I recently read an article that suggested that if a LC eater's fat intake is high, it may slow weight loss because the body will burn dietary fat before body fat. While it's probably not realistic to attempt "true" low-fat eating along with LC, what's everyone's thinking here? What kind of fat range should we realistically be able to target for OWL? Thanks in advance for all advice!

Aderyn

Aderyn
Good question. Can you provide a link to the article. It sounds interesting. did they specify how much fat is too much? I usually eat about 60% of my calories from fat give ot take. I don't think I could bring down my fats very much even if i tried. at least not without upping my protein and carbs to maintain calories.
Rob

Some people do have to pay more attention to their fat intake as they get closer to goal. How much do they cut it? I don't have a clue, but if this is the case with you why don't you try cutting it just a little bit and see what happens?

Susan

LC and feeling better every day!

Atkins since 7/18/03
210/185/140

I never needed to reduce fat intake. In fact, the more fat I eat, the fuller I feel so I eat less. I think it's the amount of food that really counts (calories.)

Nicolle
145/120/120 - 5'6"

I think it really depends on the person.

some HAVE to eventually watch the fat (more the calories) as they get closer to goal.

if you increase the carbs, when getting closer to your goal, you have to cut back on something.

though i do agree with Nicolle - since you stay fuller longer while eating a higher fat diet, you sometimes don't consume as many calories.

Everyone has to find what works best and how their body reacts to certain ratios... but I dont think that just because you are entering OWL, you have to cut the fat in your diet.

I can play with my ratios but have found I do much better with a higher fat content... i get ravenous if my fat is too low. 50-55% is the lowest i can go. But i'm usually around 65%


My LC web site
LCE Member since 12/00

Doggone, no, Rob, I can't find the link for this. I was surfing a lot of LC Websites when I read it. I could have sworn I bookmarked the site, but sure can't find it. Can't dig it out of "History" folder either. I will keep looking and will post the link if I can figure out where I was when I read it. The logic would seem to make sense, though--if your body is burning fat for fuel, and getting ample amounts through diet (and therein lies the question--what are "ample amounts"?) then it would make sense that stored fat would be used secondarily.

Jo Ann

OK--here is a link; it's not "the" link (still haven't found it).

http://forum.lowcarber.org/archive/index.php/t-44315

Scroll about halfway down, and you will see what is shown as advice from Atkins support (partial quote--see link for full text): "You could be eating too much fat. While fat is necessary while following Atkins, eating too much fat can delay weight loss. Your body burns the fat you eat first, then the stored fat. If you're eating too much fat, you will not give your metabolism a change to burn the stored fat in the body. Try reducing your fat intake slightly and see if that helps."

So, back to the original puzzle--wondering how much is too much.

Aderyn

It makes sense that you would have to burn up your dietary fat before burning body fat, just like you have to burn up your dietary carbs and protein. In fact, you have to use up all your dietary food intake before you can burn body fat.

However, the implication is that you can lose weight faster by eating less food, fat or not. Well, duh! Everybody knows that.

The point of this diet is to into ketosis and thus have a lower appetite and choose to naturally eat fewer calories over the course of time. This seems to work fairly well.

Cutting fat out just means you'll be hungrier and have to fill up on protein. Which has fewer calories per gram, but they're still calories.

This always reminds me of that question, "What weighs more, a pound of feathers or a pound of lead?" What will make you fatter, a hundred calories of fat or a hundred calories of protein?

***********************
"Sometimes I think you have to march right in and demand your rights, even if you don't know what your rights are, or who the person is you're talking to. Then on the way out, slam the door."

Well, the original question was NOT whether we should "cut out fat." To quote myself:

"While it's probably not realistic to attempt 'true' low-fat eating along with LC, what's everyone's thinking here? What kind of fat range should we realistically be able to target for OWL?"

What I was hoping to explore here is NOT ways to reduce fat, or ways to eat fewer calories. What I was hoping to get some feedback on is, in planning a day's food, what might be a realistic range for fat intake to promote OWL? 40% of daily intake? 50%? More? Does fat intake truly seem to make a difference to your weight loss at all?

I realize that each person's results are different, but being relatively new to this way of eating, it is helpful to hear each person's experience.

Aderyn

Aderyn
I would say as a minimum 50% if you are on Atkins. I wont quote a maximum because thats different for everyone I think. I usually range between 55 and 65%. But I have those days when it 75%. I thhink if you go above 75 you are probably not going to get enough protein. But if you are on induction then you can probably go as high in fat as you like since carbs are only 4% of a 2000 calorie diet. But as carbs go up then fat comes down usually.
Rob

My range is between 50 and 65 % fat!

To get to the rainbow you must first pass through the rain!

Thanks, guys! I am way past induction and, I suspect like many people who begin a new way of eating, beginning to think more about overall nutrition (as opposed to just "gotta lose some weight"), especially since at this point I anticipate eating pretty much like this forever. I feel so much better and am reaping so many benefits. However, I still gotta lose some weight! So it really helps to have the voices of experience to help guide my planning.

Aderyn

my question is 'how do you watch fat on an atkins diet? especially when all I eat is meat and salads...I would LOVE to cut back on my fat without being hungry just to control my cholesterol.. But where do you begin???

For my own approach, first of all I'm trying to cut out trans fats. This is not too much of a challenge on this way of eating (packaged baked goods, snack crackers, margarine, shortening, etc. are primary offenders).

Then, I'm trying to be careful about the fats I do choose. I, too, find that eating fat keeps hunger at bay. So, a fried egg and some bacon might be good at breakfast. But that doesn't mean I need 3 fried eggs cooked in the grease from 6 slices of bacon--maybe 1 egg fried in olive oil with 2 slices of bacon.

Keep in mind, too, that newer research indicates that diet may not influence high cholesterol as much as was once thought. There seems to be some evidence that restricting cholesterol in the diet helps keep low cholesterol low, but does not help a whole lot in reducing high cholesterol. There's also quite a bit of anecdotal evidence that LC eating has a positive influence on cholesterol levels. Only you and your doctor know for sure what works best for you.

Aderyn

so basically we have to eat low fat, low carb and low calorie? I've been doing my best, but if that's the case please hold my water as I jump off the nearest cliff.

Chrissy
311/237/130
5'9"
Since January 29th