Fats

Since we have spoken about how carbs makes you fat & how eating protein makes you big and bulky, lets shift the focus to fats, & see what we can learn. “If we eat fats we will get fat” Well not quite… fats are not making you fat; eating an excess of calories will make you fat, while a gram of Fat does have more calories(9) than a gram of protein or carbs(4), it is more involved than just those basic numbers. There are good fats & bad fats, simplistically we want to eat monounsaturated & polyunsaturated fats, these both have many health benefits. Limit saturated fats where we can and avoid trans fats all together as trans fat has zero health benefits whatsoever. So what important roles do fats play, they help regulate our sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone, these need to be in a stable positive place for optimal health & the ability to train hard. We need to eat good fats to make good cholesterol & with good cholesterol our sex hormones are synthesized. By having a low dietary intake of fats you increase the risk of having unstable estrogen levels, which leads to menstrual cycle problems, a possible loss of period & creating a bad hormonal cycle & low libido. Among the above good fats play a key role in building cell membranes, are essential for bloody clotting, muscle movement, decreasing inflammation as well as being shown to reduce the risk of heart disease. Now, I can tell you that a lot of ladies have hormonal issues & blame their fat loss journey on that alone. However, maybe go back & have a look at the nutritional plan, you will probably notice it wasn’t sustainable due to the unachievable low calorie, super strict guidelines with barely any fats. I’m talking about meal plans being under 1000cals per day, THAT IS NOT MAINTAINABLE & NOT REFUELLING the body, that’s starvation & an extremely uneducated attempt at nutrition. This only causes more stress on the body, which later on down the track will include additional & more severe health issues. Strict Dieting will only work for a short term, they are not sustainable for the long-term & yoyo dieting off & on is also more damaging than you think. It is about changing your lifestyle and attitude towards food & your heath, creating a positive relationship with the two, this should be the big goal for every client & coach out there, not “quick fixes” & cash grabs that lead people into a never ending journey of short term gain for long term misery. Adding a little more fats to your eating plan may do you wonders for your health & hormonal problems & overall long-term health. If you are not to sure how to add more fats there is a list below to help you; All nuts like (almonds, cashews, macadamias, pistachios, hazelnuts, walnuts, pine nuts and pecans). Avocados Butter Ghee Olive oil Avocado oil Coconut oil Macadamia oil Salmon and tuna Think of the “Mediterranean Diet” and don’t be affair to mix things up!