Fat!!

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Is it more important to keep under your calorie goal than your fat goal?

RWeaver08

I would like to know the answer to that as well! I've wondered that for the longest time. lol.

CindiBryce

Yes. You can only lose weight at a caloric deficit. But you should not be severely under your calorie goal (I'm assuming it's 1200).

angelbeville

Calories I think, but I'd like to know what the nutritionists think. We've been conditioned in our society for so long to think "Fat is Bad," but I'm more inclined to think "Sugar (and other refined carbs) is bad." I don't worry too much about fat, unless it's animal fat. Avocados, nuts, and olive oil are full of the kind of fat we need.

shovav91

Being too over on fat isn't a good thing, but yes, to lose weight you only truly need to look at your calories.

MissArielLauren

Honestly, I don't count calories. What works for me is just eating rational meals and always having a healthy snack on hand. I usually keep organic meal bars in my purse, as well as a banana or something. It's all about snacking (for me at least). I also ALWAYS have a protein shake and hard boil egg after I workout [=

I Hope that helps!

Fitgirlrocks

Your body, specifically your heart and brain, need fat to function. Having said that, it needs to be the right kind of fat, Essential Fatty Acids. I am never concerned about the fat intake for my diet as I eat nutritious fats (especially Omega 3s). The calorie deficit is far more important than the fat deficit. In fact, if you look at my diary, I am almost always over my fat allowance - And I don't care about that.

kpwb

The biggest reason "fat" is a problem is that it's a dense form of calories. I suggest that you pay attention the balance of your source of calories among fat, protein and carbs. All are important but I think calories are king in terms of weight loss...

hooah_mj

I've focus on less than 30 PERCENT (sorry) of fat a day...trying to get it closer to 20%. anything over that is not healthy and counter productive for healthly weightloss.

eddyca

It's more important to stay under your calorie goal for sure.

Check out this story about a nutrition professor who lost weight eating chips and Twinkie's:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/

By no means should anyone try that ridiculous diet, it just proves the simple fact that in order to lose weight you have to consume less calories than you burn.

chubiD

I'd say that being under any of your goals is not necessarily good. That said, I'd be more strict about not going over my calories than going over any of the macronutrients (I'm usually over my carbs, can't help it :ohwell: ). Try to keep a balance between all your goals and you will not only lose weight, but stay healthy as well!

3DFitness

Calories in vs Calories out is the only thing that matters for weight loss....

engineman312

personally, i focus mostly on calories, and do my best to stay under sodium and carbs. i monitor protein and fiber, just to make sure i'm getting enough.

gp79

double post

gp79

Calories in vs Calories out is the only thing that matters for weight loss....

This

QueenJill

The answer depends on your goal. If all you're looking for is weight loss, calories are the main thing. But if (like most people), you are hoping the true goal is a leaner body composition, healthier body, and better lifestyle, then the components of the food matter huge. If all a person ever wanted to do was lose weight, exercise wouldn't be as important as is is. (that is, you have to exercise a helluva lot more minutes to get the same calorie deficit as just skipping the snack at Starbucks or sharing that cinnamon bun and forgoing the extra icing). But because we want a good working heart, strong bones, lean muscles, healthy cholesterol, and all the other fixings of a long, healthy life, we focus on good food proportions as well. Not only fat and calories, but also what kind of fat, the sugar and fiber contents of the carbohydrates, and the sodium.

servilia

The important thing is to stay under in calories. I don't mind being over in fat at all, as long as I am under on calories. I concentrate on getting enough protein and fat and if I go over on these, so be it.

ReinasWrath

It's more important to stay under your calorie goal for sure.

Check out this story about a nutrition professor who lost weight eating chips and Twinkie's:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/

By no means should anyone try that ridiculous diet, it just proves the simple fact that in order to lose weight you have to consume less calories than you burn.

wow that article was really interesting!!

auctoritas

I've focus on less than 30 grams of fat a day...trying to get it closer to 20g. anything over that is not healthy and counter productive for healthly weightloss.

Oh, I wonder why I'm still losing weight eating between 70-120 grams of fat per day.

Really though it's all about caloric deficit. You need *some* fat to function properly, but as long as your calories are under and you're losing weight, don't worry about being over at all.

HMonsterX

In theory you can eat nothing but lard, and lose weight.

You can eat nothing but fruit and veg, and put on weight.

hooah_mj

I've focus on less than 30 grams of fat a day...trying to get it closer to 20g. anything over that is not healthy and counter productive for healthly weightloss.

Oh, I wonder why I'm still losing weight eating between 70-120 grams of fat per day.

Really though it's all about caloric deficit. You need *some* fat to function properly, but as long as your calories are under and you're losing weight, don't worry about being over at all.

SORRY...that should have read:

I've focus on less than 30 PERCENT (sorry) of fat a day...trying to get it closer to 20%. anything over that is not healthy and counter productive for healthly weightloss.
Edited by hooah_mj on Sun 11/20/11 06:56 PM

Thx for catching that...I'm right there with you

onlyonevelvet

Calories in vs Calories out is the only thing that matters for weight loss....

I am a witness to this.