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Dear Fun and Fit: K and A,

Is it a myth or not that deep breathing helps in weight loss?  Deborah, Santa Barbara, CA

A: This is a Big Fat Myth…or not. Here’s what I did for you, Deborah. I went and read piles of so-called research just to answer your question in a somewhat informed way. Blah blah blah. Took a nap on keyboard after about the 20th “Let me tell you all about my secret breathing techniques where you’ll lose 50 pounds next week. All you have to do is sign up for my magical potion/newsletter/product/blog.” They were all like that – one deep breath at the start of the site, then a sales pitch and excited testimonial about the wonders of breathing for weight loss.  First of all, the only blog you should be subscribed to is ours! Second, anything that has the word “secret” in it is suspicious.

K: Shoot, does that mean you do not want to hear my secret about deep breathing?  I practiced by calling random phone numbers and breathing heavily.  Then I left Alexandra’s call back info. Even if your metabolic rate and calorie expenditure do not go up with strong breaths, my income might.  And Alexandra’s heart rate.

A: This breathing for weight loss issue has lots of enthused proponents, all of whom claim that it’s backed up by research. But…and this is a flag to anyone who had to do research in grad school…I couldn’t find any of the research to which they alluded. Or, the “research” I did find was done by companies with a financial interest in the results. Translation – they were selling “accompanying” weight-loss products. Go to a reputable site (or don’t, since we did it for you) such as mayoclinic.com and you will see they totally copy Fun and Fit when they recommend three things, and three things only, for appropriate, successful, lasting weight loss – aerobic exercise, strength training and lifestyle activities.

K: Alexandra did such a good job answering that all I have to do is change her opening phrase “Big Fat Myth” to “Small, Slim Myth” and voila! Insta-Skinny through breathing while typing.

A: I would like to add one caveat, just in case you are holding your breath. What if you are doing strenuous exercise (for example, watching Clive Owen on tv) and you start to get all sweaty with shallow breaths? Then you pass out. In this instance, deep breathing would help you tremendously. You would not lose any weight, but you would be alive and in possession of your senses (if you were prior to the exercise – wouldn’t want to assume anything). This would free you up to start that weight loss program with the 3 components Mayo stole from us! So in that sense, yes, the deep breathing helped with your weight loss. Keep this advice secret. Don’t tell anyone or I’ll have to come and hyperventilate on you!

K: Where can I buy the secret advice you just shared? 

For more Fun and Fit Q&A, visit Kymberly and Alexandra and get the funny, but straightforward aswers to your fitness questions. Visit them at www.funandfit.org

Kymberly's resume includes 10 years as a UCSB faculty member and advisor in the Exercise & Sport Studies Department.
Alexandra is a contributing editor & writer to IDEA Fitness Journal.
Both sisters have published numerous fitness articles and have presented their programs worldwide.