Fat - Good or Bad????

hippietofugirl
hippietofugirl Posts: 430 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I lost 60lbs by closely monitoring my calories and FAT. I ate below 25g per day. Now that I've increased my cals, I have the opportunity to eat peanut butter, dark chocolate, avocados, olive oil and all that good fat, but even though I stay within my calorie range, sometimes my fat intake is about 20-30g over. Will this hinder my weight loss even if its good fats that I'm eating?

Replies

  • HZimmerm27
    HZimmerm27 Posts: 1 Member
    Hey there! I'm pretty brand new here, and I had the same question. I recently switched from Weight Watchers (it worked GREAT for me, but I've been slipping a bit lately, so I needed a fresh start), and it seemed like they did not allow nearly as much fat consumption as MFP does. All I can think is, "how is that going to work?"
  • hippietofugirl
    hippietofugirl Posts: 430 Member
    Bump
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    I lost 60lbs by closely monitoring my calories and FAT. I ate below 25g per day. Now that I've increased my cals, I have the opportunity to eat peanut butter, dark chocolate, avocados, olive oil and all that good fat, but even though I stay within my calorie range, sometimes my fat intake is about 20-30g over. Will this hinder my weight loss even if its good fats that I'm eating?

    I had 73% of my calories as fat yesterday, doing well on it too. That was a bit heavy even for me, I stick around 65%.

    Dietary fat intake is only an issue if combined with excess (for you, we are all different) carbohydrate, the body will burn carbs first.

    You can metabolically set yourself up to preferentially burn fat and not glucose, this is called being 'fat adapted'.

    http://www.marksdailyapple.com/what-does-it-mean-to-be-fat-adapted/

    I just avoid the trans fats and keep below my carb target (15% of intake) and it's all good.
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    Hey there! I'm pretty brand new here, and I had the same question. I recently switched from Weight Watchers (it worked GREAT for me, but I've been slipping a bit lately, so I needed a fresh start), and it seemed like they did not allow nearly as much fat consumption as MFP does. All I can think is, "how is that going to work?"

    It works because carbohydrate intake is the key to either storing or liberating fat, we have become so fat-phobic that we have allowed the basics to become obscured by unfounded fears of heart disease or cholesterol issues.

    Dietary fat is only an issue for weight gain when consumed with too many carbs, and for me, the default MFP ratio is WAY too many carbs.
  • hippietofugirl
    hippietofugirl Posts: 430 Member
    DeadVim, thank you for the article

    I came in under my carb goal for the day, but its still up to 187. I'm assuming that if I were to continue a high fat, high protein diet, I would need to really restrict my carb intake much more than I do now. I have just been really confused because some people say that losing weight has everything to do with your macros, and some people claim its all in the calories. I guess its just a matter of opinion?
  • MSeel1984
    MSeel1984 Posts: 2,297 Member
    I lost 60lbs by closely monitoring my calories and FAT. I ate below 25g per day. Now that I've increased my cals, I have the opportunity to eat peanut butter, dark chocolate, avocados, olive oil and all that good fat, but even though I stay within my calorie range, sometimes my fat intake is about 20-30g over. Will this hinder my weight loss even if its good fats that I'm eating?

    Not necessarily. Fat is more calories per gram than protein or carbohydrate. As long as you have a deficit at the end of the day you are ok...and as long as the fat intake is not too much every single day. One day with excess fat intake won't kill you.
  • vytamindi
    vytamindi Posts: 845 Member
    Well, different kinds of calories have different effects on your body, so that's up to your personal biology. I find when I get most of my calories from high fat and moderate protein, I'm less hungry throughout the day. In the end, it's what works for your body.
  • Hezzietiger1
    Hezzietiger1 Posts: 1,256 Member
    I eat about 50 grams of fat each day.. keep it healthy and within your calories. You will be fine.
  • dunnweb
    dunnweb Posts: 49 Member
    look at the keto diet.
  • hippietofugirl
    hippietofugirl Posts: 430 Member
    Well, different kinds of calories have different effects on your body, so that's up to your personal biology. I find when I get most of my calories from high fat and moderate protein, I'm less hungry throughout the day. In the end, it's what works for your body.

    I will say that when I have more fat throughout the day, I stay fuller longer, but I've always been on a high carb, low fat diet so I don't really know how it would effect my body in the end. I guess I'll just have to try it to find out
  • zaithyr
    zaithyr Posts: 482 Member
    Honestly, I don't track fat at all but I do try to stick to healthy fats like avocados, ect... Fat is not bad, and there are different kinds of fats.
  • CharliesAngel1
    CharliesAngel1 Posts: 70 Member
    I get 30% of my cals from fat, 30 from protein and 40 from carbs. I feel satisfied w/ this ratio and have list steadily since beginning. Some days I eat more fat or protein, but don't go over carb allowance often.

    I should mention that I get most of my fat from healthy sources, with 0 trans fats
  • caraiselite
    caraiselite Posts: 2,631 Member
    fat is gooood. my diet is 50-60% fat =]
  • vytamindi
    vytamindi Posts: 845 Member
    Well, different kinds of calories have different effects on your body, so that's up to your personal biology. I find when I get most of my calories from high fat and moderate protein, I'm less hungry throughout the day. In the end, it's what works for your body.

    I will say that when I have more fat throughout the day, I stay fuller longer, but I've always been on a high carb, low fat diet so I don't really know how it would effect my body in the end. I guess I'll just have to try it to find out

    Go ahead and give keto a shot after doing some research. You might like it! Just be aware that there are some negatives that may or may not affect you (keto flu, bad breath, stinky pee... drinking TONS of water will help with all of these). Also, it's more of a lifestyle change, as you may gain the weight back if you adapt and then go all carb-ho after you reach your goal.

    After failing at just watching calories, I feel like keto is better for me because I'm not obsessed with eating like I used to, AND the cravings for carbs went away.

    IN THE END, it's all up to you and what your body is telling you to do. Best of luck, and good job on your great progress so far!
  • Bobby_Clerici
    Bobby_Clerici Posts: 1,828 Member
    Is fat bad or good?
    Well, you'd die without it. That would make fat GOOD!
    Very Good:drinker:

    Balance your macros as per MFP recommendations.
    Simple.
  • hippietofugirl
    hippietofugirl Posts: 430 Member
    My current ratio is 50%carbs, 25%fat and 25% protein but I think I'm going to try the 40/30/30. Its just that I eat a lot of fruit and cereals, so I'll have to cut back on that.
  • BeautyFromPain
    BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,951 Member
    Considering your brain is made up of mostly fat truth is you need it to function properly.
  • hippietofugirl
    hippietofugirl Posts: 430 Member
    Considering your brain is made up of mostly fat truth is you need it to function properly.

    I realize that fat is necessary to sustain life - I guess my question should have been "fat - Good or bad for weight loss"
  • RobynMWilson
    RobynMWilson Posts: 1,540 Member
    For me it hasn't, although I'm only maintaining but I go over on fats everyday but not saturated fats (although coconut milk is sat fat but the good kind). Since I've been eating higher fat foods and lower sugar foods I've gotten my abs back. V8 Fusion juice gave me belly fat for the first time since the 90s b/c of the sugars...
  • ZeroWoIf
    ZeroWoIf Posts: 588 Member
    Most of my Fat if not about 75 percent of them com from Omega 3, 6, 9. The rest is Olive oil and from lean meats.
  • slkehl
    slkehl Posts: 3,801 Member
    Generally, 20-35% is a good target for fat.

    Some tips
    -Omega 3's are great fats, found in fish, flax seeds, and walnuts.
    -There are many kinds of saturated fat, some which are fine, others of which can raise LDL levels, but as long as you stay within a normal fat range, you shouldn't have to worry about it too much. Pick unsaturated fat when you can.
    -stay away from trans fat as much as possible
  • BeautyFromPain
    BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,951 Member
    Considering your brain is made up of mostly fat truth is you need it to function properly.

    I realize that fat is necessary to sustain life - I guess my question should have been "fat - Good or bad for weight loss"

    Good
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