No Fat Diets

[Jasonw560]

WW does have some great low fat options. True, you can do some digging and get recipes and what not for free, but I suggest joining, especially if you need accountability. (I hate that word...how about a kick in the butt?)

Do a little research about good fats vs. bad fats. The bad thing about low fat things is that sometimes they're loaded with sugar to offset.

Also, if you really need (or just want to) monitor your fat intake, go to http://www.myfitnesspal.com I have the app on my desktop, iPod, and BB. So I have no excuse to not track. Has just about every food you can think of. If they don't, you can add it. Same with the WW app.

[Chainsaw13]

Originally Posted by Jasonw560

Do a little research about good fats vs. bad fats. The bad thing about low fat things is that sometimes they're loaded with sugar to offset.

For years we were told to cut back on fats. If you do this, you have to make up the flavor somewhere, and like you said, sugar is the name of the game. It's cheap and gives our bodies what it craves. Surprising (or not so) that obesity and related illnesses (diabetes) rose during this time. Not saying there's a direct correlation, but it played a part.

Also, if you really need (or just want to) monitor your fat intake, go to http://www.myfitnesspal.com I have the app on my desktop, iPod, and BB. So I have no excuse to not track. Has just about every food you can think of. If they don't, you can add it. Same with the WW app.

Best advice anyone can heed when starting a new lifestyle diet. If you start using it before adopting the new way of eating, it can show you where you're problem areas are. You just have to be honest and log everything. But once you start seeing how simple changes can have big effects, you'll wonder why you didn't do this all along.

[big a]

Originally Posted by Chainsaw13

For years we were told to cut back on fats. If you do this, you have to make up the flavor somewhere, and like you said, sugar is the name of the game. It's cheap and gives our bodies what it craves. Surprising (or not so) that obesity and related illnesses (diabetes) rose during this time. Not saying there's a direct correlation, but it played a part.



Best advice anyone can heed when starting a new lifestyle diet. If you start using it before adopting the new way of eating, it can show you where you're problem areas are. You just have to be honest and log everything. But once you start seeing how simple changes can have big effects, you'll wonder why you didn't do this all along.

I have found it very strange some of the items that dont have fat in them that you think would. Candy is one and being that it taste normal it is hard to eat. I dont plan to do a 0 fat diet but WW might be something i pick up.

Thanks for all the tips everyone.

[Chainsaw13]

Originally Posted by big a

I have found it very strange some of the items that dont have fat in them that you think would. Candy is one and being that it taste normal it is hard to eat. I dont plan to do a 0 fat diet but WW might be something i pick up.

Thanks for all the tips everyone.

Yea, that's something I've noticed as well since I started paying attention to product labels a few years ago.

Good luck with your endeavors. We'll be here if you need advice or support.

[Gophernut]

Originally Posted by Chainsaw13

For years we were told to cut back on fats. If you do this, you have to make up the flavor somewhere, and like you said, sugar is the name of the game. It's cheap and gives our bodies what it craves. Surprising (or not so) that obesity and related illnesses (diabetes) rose during this time. Not saying there's a direct correlation, but it played a part.

My diabetes nutritionist told me I would be better off with using light products versus fat free products for this exact reason. Now being diabetic, it's not so much the fat, as it is the carbs that I need to watch. If I use, for instance, light salad dressing, I don't count the carbs, because of the fat. If I use fat free salad dressing, I count the carbs because of the sugars. It seemed counter-intuitive until I started reading labels.

[Chainsaw13]

Originally Posted by Gophernut

My diabetes nutritionist told me I would be better off with using light products versus fat free products for this exact reason. Now being diabetic, it's not so much the fat, as it is the carbs that I need to watch. If I use, for instance, light salad dressing, I don't count the carbs, because of the fat. If I use fat free salad dressing, I count the carbs because of the sugars. It seemed counter-intuitive until I started reading labels.

I"m in the same boat as you, having to watch the carbs. What a lot of people didn't realize was that when the companies took the fat out of the products, they pumped up the sugar/carbs to make up the flavor lost. Not surprising the correlation between the rise in obesity/diabetes and the push for low fat diets. Now after all these years the studies/doctors are changing their tune and suggesting people incorporate fats back into their diets (good fats mind you) and cut back on the carbs.

Honestly, not every one person fits the same mold. We just need to find out what works best for us, be it low carb, low fat, high carbs, whole grains, etc. Whatever does work though should include some form of exercise. You have to be able to burn off what you put in.

[Gophernut]

Originally Posted by Chainsaw13

I"m in the same boat as you, having to watch the carbs. What a lot of people didn't realize was that when the companies took the fat out of the products, they pumped up the sugar/carbs to make up the flavor lost. Not surprising the correlation between the rise in obesity/diabetes and the push for low fat diets. Now after all these years the studies/doctors are changing their tune and suggesting people incorporate fats back into their diets (good fats mind you) and cut back on the carbs.

Honestly, not every one person fits the same mold. We just need to find out what works best for us, be it low carb, low fat, high carbs, whole grains, etc. Whatever does work though should include some form of exercise. You have to be able to burn off what you put in.

It's actually about the time that I was told that I should go on a low fat diet that I ended up packing on about 30-40 pounds. My Dr. suggested that I do it to help with some trygliceride issues that I was having. Since last January, I have added regular exercise to my routine I have lost 60 pounds. In the last month or so, I plateaued. I within the last few weeks, have switched from non-fat to lowfat, except skim milk, and my weight has dropped 5 pounds, but more importantly I have lost a few inches and even had to go one belt hole smaller! Having said that, I did also start lifting weights again, so there is some benefit there. So was it the low fat vs non-fat? Or the weight training? Not sure, but the combo is working.