circle, and wellness spaces near Main Street often integrate chakra-focused sequences into their Hatha Yoga classes. These sessions help locals achieve not just physical strength but also emotional equilibrium and mental clarity.

Chakra Balancing and Everyday Wellness in Mornington

Living near the ocean and natural beauty of the Mornington Peninsula can be incredibly nourishing for the spirit. Yet, like anywhere else, residents face stress from work, relationships, or health challenges. Chakra-based Hatha Yoga provides a structured method to address these imbalances holistically.

Here’s how chakra alignment through Hatha Yoga can benefit locals:

Reducing Stress: Working on the solar plexus and heart chakras can reduce anxiety and increase emotional resilience, especially helpful in fast-paced work environments or for small business owners in Mornington.
Enhancing Creativity: Artists and creatives who live near Mornington’s thriving arts scene may benefit from activating their sacral chakra through dynamic flow-based Hatha Yoga routines.
Deepening Intuition: Coastal living often encourages introspection. Practices targeting the third eye chakra can support mindfulness and personal insight, ideal for those looking to reconnect with nature and inner wisdom.

Moreover, seasonal yoga retreats held in Red Hill, Mount Martha, and Balnarring frequently incorporate chakra teachings, making the practice accessible for both visitors and locals looking to expand their knowledge.

The Science Behind the Energy: Chakras and Physiology

While chakras originate from ancient Indian spiritual texts, modern research is increasingly interested in understanding them through the lens of psychoneuroimmunology and somatic psychology. Each chakra location roughly corresponds to a nerve plexus or gland. For example, the throat chakra aligns with the thyroid, and the solar plexus with the adrenal glands.

Hatha Yoga’s role in activating these areas suggests a biological basis for the anecdotal benefits many practitioners report—such as improved digestion (linked to the solar plexus) or clearer thinking (associated with the crown and third eye).

Many health professionals across Mornington now recommend gentle yoga to complement therapies for anxiety, hormonal imbalance, or chronic pain—further affirming the chakra-yoga connection.

Getting Started: Chakra-Inspired Hatha Yoga in Mornington

Whether you’re brand new to yoga or looking to deepen an existing practice, Mornington offers several welcoming options:

Intro to Hatha Yoga Classes at Essence Yoga Studio often include guided breathwork for energy alignment.
Chakra Meditation Circles at Saltwater Wellness help deepen the mind-body connection with a spiritual touch.
Outdoor Yoga Events along Schnapper Point or Mothers Beach provide a serene setting to practice asanas that correspond with different chakras.

Local yoga teachers trained in Hatha often design their sessions to balance energy centers based on seasonal or lunar cycles—a practice rooted in traditional yogic texts like the Hatha Yoga Pradipika.

Final Thoughts: The Synergy of Chakras and Hatha Yoga in Mornington

Understanding what the chakras are and how they relate to Hatha Yoga opens up a more meaningful path to self-awareness, especially when practiced in an environment as naturally restorative as Mornington, Australia.

By harmonizing the physical and energetic body, chakra-aligned Hatha Yoga provides more than just flexibility or strength. It becomes a living practice—one that supports holistic healing, emotional regulation, and spiritual growth.

Whether you’re attending a class on Main Street, meditating at sunrise near Fisherman’s Beach, or simply breathing mindfully in your backyard, Hatha Yoga’s chakra connection offers Mornington locals a profound way to nourish both body and soul.

The Importance of a Dental Check UpThe Importance of a Dental Check Up

October 21, 2021| Marjorie Arnold| 0 Comment| 8:48 am

A proper dental check up is very important in order to keep your gums and teeth healthy. You should receive a dental check up at least once per year or as ordered by your dentist. There are basically 2 parts to a dental check up; the cleaning or oral prophylactic and the examination. This will insure that you do not have any dental problems in the future that could cost you hundreds of dollars and even cause you serious pain.

Oral prophylactic or check ups are performed in order to remove the bacteria, viruses, and tartar from your oral cavity and gums. This will improve your breath, gum health, and overall oral health. Your dentist may also perform other procedures such as removing stains, improving the bite, whitening the teeth, cleaning under your gums, cleaning the tonsils, and removing moles and acne. The first step is to brush your teeth twice per day, floss, and use mouthwash.

Visits for the cleaning and examination will typically last for an hour, however, depending on the needs of your particular dental practice. The cleaning will remove tartar and plaque that has built up over time. This will help reduce cavities, gingivitis, periodontal diseases, and any other oral health issues. If you visit your dentist often, this is one of the easiest things to do.

The examination will generally include x-rays, CT scans, and sometimes even an MRI. These visits will help your dentist identify any conditions or diseases that may have been building up and causing damage over time. During the visit, the dentist will be able to examine the structure of your oral cavity and your lips. He or she will be able to determine the overall health of your oral health.

There are some dental clinics that will offer a comprehensive exam to their patients. Often times, these clinics will include an entire suite of different tests that can help to ensure your overall oral health. At your dental check up, you will have an initial consultation in which the dental professionals will discuss your oral health and what they will do to help you. This will usually be done in a non-invasive office where a dental hygienist can take a look at your oral health. A specialist like this may include x-rays or some other type of imaging.

In many cases, your primary dentist will offer a simple dental check-up to help improve your overall health. This is the perfect time for you to take advantage of the diagnostic tools offered to dentists. These exams will help the dentists to detect any issues before they become severe conditions. A serious tooth decay can quickly lead to tooth loss, gum disease, and even cancer.

In addition to visiting your regular dentist, you should also make it a habit to brush your teeth twice daily. Although many people are too busy to brush their teeth at least twice a day, doing so will improve your oral health and prevent tooth decay. If you don’t brush your teeth twice a day, you run the risk of not only developing bad breath, but also of cavities.

Dentists can provide you with helpful information about how to take care of your oral health. They can teach you how to maintain a healthy smile, and teach you how to keep those teeth cleaning and sparkling. A healthy smile can improve your self-esteem and open up opportunities for employment. No matter what stage of oral health you currently fall, it is imperative that you visit a dentist on a regular basis to maintain the beautiful smile you already have.

Practitioners breathes deeply while doing Bikram yoga.

Can Hot Yoga Change Your Body? A Deep Dive from Mornington, AustraliaCan Hot Yoga Change Your Body? A Deep Dive from Mornington, Australia

July 4, 2025| Rebecca Washington| 0 Comment| 8:53 am

Hot yoga has become more than just a wellness trend — it’s a full-body transformation practice embraced by fitness enthusiasts and health-conscious individuals across the globe. But can hot yoga really change your body? If you’re asking this from Mornington, Australia, where beach culture and active living meet serenity, the answer might just surprise you.

With Jane Benson of Bikram Yoga Mornington, we’ll unpack the science, benefits, and local insights around hot yoga. With a specific focus on body transformation, we’ll explore how heated yoga affects strength, flexibility, metabolism, body composition, and mental discipline. All with a special spotlight on hot yoga studios in Mornington and how this seaside town is embracing the heat.

🔥 What Is Hot Yoga?

Hot yoga is a style of yoga performed in a heated room — typically around 37 to 40°C (98–104°F) — with high humidity to simulate the heat of India, the birthplace of yoga. It’s different from Bikram yoga, which follows a strict 26-pose sequence, but both share the heated environment.

Some popular hot yoga styles include:

Vinyasa in the heat
Hot Power Yoga
Hot Yin Yoga
Hot Pilates Fusion

In Mornington, local studios like Bikram Yoga Mornington and Studio Paradise Yoga offer various hot classes catering to beginners and advanced yogis alike.

🧘‍♀️ Body Changes from Hot Yoga: Fact or Fiction?

Let’s break it down into evidence-backed, body-transforming benefits.

1. Increased Flexibility Through Heat-Enhanced Stretching

The elevated temperatures warm up your muscles more rapidly, making it easier to stretch deeper into poses. This increased range of motion can significantly enhance flexibility over time. Studies show that heat can help increase muscle extensibility, making hot yoga ideal for improving joint health and mobility.

In Mornington’s cooler months, many residents find hot yoga a therapeutic way to keep the body limber without risking injury in cold-weather workouts.

2. Muscle Toning and Strength Gains

Don’t be fooled — hot yoga isn’t just stretching. Many hot yoga flows include weight-bearing poses like Chair, Warrior Series, and Plank variations that build lean muscle. When practiced regularly, hot yoga can tone the:

Core
Glutes
Quads
Arms
Back

Local fitness communities in Mornington often blend hot yoga with strength training, as yoga builds the smaller stabilising muscles often overlooked in conventional workouts.

3. Cardiovascular Conditioning & Endurance

Hot yoga raises your heart rate, not unlike moderate aerobic activity. Maintaining yoga poses in heat requires stamina and breath control, activating the cardiovascular system.

In fact, research shows that 60 minutes of hot yoga can burn between 330 to 600 calories, depending on your effort and body type. Over time, this supports improved circulation, reduced blood pressure, and better heart health.

For Mornington locals who enjoy surfing, hiking the Mornington Peninsula trails, or cycling along Nepean Highway, hot yoga builds the aerobic base to support those outdoor activities.

4. Weight Loss and Fat Burn Potential

Can hot yoga help shed kilos? The answer is yes — with consistency. Although much of the initial weight loss is water weight from sweat, regular practice contributes to:

Increased caloric expenditure
Improved digestion and metabolism
Balanced hormone levels (e.g., cortisol and insulin)

Mornington’s wellness community often combines hot yoga with whole food nutrition, cold plunges at Mothers Beach, and mindfulness to optimise body composition.

5. Detoxification and Skin Health

One of hot yoga’s more controversial claims is detoxification through sweat. While the liver and kidneys handle detox, sweating can aid in expelling minor toxins, clearing skin, and flushing out sodium.

Practicing in heated rooms can:

Unclog pores
Improve circulation to the skin
Promote a post-class glow

For those living in coastal Mornington, where sun and sea exposure are daily, maintaining skin health is a top priority. Hot yoga provides a natural internal cleanse that complements an active lifestyle.

6. Improved Posture and Core Alignment

Hot yoga requires heightened body awareness, especially in balancing poses and transitions. This improves:

Spinal alignment
Pelvic control
Core strength

Consistent practice leads to better posture — crucial for desk workers, tradies, and students alike in the Mornington area. Many physiotherapists in Mornington now recommend hot yoga as a preventative strategy for lower back pain and tech-neck.

7. Mental Discipline and Emotional Regulation

Changing your body isn’t only physical — it’s mental.

Practicing yoga in a hot, humid environment builds mental grit, presence, and emotional resilience. The intense environment requires:

Patience
Breath control (pranayama)
Mindfulness under discomfort

Residents of Mornington who’ve added hot yoga to their routine report better mood, lower stress, and improved sleep patterns — all of which play a role in physical transformation.

🏖️ Why Mornington Is Perfect for Your Hot Yoga Journey

Mornington, VIC offers a unique blend of natural beauty, wellness infrastructure, and a community that values holistic health. Locals are increasingly choosing hot yoga as part of a whole-self transformation alongside surfing, hiking, beach walks, and cold-water immersion.

Some local gems enhancing the yoga lifestyle include:

Soulful cafes like Store Fifteen and Commonfolk Coffee
Scenic spots like Mills Beach or Mornington Park for post-class recovery
Proximity to Peninsula Hot Springs for weekend rejuvenation

Whether you’re a local or visitor, Mornington is fertile ground for transformation — mind, body, and soul.

⚠️ Important Considerations

Before diving into a hot yoga routine, keep in mind:

Hydration is essential — drink water before and after class.
Check with your GP, especially if you have cardiovascular conditions, pregnancy, or heat sensitivity.
Listen to your body — don’t push through dizziness or nausea.

Many studios in Mornington offer beginner-friendly classes or introductory packages so you can test the waters — or the sweat, rather — at your own pace.

✅ Final Verdict: Can Hot Yoga Change Your Body?

Absolutely. With consistency and mindfulness, hot yoga can transform your body by increasing strength, flexibility, endurance, and metabolism, all while elevating your mental well-being. The added bonus? In a place like Mornington, Australia, the journey becomes even more rejuvenating.

From improved posture to toned muscles and detoxed skin, hot yoga is more than a workout — it’s a lifestyle. And if you’re looking for real transformation, the heat might be the missing catalyst.

So roll out your mat, take a deep breath, and step into the heat — your body (and your future self) will thank you.