Eat Fat To Get Lean

sunny side-up egg and bread on plate Eat Fat — Photo by Jonathan Pielmayer on Unsplash

The lack of discussion on the subject of fat in our diet out there has led many of us to believe that “Fat is Bad”! Here’s why fat is essential in any weight loss regime.

Sound too good to be true?

Not all fat is bad; some are essential for maintaining good health, body composition, and FAT LOSS. You must eat the correct fats, though. Fat is needed for our bodies to function correctly; for example – it insulates us in the cold, and as it insulates our nerve cells, that results in help with muscle contractions. So, for all of you out there who want to get bigger and stronger, EAT FAT!

Calories are only part of the story!

Is your goal to lose weight/fat? Do you think doing more exercise and consuming fewer calories will create a healthy deficit that will help you achieve your goals? WRONG! It is an easy mistake to make, though, as some ‘expert’ websites support this view, and they wonder why the UK has a growing problem with obesity and diabetes.

While calorie counting tells us the energy in our food (and not all of that is entirely accurate), it does not tell you the impact of other foods that play a more significant role in weight management, including insulin response, satiety, and metabolic rate. Fat is essential for successful, long-term weight management as it slows digestion, so it keeps your hunger at bay for longer.

Starchy foods are the real enemy!

Ignore the notion that you must base most of your diet on starchy foods like bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, and cereals. They don’t contain many vitamins and minerals; fatty acids and amino acids are non-existent. All the excess starch (like sugar) stimulates insulin and triggers fat collection. So if your diet is rich in starch and you are not very active, this may be why you cannot control your weight and may have excess fat stored in your belly.

Morning tip!

If you usually wake up for breakfast, have a big bowl of starchy cereal (SPECIAL K BEING ONE), and find your satiety levels are very low, why not try having something high in protein, such as eggs? This should keep hunger off and reduce the temptation of snacking in between meals.