"Good" fats

neeterskeeter

If I am trying to reduce my body fat percentage, should I avoid even "good" fats like in nuts, seeds, olive oil, avocado, natural peanut butter? I have been eating clean for awhile and these are pretty much the only fats I eat, in fact I've been eating more than I used to of nuts because I have read they are so good for me... I've lost weight and inches but my body fat percentage hasn't budged! :sad: Should I just avoid fat all together even if it's good?

July24Lioness

If you are losing inches, how do you know that your body fat hasn't changed?

Did you get measured by someone using calipers? That is the most accurate way of testing body fat %.

The scales that test body fat are not accurate measure to go by.

Even though I do have one at home. :laugh: :laugh:

neeterskeeter

You are right, I am using a scale that measures body fat. It was expensive and I asked for it for Christmas like 3 years ago but it never seems to be accurate. I hope it's NOT accurate because according to it my body fat percentage is 33% !!! I just don't see how that can be, because I am generally healthy and active. I did used to eat a lot of fat in my diet -- processed foods and sugar and some junk food -- but now I have cut all of that out and there has been no difference which seems very odd to me.

neeterskeeter

I also used to eat too much sodium due to processed turkey deli meat and sliced cheese etc... does that affect body fat or just bloating? :laugh: ANyway I have cut a lot of that out too and try to roast my own turkey now (I love turkey!! -- it does have some fat but I always get the leanest turkey meat available) or have grilled chicken instead. Still no difference in body fat but definitely some difference in my stomach being flat instead of blated.

July24Lioness

Fat is not the enemy. Especially natural occurring fats such as animal fat, fat from nuts, olives, coconuts, dairy.....

Have you read this thread?

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/60768-eat-more-fat

Also, I am posting some other articles that I have read and shared with other regarding fat, especially saturated fats.

http://www.ravnskov.nu/cholesterol.htm

http://www.thincs.org/links.htm

http://www.thescreamonline.com/essays/essays5-1/vegoil.html

July24Lioness

I also used to eat too much sodium due to processed turkey deli meat and sliced cheese etc... does that affect body fat or just bloating? :laugh: ANyway I have cut a lot of that out too and try to roast my own turkey now (I love turkey!! -- it does have some fat but I always get the leanest turkey meat available) or have grilled chicken instead. Still no difference in body fat but definitely some difference in my stomach being flat instead of blated.

Yes, sodium, especially in those deli meats - the nitrates will cause you to bloat and retain water.

Can you find nitrate free deli meats? Warning they are more expensive. I pay almost 11.00 a pound for nitrate free deli turkey or ham. :noway: :noway:

But the taste is wonderful. You will wonder what you liked about the other deli meats.

neeterskeeter

Thanks for the links, July24lioness. I just read them all tonight. I know that natural fat is not bad for me but it was good to see that reinforced because I start to think that's why I'm not losing body fat.

I will look for deli turkey without nitrates. It is kind of hard to roast turkey but usually worth it. When I don't have time I will look for that as an alternative!

SHBoss1673

by the way, be very wary of those home scales that use electrical impedance for body fat testing, they can be wildly inaccurate. Body fat % is something you only need done every month or two anyway, it won't change by large amounts quickly. Those scales have up to 10% margin for error and that is if you follow the directions to a T.

I.E. they use electrical impedance (fat has different electric resistance than lean tissue) so it's important how much water you have in your body when you try it. If you had water within an hour or two before using it, the numbers will usually be off, also if you happen to be retaining water that day or dehydrated, it will be off.

Can they work? Yep, if you use them correctly, but it's more accurate to use hydrostatic testing or a Bod Pod. DEXA is the best way to do it, but it's expensive and hard to find a DEXA testing facility. Calipers can be almost as accurate as hydrostatic testing, but only if done by someone who has lots of experience and knows what they are doing.

neeterskeeter

Thanks SHBoss. What a waste of money my scale turned out to be. ! :laugh:

rtmama

I will look for deli turkey without nitrates. It is kind of hard to roast turkey but usually worth it. When I don't have time I will look for that as an alternative!

I have bought Applegate farms, which is extremely expensive as noted previously - like $11/lb in a prepackaged container.

But I also buy Hormel Naturals, which are also very good. The "turkey" tastes like ham though, but it tastes wonderful with mustard!

The applegate farms tastes like real turkey!