Fat is NOT the Enemy

Although I specialize in bariatric surgery and enjoy fitness very much, I believe the one thing that will undermine any weight loss/fitness plan is not understanding or underestimating the power of food and how the balance of carbohydrates, protein and fat affects your ability to lose weight.  That is why I developed Weight Management University™ and integrate education about all aspects of nutrition in all of our weight loss plans.  We want you to be successful, happy and satisfied.

Nearly every week at CFWLS, I hear a couple of comments from people just like you.  In fact, perhaps these are/were familiar to you:

“I exercise every single day and I am not losing any weight!”                                                   “I eat a very healthy low fat diet and yet, I seem to be gaining weight!”

The reason this occurs is usually a misunderstanding of how to balance your carbohydrate, protein and fat intake.  That’s the focus of this newsletter and of course, there is much more to learn but that’s the joy of your weight loss journey.  Once you understand the concepts of these macronutrients and balance them in your life, you will find yourself less hungry, losing weight and likely resolution of some underlying metabolic problems you have.

With regards to fat, I want you to understand that Fat is not the Enemy.  If I had to pick a primary “enemy” source with regards to food, it would be insulin which is controlled primarily by your sugar intake (all carbohydrates break down into sugar).   Thus, when I am out and someone says – “Look, I am going healthy – I bought no/low fat” I cringe.  If you compare labels for whatever the item is, you will find that the manufacturer has decreased the fat but increased the carbohydrate content.  If they didn’t, you likely wouldn’t eat it because it would not taste good.  Here are a few facts about fat:

√ Fat is the body’s preferred and most reliable form of energy, which is why we store excess energy as fat on our bodies.  If your body has less carbohydrate (sugar) as an immediate source of energy, it can finally get to breaking down fat for energy (which = less fat).

√ Fats help keep you feeling full (less hungry = a good thing).

√ Eating a controlled carb diet with adequate protein and healthy fats like those found in salmon or avocados is the easiest way to inadvertently eat less without sacrificing satiety.  It also improves your ability to access stored body fat rather than lean body mass, which is helpful for fat loss and long term success (since your lean body mass is what drives your metabolism).

So…the next time you reach for the low-fat/no–fat options, you might want to think again.  More on these power foods in this newsletter and Weight Management University™.   See you at CFWLS – we are here to help!