And we got fatter and fatter, and developed more diabetes, and more heart disease.
Eat as many low-fat and no-fat foods as you want, they said. Calories don’t matter – fat grams do, they said. Fat makes you fat, they said.
But, here’s the thing…fat isn’t the demon that it was made out to be.
Why?
Well, so-called experts started telling us that calories didn’t matter – as long as we ate low-fat or non-fat food, we’d be fine. Calories DO matter, and so does where we get them from.
And – dietary fat improves the taste and texture of food. Take it out, and what is left? Dry cardboard-tasting “cookies”.
So, food manufacturers added sugar – and lots of it – to products to make them taste appealing. The products ended up having around the same amount of calories – but more were coming from sugar and less from dietary fat.
And we got fatter and fatter, and developed more diabetes, and more heart disease.
Eat as many low-fat and no-fat foods as you want, they said. Calories don’t matter – fat grams do, they said. Fat makes you fat, they said.
But, here’s the thing…fat isn’t the demon that it was made out to be.
We NEED fat in our diet. Here’s why:
1) Absorption of vitamins A, D, E, and K: These vitamins are fat-soluble, which means that the body needs dietary fat to absorb them.
2) Omega-3s and omega-6s play roles in mood and behavior. They are the precursor to many hormones and chemicals produced in the brain.
3) Brain health. Your brain uses fat to make cell membranes and the protective myelin sheath that insulates your neurons.
4) Trans fats are pretty bad for your cardiovascular system, but monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fats prevent heart attack and stroke. Good sources of monounsaturated fats are avocados, olives, almonds, peanuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, hazelnuts, peanut butter, and olive and sesame oils.
5) Not all saturated fats are bad for you. One beneficial (and super yummy) saturated fat is coconut oil, which has scientifically demonstrated health benefits, including healthy support for your heart and brain, skin, immune system, and thyroid. Coconut oil has some very special properties.
6) Fat is filling and provides pleasant texture to food. Remember when I mentioned low-fat and no-fat cookies that taste like cardboard? Take the fat out, and that’s what you get. Have you ever noticed that when you eat a high-carb, low-fat meal, you are hungry an hour later? It is hard to overeat on a moderate fat, high-protein, low-carb diet.
And Here are some ways to help you find your balance that have helped me to succeed:
Face your fears. It’s not the food you fear, it’s the aftermath of the indulgence you fear. Write down what scares you. It can be as simple as, “I’m afraid after I eat this, I will not be able to stop. I’m afraid I will have to do hours of cardio to get it off. I’m afraid I will be judged on if I gain a few pounds.” Whatever your fear is, write it down. This will help you decide how ridiculous you sound. I have called myself out a few times!
Be aware of your food. When you sit down to eat… EAT! I am guilty of this, too. Turn the TV off; shut down your computer; it’s not THAT important to respond to a text right away. Be connected with your food. Chew slowly and enjoy it. You will just need a few bites to realize that’s all you needed and you will not beat yourself up in eating a whole meal/day of bad foods.
Choose the benefits of foods. Instead of saying, “NO I can’t” have something, say, “I’d rather have this because it is better for me.” For example, instead of, “I don’t want to have a piece of cake because it’s going to curdle in my belly fat and I’ll have cottage cheese thighs,” just say, “I’d rather have fruit— which satisfies my sweet tooth. Also, it’s more nutritious for me and aids in protecting us from disease and is great for the skin.” Deprivation only leads to failure. Turn it around and make a positive out of it for a better chance of success.
Learn to TRUST yourself. Trust that you will allow yourself just a bite. Allow yourself to enjoy the little things in life again. You will come to find out that you weren’t really missing it all and a bite was just enough. You have to train yourself to keep yourself on the right path. Just like working out— we train for our muscles to grow, now we need to train ourselves to just have self-control.
Have fun with your foods. I personally make protein pancakes, protein bars, egg white muffins, and the list goes on. I am huge on making ALLMAX Isoflex and Muscle Egg creations. For recipes, you can visit my Facebook page — I have tons of clean recipes you can try under my notes section!
