We’re always telling you how to lose weight. But have you ever wondered where all that fat goes when you drop 10 pounds? Fear not! I have the answer to that. Along with some other random intelligence.  Courtesy of A.J. Jacobs, who wrote the book The Know-It-All. And Oprah’s “O” magazine:

• Where does all that fat go when you lose weight? You could say it ‘disappears into thin air.’ Jacobs says when you drop pounds, the fat breaks down into carbon dioxide and water. You breathe out the carbon dioxide, and you sweat out the water – or dispose of it when you go to the bathroom.
• What is dust? Basically, dust contains everything but the kitchen sink – including ashes, bits of clothing, plant particles, insect parts, and, get this – human skin! Jacobs says we shed one pound of skin each year, and a lot of it ends up in dust particles.  
• Another random question: What do our social security numbers mean? Some of the numbers actually mean something! Jacobs says the first 3 digits have to do with where you were born. For example, if you were born in California, the first 3 digits are probably in the 500’s. The next 2 digits are assigned based on when you were born. And the last 4 digits are completely random. So basically, if you knew someone’s social security number, you could probably figure out where they were born and how old they are. All the more reason to keep that number to yourself!
• Why are barns red? In the olden days, farmers used to make their own paint using a mixture of linseed oil, milk, and rust. The rust was added to prevent mold from growing in the mixture – and that’s what gave it the red color.

Now go out and impress your friends!