I'm curious - if you take supplemental oils, do you count the calories in them towards your total caloric/fat intake for the day? I do - because I have to take such a large amount of them to ward off migraines (I follow a suggestion from Larry McLeary's book, The Brain Trust. He recommends a ketogenic cocktail of 1-2 T of MCT oil, 1 t -1T of flaxseed oil and 50 mg of EPA (I take as Cod Liver Oil) twice a day. This doesn't leave me a lot of calories for eating - but I would imagine that the oils act in my body as any other energy source would.

Anyone?

I take 4000 mg of fish oil in capsule form, and 4 vitamin E capsules (don't know the strength right offhand.) I don't count the calories.

I don't count calories. However, if I did I would include those from my Fish oil.

Good girl...I love this book I am looking at right now as I type. I too take the ketogenic cocktail. Just purchased some flax oil yesterday. I do not count the calories in fat. As a matter of fact...I count nothing. Along that note, I also fast so my first meal won't be until 3:00 this afternoon. I take 1/2 of the cocktail when I awaken, the next 1/3 is taken during my first meal and my last dose is with supper. I would not count the calories in fat because, like you said, they are energy. They also help to absorb more nutrients in your diet fats are good brain food.

I usually try to take two teaspoons of Carlson's "The Very Finest" Lemon Flavoured Liquid Fish Oil daily - but I don't include this in my calorie counting.

According to Lyle McDonald, author of "The Rapid Fat Loss Handbook" - these omega 3's are very important - keeping the body burning body fat, helpful to the metabolism, and of course - upping the intake of omega-3's relative to omega-6 fats.

If I were you, I might consider spreading out the supplemental oils across various meals (this is recommended as well in Lyle McDonald's book, "The Rapid Fat Loss Handbook"), that way you're getting a nice dose of fats with each meal, leaving you feeling more satisfied at mealtimes. I guess what I'm saying is that I wouldn't take the oils just as a morning and bedtime supplement - I'd spread them out, and take them with my meals throughout the day. That way, if you're cutting back on calories a bit - you'll still feel a bit more satisfied because of having these EFA's at mealtimes.

I've noticed that there's a whole lot of food available that's low carb and lower in calories - over time, the composition of one's diet changes when starting to look at calories at the end run of this weight loss journey we're all on. Keep the essential oils - use them as a tool to help you feel more satisfied at mealtimes. Add more veggies and so on. Keep up with the minimum protein levels. Make minor cutbacks on other kinds of foods - ie. added fats.

No, I'm not advocating low-fat - I'm suggesting making the fats (the supplemental oils) work for you as you start to look at calories.

Hmm...not sure if this is helpful - just thinking aloud here really. I don't have any research or science or links.

Sara

I enter everything into FitDay. If I don't list my CLO one day, it's usually because I forgot to take it. But then, I use FitDay to watch my nutrient intake, not just for counting carbs, protein, and calories.

I take extra (outside use in cooking) coconut oil and hemp oil, which has omegas 3,6+9. I don't count calories, but I've got a lovely glossy coat!!!!!