Protein vs. Fat

oliviaguerrero01

Hey I'm looking to lose some body fat, but I'm kind of confused about one thing. Should I try to eat mostly protein or should I try to get a lot of healthy fats? I've heard that healthy fats burn fat, but I don't want to mess up and then gain weight as a result. Any help?

KuchieJr93

Or both? Just track your calories... healthy fats and protien. Just keep a balanced diet.

estherdragonbat

As long as you are eating at a deficit, the weight is going to come off. Now, the closer your weight-loss meals are to the way you plan to eat when you reach goal, the more sustainable you're going to find the weight-loss.

Put your stats into MFP and eat the calories that it tells you to. You can eat anything you like, so long as you don't go over that goal. What you will find is that different foods will make you feel fuller longer. Which ones vary person to person. (For me, it's usually protein, but when it's time of month, I need salty carbs.) Now, nutrition is a different story. My calorie allotment is 1470. In theory, I could totally blow it on chocolate and cotton candy and lose, but I would also be malnourished, constantly hungry, and probably open for a bunch of other lovely issues like hair loss, lousy skin, etc. Try for a balanced diet overall, but don't sweat it if one day you have a few more fats and another day a bit more protein. It's going to even out.

I should mention that there is one way that you *could* put on weight in a deficit: when you log your exercise calories, MFP is known for overestimating how much you burn. You are allowed and expected to eat some of those calories back. Most folks here eat back 25-50%.

rileysowner

What matters for weight loss is calories. Protein, fat, carb amounts for weight loss are only important in terms of what helps you stick to your calorie goal. For some that is higher protein, for others higher fat, and for others higher carb. Find what works for you, but focus on logging accurately and meeting your calorie goal.

Christine_72

For me, I watch both protein and fat, they are equally as important. There are days that i way overshoot one or both, but as long my calories are in line, weight loss will continue.
Because bottom line is that calories are all that matter when it comes to weight loss/gain. Plus, protein and fat keep me full and happy, carbs not so much...

AnnPT77

Echoing the above: Fat loss is about calories. Consume fewer than you expend, and you'll lose fat.

To lose relatively more fat and relatively less muscle while losing weight, exercise - ideally something that challenges your muscles. (Exercise is useful for health and fitness in other ways, too, of course.)

For health and vitality, get good nutrition: Adequate protein, adequate healthy fats, plenty of nice veggies & fruits for micronutrients and fiber.

Satiation is individual. Within a healthy level of each, some people feel more satisfied with relatively more protein, relatively more fats, or relatively more high-volume/low-cal foods (usually fibrous veggies). A few require some satisfying level of carbs (though others find eating carbs to cause more carb cravings).

For satiation, the timing and relative size of your meals and snacks may also make a difference. Experiment, and you'll find out what keeps you feeling full and satisfied.

trigden1991

Eating a "healthy" "balanced" diet is probably the most sustainable.