Hi everyone

I have been reading posts on this board for a while but have only recently joined and this is my first post.

I have been doing Atkins for about 14 weeks. I am not sure how much weight I have lost as I have had a love-hate relationship with scales in the past (mostly hate!) and besides, don't own a pair, and don't see too many around that go over 150kg. I have diligently measured myself, though, and I have lost about 16 cm from around my tummy/waist, which I am pretty pleased about, as I know it is coming off where my concentrated fat stores. My recent blood tests were also very comfortably within normal ranges. However, it is really only the tip of the iceberg in terms of my goal weight/size, so I am looking at another 12-18 months hard slog before I get near where I want to be I guess.

Anyway, I must say, compared to the other 'diets' I have been on and sucked at, this eating system has been fairly easy to get used to. My main danger is simply getting lazy, telling myself that a bit of this and a bit of that won't hurt me (but it does!). I used to be a terrible bread addict, but have not eaten a slice in over 3 months, and have barely craved it.

Anyway, to my question for you wise old owls. I have long been preached at about the evils of a high-fat diet and getting used to eating a relatively high amount of fat on Atkins is very hard, and I sometimes feel quite guilty about it. My approach is that if it works don't fix it, but my wife, who is a nurse, is concerned that there is too much fat in my diet and would prefer me to do a low-fat version of the plan. However, Atkins clearly says not to try a low-fat Atkins, but I can't really fully appreciate his justification for why and how a
high(er) fat intake is actually beneficial for weight loss.

Is there anyone out there who could actually explain for me how this might be the case, and how eating more fat could contribute to burning fat?

Thanks in advance.

Hiya
You need to get your daily calories from somewhere. If you eat fewer than your base metabolic rate your metabolism will slow right down and you will find it impossible to lose weight.
Fat is a good source of dietary calories. Your other choices are protein and carbs. You know the result of eating carbs... I think it would be hard to get the calories you need from protein. Also, protein converts to glucose, and glucose needs insulin. Insulin stores fat. If you're running on fat and ketones, your body will not be producing very much insulin. So no fat storage. You'll be producing glucagon instead. Glucagon stimulates fat cells to release triglycerides into the bloodstream...

Hope this makes a bit of sense.
S

Hi Bubbleboy, welcome!

As Sinbad says, you need the fat to use as fuel. It's not a high protein diet, as people often erroneously describe it, it's a high fat, adequate protein, low carb plan.

I would add too that it may help if your wife reads your copy of DANDR. I'm a nurse myself, and was also brainwashed for years about fat.
Remind your wife that every study done proving the "evils" of fat (esp saturated fat) has been performed on groups of people who also eat high carbs. There have been no studies ever anywhere showing that a high fat plan (in the absence of sugars and starches) causes any harm.
You might also suggest to your wife that she has a look at "Low Carb Studies" on the orange bar at the top of the screen. She will find some reassuring info there.

Cheers, mate.

Rosebud

Isn't this information reassuring for your wife? Of course she would have every right to be concerned if they were outside of the normal ranges, but as you stated they are confortably within them.

Hi bubbleboy, welcome. Glad that you posted :-)

It is difficult to adjust your thinking about fat after years of being told fat = heart attack... fat = obesity.

Having said that .. I love eating a high fat diet. I have, however, since starting Atkins found myself a bit turned off by saturated fats (never thought would hear myself say that).

As much as possible I have been choosing lean proteins, and adding good fats... like stir frying my veges in olive oil, making nice vinegar and olive oil dressings, avocado, will include nuts and seeds too. I made a great linseed/protein powder cereal to have instead of the bacon and eggs for breakfast. Perhaps your wife will feel more comfortable with your high fat eating if you work in more good fats? Of course I am saying this not really knowing what sort of fats you are consuming.

Take care, and congratulations on the shrinking waist.

Luscious

Hi everyone

Thanks for all your replies.

I can see now why fat is important, but it leads to another question - isn't it beneficial to consume less calories than you burn? I actually know the answer to that one, i guess - the answer is the last time I put back all the weight plus interest from the last "low fat - low cal" diet I went on.

My wife has very gradually coming around to the fact that Atkins is benefiting me. She can see I am eating more veggies than ever before (salads most nights), but still it is the old fat thing. She was pleasantly surprised at my last cholesterol reading. STill, the brainwashing dies hard.

For me I need to have that confidence that putting fat in my mouth is not sending it straight to my belly; after all I have had the "you are what you eat" adage force fed to me most of my life.

My mother's favourite saying was "It's not the bread that's fattening its what you put on it". LOL all that ever achieved was a son who was a bread addict!!

Thanks for welcoming me to the LC community!!

Yes! That's how you lose weight... (well, less than you burn AND excrete in the form of ketones).
However, remember that you burn more than your BMR every day. You need to fall somewhere between your BMR and your total daily burn

Steven

Howdy

I've read this article and it absolutely blew me away and changed my thinking/presumptions heaps as to how are bodies work and how we metobolise energy and so on. As far as addressing the doubts re high fat or not, I would highly recommend you and your wife read this.
http://www.mercola.com/2001/jul/14/insulin.htm