Can I use too much butter when cooking? I seem to be averaging about 1/2 a stick when sauteeing my veggies and fish. It that too much? not enough? Can I use more?

Too many nay-sayers around me is making me crazzzzy.

Short answer: Yes.

You might enjoy listening to this podcast by New Atkins co-author, Jeff Volek. Among the key points: it is entirely possible to gain weight on a low carb diet if your energy intake exceeds your output. How much may be too much is totally dependent on what else you are eating.

He also addresses the question of whether saturated fat is good for you.

http://www.askthelowcarbexperts.com...-dr-jeff-volek/

Saturated Fat to me is great ! Butter I eat over a LB a week Fat is what keeps me full ! * just Me *

2 ounces of butter does not seem overdoing it to me, depending on how much vegetables it is being used on.

For me it depends on where I am on weightloss

Upfront, and especially as getting rid of carb cravings and what not - I would use as much butter as I wanted and never give it a second thought

Further along you might start to play around with how much you really need/want - you know along the idea of eating when hungry then stopping when full, as opposed to eating because its time to eat and cleaning the plate because its in front of you

Then as you get to those last 10-20 lbs, only then would I start to really worry about how calories and what not come into play

Of course, if you find a TRUE stall or intolerance those guidelines can go right out the window

4 tablespoons would be a lot for me. Doesn't that leave a bunch in the pan, or do you pour it over the dish?

Otherwise I'm with the others. The butter is fine, just, how much depends on where you are in your plan.

What would the nay-sayers have you do? Use less fat - maybe depending. Use mono fats - well maybe. Use pufa fats - no. Use olive oil, sigh, ok I guess but it's not magically virtuous a fat.

half olive oil and butter has a nice smoke point and flavor I've found. and no one counts sticks of olive oil.

Had to look that up, had no idea how much a stick of butter was. So... 400 calories for a half stick. That plus fish and veggies sounds like a pretty reasonable meal.

thanks for the responses

I listened to the podcast, very informative!

...and 1/2 stick would be for total meal of fish plus veggies. tilapia is just so yummy with some butter and lemon pepper.

i also like the idea of using part butter, part olive oil. Has a good flavor as well.

I use two packs(2x8oz) a week - in fact on occasions I mix approximately half a pack - 4oz with desiccated coconut as a snack. Really filling!

I work on the theory that as long as I'm in ketosis and not producing insulin, then my body wont store excess energy and any surplus will pass thru. Its worked ok for me over the last 10 years

Jo xxx

Some people won't lose weight while consuming that much. You just need to experiment. If it works for you, fine. If it doesn't, then cut back before giving up on low carb.

I lose better when I eat more fat, butter included. You just have to see what works for you.