Whoosh Effect For Weight Loss - Does It Actually Work - Refinery29

Skip navigation!ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTPSA: The "Whoosh Effect" Is Not A Real ThingCory StiegJune 6, 2018, 4:30 PM photographed by Andi Elloway; modeled by Jessie Diaz; produced by Megan Madden.Sometimes you can find quirky, but surprisingly solid, health advice on Reddit, and sometimes the tips that people share are seriously misguided. Take the "whoosh effect," for example. There are dozens of Reddit boards with people wanting to know how to "trigger" the whoosh effect, wondering how long it takes to experience the whoosh effect, and sharing advice for how to tell when you're in the midst of it. What's the whoosh effect, you ask? According to some Redditers and unqualified wellness bloggers, the whoosh effect is essentially the period of time during a diet when fat loss becomes noticeable.AdvertisementADVERTISEMENTPeople claim that when your body burns fat, your fat cells allegedly fill with water, which makes you feel "jiggly or squishy." After a period of time, they say, the cells will release or "whoosh" out water, and you'll lose weight or notice a change in your appearance. Those who believe the whoosh effect is real are under the impression that if you're not seeing results from a diet, it's because the whoosh effect is just around the corner. Friends, this is not a thing, and it could be a very dangerous way to view health and weight management.From a physiological standpoint, the whoosh effect simply does not make any kind of sense, and there's nothing true about it, says Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, an obesity medicine physician at Massachusetts General Hospital. "Fat cells don't convert over to water to then get flushed out of your system," she says. "The idea that you're just peeing out weight doesn't make sense either." But like other diet myths, there may some understandable — albeit incorrect — reason why people seeking diet advice latch onto the concept of the "whoosh effect."Thinking that you can just "whoosh" away fat cellsis an oversimplified (and inaccurate) way of looking at weight loss that doesn't tell us anything about how the body really regulates weight. While most people have a calories in, calories out view on weight loss, many people don't realize that the brain is what controls weight and weight regulation, Dr. Stanford says. "When weight loss occurs, the brain really tries to do what it can to compensate, such that it's going to try to rebound back to where it was before the diet," she says. That's why so many people go through "weight cycling," or repeated loss and gain of weight, for instance. "The body doesn't recognize that excess that's not needed, so it'll do whatever it can do todefend that," she says. In other words: People experience weight-loss "plateaus" because their bodies are designed to work that way, not for lack of willpower.AdvertisementADVERTISEMENTAnother troubling aspect of the whoosh effect is the idea that you can "trigger" the whoosh effect by eating a eating a high-calorie "cheat meal" after starving yourself, but there's no research or medical literature to support that this is the case, Dr. Stanford says. As we've said before, if you deprive yourself of treats, it makes it much harder to pay attention to your hunger cues. But if you allow for some flexibility and eat foods because you enjoy them, you'll be more satisfied. So, this rationale that you should indulge in order to fast-track the slimming effects of calorie cutting isn't just inaccurate, it can lead to a problematic relationship with food.The thing to remember about the whoosh effect or whatever diet fad comes our way next, is that chances are it's not going to be manageable long-term. "It often takes a dedicated longterm sustained program, in which diet quality and physical activity is maximized, that we really start to see fat loss," Dr. Stanford says. Anything that promises acute weight loss is generally not good for the body, she says. Typically the short-term "successes" are not worth the time, investment, and heartbreak associated with significant rebounds.So, next time you're on a Reddit board and come across a zany idea that people say works, Dr. Stanford suggests you ask yourself: Is this sustainable for the rest of my life? "If the answer is no, then run far away from whatever it may be," she says. Run so fast that you make a whooshing sound in your wake.If you are struggling with an eating disorder and are in need of support, please call the National Eating Disorders Association Helpline at 1-800-931-2237. For a 24-hour crisis line, text “NEDA” to 741741.AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT Dedicated FeatureThe Holy Grail Protein Powder That Turned Me Into A BelieverI’ve spent years (decades, even) writing about wellness. I’ve worked at women’s magazines trying the newest lifestyle meditation app and workout regiby Samantha LealCuerpoDiet Culture Vilifies Latine Cuisine. I Help Latinas Reconnect Wi...Growing up, I’d wake up to the tune of Juan Luis Guerra and Toño Rosario and the smell of los tres golpes. That meal of salami, fried cheese, eggs, and by Dalina SotoBodyNo One Needs Kourtney K’s Vagina Detox GummiesWe are in celebrity wellness hell. The other week, Gwyneth Paltrow, actress and founder of wellness brand Goop, made headlines after sharing her worryinglyby Chanté JosephAdvertisementADVERTISEMENTUnbotheredI’m Afro-Vegan & Christmas With Family Is ComplicatedNigeria’s food culture is very meat-centric. A typical Nigerian meal, such as Egusi or Afang soup, Ofada stew, Abacha, etc, isn’t complete without a chby Edisana StephenWellness9 Eco-Friendly Reusable Water Bottles For Low-Impact Hydrationby Karina HoshikawaDedicated FeatureThe One Wellness Habit I’ve ACTUALLY Maintained In QuarantineHere is a list of things I’ve committed to unsuccessfully in quarantine: A breakup, Zoom pilates, dry December, dry January, paleo eating, The Sopranos, by Eliza DumaisDedicated FeatureHerbal Tea Drinkers: Here’s Your Pocket Guide To Traditiona...Herbal Tea Drinkers: Here’s Your Pocket Guide To Traditional Medicinal Herbs RUBY ANDERSONMARCH 22, 2021 Herbal teas have been household staples for by Ruby AndersonGift Guides13 Gifts Any Health Nut You Know Will Go, Well, Nuts Overby Karina HoshikawaDedicated FeatureThis Is Why “Wellness Teas” Have Grown So Popular In ...There are a handful of remedies that seemingly have the power to abate — or at least provide comfort in the face of — nearly any problem at hand. A nicby Rebecca DeczynskiHealthy SnacksThe Healthy Snacks To Have In Your Pantry For Late-Night Munchiesby Cory StiegDiet & NutritionThe Best Milk Alternatives For A Non-Dairy Swapby Karina HoshikawaWellnessWhat To Know About “Immune Boosters” Before Trying Themby Karina HoshikawaAdvertisementADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT