We all hear too many mixed opinions about what our diet should be like...
The reality is, everybody is different!
Everybody has different requirements,
and we can’t all go on the same diet.
When I first started training I had the goal of losing weight.
The very first time I stepped foot into a gym,
I was told that in order to lose weight I need to completely cut fats from my diet.
Being completely new to weight training and dieting, guess what I did?
Call me insane... but I started that day!
I was very strict on myself and I lost weight fast.
However..
I was also noticing severe effects on my energy levels.
I felt very tired and fatigued all the time.
I was SO TIRED ---- that I would sleep on average 10-12hours a day.
Crazy yeah?
Even though I was very tired all the time,
I was very strict and worked extremely hard.
But after 2months,
I began to notice a plateau in my weight loss.
I did not change a thing about my diet or training,
and in my belief, I was stricter than ever!
I couldn’t understand why this was happening!
At this point, being frustrated I completely cut out dinner.
Can you guess what happened next?...
(dramatic pause)
I put on a kilo!
Okay...
that might sound bazar.
So let me explain what happens next.
This totally freaked me out!
....and of course, I crashed.
In a matter of no time I put the weight back on.
You see…
In that stage of my life,
I was very unaware of how harmful this particular diet was.
I completely crashed after those two months.
This (so called diet) was not sustainable.
I was setting myself up to fail.
I have learned my lesson, and now I would like to share my experience with you guys
and teach you, why you shouldn’t cut fat from your diet!!!
I don’t want you to make the same mistake as I did.
Okay..
Now let’s get this straight,
when I mention fat, I don’t mean the bad fat,
like the fats found in cake, ice cream, etc.
I mean the good fats like fat from eggs, yogurt, nuts and so on.
I agree 100% with a balanced diet that is flexible and fits with your calories and macros for the day.
But we can leave that topic for another time..
Let me ask you..
How many of you still believe that in order to lose fat,
you need to consume less of it?
Wrong.
Here are 5 important points you need to know..
1) Fats are essential for growth and development.
They provide you with energy, maintain healthy cells, and protect your organs.
It contributes to having shiny hair, strong nails, and smooth skin,
and it’s also essential for muscle growth and function.
2) Eating fats makes you happy.
Eating yummy foods makes you happy,
and it turns out that low fat versions don’t do the trick.
Omega-3 fatty acids are known to support serotonin levels in the brain.
What is serotonin?
Serotonin is an essential neurotransmitter for emotional stability, calmness, good sleep, and a general state of wellbeing.
You probably heard that chocolate makes you feel happy, and it’s right.
Because chocolate is a serotonin boosting food.
Some other serotonin boosting foods include: eggs, cheese, tofu, salmon, nuts and seeds.
One thing all those foods have in common is that they are high in fats.
3) Another important reason to eat fats is vitamin absorption.
Eating a diet too low in fat can interfere with the absorption of the fat soluble vitamins,
including Vitamin A, D, E, and K.
Because these nutrients are fat soluble, your body needs dietary fat to utilize them.
4) Fat keeps you fuller for longer.
It increases satiety – a feeling of being “full”
and it's a longer lasting energy source.
I would like to add…
I am a very big coffee drinker and needed numerous coffees throughout the day.
I introduced unsalted butter to my black coffee, and now only drink 1 or 2 coffees a day,
and it doesn’t give me that quick fix and crash where I crave another.
It helps sustain my energy throughout the entire day.
You should try it!
And..
5) Low fat diets are destructive to your hormones.
Eating enough good fats is one of the most important things you can do to balance hormones naturally.
In conclusion…
The 5 points I have mentioned are only scraping the surface of why fats play such a vital part in our body.
By including fats in our diet and having a more balanced approach to our eating,
we are less likely to fall off the wagon..
(like what happens in crash diets).
We’ve all been there at some point..
All it takes is that one party, a holiday or walking into that shop,
and we suddenly give in and binge.
Then we say “F*** It” I’ll start fresh on Monday.
Do you know what happens when you crash diet?
Your body triggers a survival response..
Your body is sensing low calories and starts immediately making adaptations to lower you metabolic rate.
So that when you do “give in” and binge eat “naughty foods,”
It will upregulate several systems that will enhance fat storage.
Research shows the slower you lose weight,
the more likely you are going to keep it off.
You can’t cut fat completely.
It is not maintainable.
We need to set ourselves up for a sustainable diet plan and work hard and be consistent.
Lastly
Eating good fat is vital to your body; don’t cut it out of your meals.
It's a vital part of balancing your hormones and mood.
If you are not quite sure what fats to eat.
----Here are some suggestions:
You will notice amazing changes from the inside and out.
Be a healthy, happy you.
Good luck.