Adding in more fat.

I want to share some observations I have made since I started eating intuitively rather then eating on "plan".  I am naturally drawn to foods with greater fat content.  I don't mean that I am consciously adding more fat, but that my body is craving healthy fat and I am letting it happen.  I ate duck confit yesterday which is duck in duck fat.  It seems every day, I am choosing to eat fattier choices but I am still watching my carb intake.  At first, my weight increased by about four pounds, but then it dropped way down.  My body seems to be working better with the added fat.  I am noticing a difference in my skin and I am full longer.  Don't get me wrong, some of my meals are very lean, like I am eating a great deal more salads now made with mostly veggies and chicken shrimp or scallops.  I am also increasing the amount of fish in my diet because I love fish.  I had a little bit of sea bass at dinner last night.  I think this is really working for me.  The fat is not the enemy any more.

Yep, fat is only the enemy when its on your thighs. I think carbs are the real enemy. I too am drawn to fattier foods in maintenance like nuts and cheeses and peanut butter. But I still trim all the fat off meat. Gave some to my dogs from a steak and they ate it but ended up barfing it up later.

There is so much about nutrition that is not understood,but I find the evening blob of peanut butter makes me feel extremely sated plus content with having had what seems like a treat. Off to Costco today to get the big jars cheap. Ditto the terryiaki meatballs that are good and a good barriatric option.

So while I am not doing the intuitive thing yet, I do think that in maintenance  that fat is not to be shunned and it somehow makes you feel better like you have eaten well and calms the hunger messages more than other foods. Of course its the healthy fats and not a gob of butter. That doesn't even sound that good any more. Do all my cooking with olive oil. Shrimp sauteed in a bit of it tastes great.

Another insightful post that we can all learn from.  Diane

Girlfriend.. I've been trying to get you to up your fats and lower your carbs forever. I'm also drawn to fats as well.. unfortunately I still have problems with binging on just about anything yummy, so I can still over-do it on anything.

I agree with this! I really noticed this while we were on vacation for these last 8 days, eating out at every meal. While I mostly went with protein first (lots of seafood), it was cooked with quite a bit more (yummy) fat than I usually eat. Even though my portions were quite small, I noticed that I stayed full longer and had plenty of energy. (And though I ate quite a bit of junk as well, I didn't gain anything on the trip!)

Lizanne

Love this post, thanks for sharing.  I have been eating avacado!  And loving it. 

I buy them from costco in the mesh bag and enjoy them. 

I have not yet seen a change in my skin yet but I'm looking forward to seeing it. 

K

Full fat cheese just tastes better!  Chewing what seems like a pencil eraser just doesn't cut it.  I do believe I'm more satisfied tummy and head wise which is important.  I'd rather have a small bit of Brie vs. Alpine low-fat any day.  Nuts are the one thing that helps me avoid constipation.  I determined that after much experimentation.  Not all of it pleasant.  TMI!  Miralax, Benefiber, etc just don't do it for me.  What a journey!

Janet

 
Here is my personal observation on this subject....... (personal opinion)

Limited fats are not bad at all.... I eat red meat a few times a week....not afraid of fried foods...use full fat mayo, real EVOO..... have not bought butter....still use Smart Balance Spread nor have I eatin any measurable amount of bacon....but I do eat pork.

Limited carbs are not bad for me.....I've raised my carb intake from 40's to 80's in maintenance. (a chocolate snack every nite-full disclosure!)

Here is the kicker for me..... and it goes back to pre-surgery......when I think about it....

I can eat the fats...........or I can eat some carbs.....

I just can't eat them together !!!!!

Fats + Carbs = Bad News On The Scale !!!!!!!!!

Which is a ***** for me because I would like to eat some rice with my proteins !!!

And probably why real pizza  and cheeseburgers packed it on for me !!!!

frisco

Frisco, I think you hit it out of the park on this one.  I think you are exactly right, it is the combination of carbs and fats that puts on the weight.  I am not overdoing carbs or fats either, but I am not limiting it to a special number anymore.  So far so good. 

I just had a light bulb moment about carbs plus fat!  Thank you!

Janet

I'd like to share some on this topic if that's OK.  Essentially when you eat carbs (including rice unfortunately) it changes your hormones so that the way your body uses calories changes.  Your body can be in fat burning or fat storage mode and a lot of that is directed by your hormones.

Dietary fat can be used by your body to lubricate your joints, manufacture hormones and a host of other things, but the ONLY thing that carbs can be used for is ENERGY.. that's it.  Your body is made of protein and fat (your brain is 80% cholesterol) so eating protein and fat you are giving your body the raw materials to make the cells in your body.

The only thing carbs can be used for is energy.. that's it.  There is nothing in your body that is made from carbs.  You do get some great vitamins and minerals from some carb consumption, so I try to choose my carbs wisely and get the most bang from my "carb buck" so to speak.

So something like broccoli has limited carbs, but mostly fiber that doesn't get digested, and TONS of nutrients.  Whereas something like banana has a LOT more carbs, a lot less fiber and less nutrients than the same amount of broccoli.  In other words isn't not a great way to spend my carb intake.

So really when you limit carbs you change your hormones, cravings, and that really makes it so that you lose weight; so limiting carbs is really key for most of us.  Now the reason to limit fat intake is to lower calories, because overall calories DO count, as well as the quality of those calories.  

So even though dietary fat can be used for many things in the body and we NEED fat intake, fat intake in excess of what we need or what we can burn will be stored and slow weight loss.  But our carb intake also plays a role in what hormones are circulating through our body and whether or body is more likely to store the extra fat or burn it.

Well that's my two cents.. ;)