How It All Started Pt. 3 Weight Loss, Low Fat diets, and how Fat won’t make you Fat



It was an everyday ritual; a memory embedded in the cement of my childhood memories. Every night after dinner, my grandmother would pull out the slippery/slimy bottle of Cod Liver Oil, pour it in a tablespoon, hold it slightly over the sink, and call my name. I reluctantly would get up, slowly walk to the spoon oozing thick and smelling like fish, and take one big gulp. YUK!

My grand ma had one phrase – “This will make you smart.”

My grandmother cooked every day and almost the same things every week or so. Thursdays were always fish days - Fried White Bass, Perch, Cod, or homemade Salmon patties (my least favorite). Some Thursdays I was in the mood for fish and some I weren’t. But getting up from the table without leaving an empty plate was not an option.

“Finish that plate Santo (my grand ma’s nickname for me), this will make you smart.”

I’m sure some of you have similar stories and guess what- Our Grandmothers Were Right! Lolol

Now before I go on I want everyone to stand up and say this statement 25 times

-FATS WON’T MAKE ME FAT-

History: For whatever reason the US government decided that “fat” was the main problem with our diets and the consumption of “fat” will lead to obesity and all the aliments that come with being obese. Thus “Fat-Free” foods are a billion dollar a year industry.

Why They Were Wrong – The human body actually “needs” fat. 60 percent of your brain is made up of Fats. They are essential to your brain function. You need fats to build muscle, you need fats to lose weight, you need fats to focus/concentrate, and you need fats for energy. Like I said in a previous post – when the caveman/Paleo man went hunting for food – they didn’t throw away the skin and the fat. They ate the whole damn animal.

-FATS WON’T MAKE ME FAT-

How They Were Right – Every year you will always hear or a new study saying that egg yolks or red meat is bad for you and will lead to cancer. The problem with the meat industry in this country is that animals are feed all the wrong things (along with the drugs they are given to grow fast). Cows eat grass, chickens eat bugs, and fish eat other fish. It’s as simple as that. Cows and chicken are routinely given corn/grains for food. They eat, they grow, and they get slaughtered, and processed. The problem is that when you give an animal food it’s not supposed to eat – it changes the fat composition. This is why we have the term Omega-6 fats. When cows eat grass they produce Omega-3 fats (which are good for you). When they eat corn/grain they produce Omega-6 fats (which should be avoided or limited). This is also the reason fish-oil supplements are still recommended – it’s to balance out the Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio. If all you eat is grass feed cows, fish, and cage free chickens – then you don’t need fish-oil pills (in my opinion of course). I could get into Trans, Monounsaturated, and Polyunsaturated fats but that’s for another (and much longer) blog post. The point here is to eat healthy fats whenever possible

-FATS WON’T MAKE ME FAT-

Why Avoid Fat-Free Foods? - Next time you’re at the market look at the ingredients of low-fat cheese. You might see “corn-syrup dried” or “corn-syrup solids.” This is the problem – companies take the “fat” out and put a “sugar” in. If your choice is “Fat” or “Sugar” – always go for the fat. This means pork/turkey skins instead of chips. Beef Jerky instead of donuts – see where I’m going with this?????????

-FATS WON’T MAKE ME FAT-

What I Did - First thing I did was I started thinking “grams not calories.” I try to take in .5 grams of fat per every pound of body weight. So for me it’s usually 100 grams of fat. It’s not hard to obtain because fats are wayyyyyyyyyy more dense then carbs (they add up quick!) So I usually have 1 fatty meal a day (chicken with skin on it, or a beef) and the rest of my fats are from coconut oil (marinade), olive oil salad dressing, nuts, and avocado oil. Sometimes I go lower than 100 grams and sometimes I go higher – all depends if it’s a work-out day or not.

Notes and Tid-bits

-Notice I didn’t say you can’t lose weights cutting fats out – it’s just a lot harder and very unhealthy. After all – you are taking a way a valuable fuel source for the body.
-Unless you plan on getting on stage for a bodybuilding or physique show – there is no real reason to cut fat too low.
-Again always look at every label before you buy food. Look at the ingredients first and the grams of carbs, protein, and fats second. Don’t worry about the calories.
-Fats will make you full. If you want – eat your fatty meat as the last meal of the day. You won’t get hungry later on.
-If you’re out and fast-food is your only option – just order a burger or grilled chicken sandwich without the bun. The sugars, gluten, and carbs in the bun are wayyyyyyyyyy worse than the omega-6 fats and chemicals in the meat. (in my opinion of course)

Again: I am not a doctor, personal trainer, health guru, nutrientalist, dietician, or mastermind. In the grand scheme of things – I’m a nobody; a regular guy who figured out what works for me and maybe it will work for you. We are all made different with different metabolisms, genders, birth dates, different genetic/medical histories, and different body types. You have to make things work for you.

Eat to live not live to eat folks

K


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