Weight Loss Wednesday: Fat-free or Good Fat?

Remember when the fat-free craze hit big time a few years back? Fat-free chips, cookies, candy, snacks and such? It seemed the whole weight-loss world had boycotted fat forever.

Including me.

Now, I was able to be successful in losing weight on a nearly fat-free diet. Between babies two and three I dropped over 40 excess pounds that I gained during pregnancy. However, there was one slight problem with staying on a low-calorie, nearly fat-free diet.

I was hungry.

All the time!

Since those days I have schooled myself about fat. Is fat always bad? I think I have discovered the answer is no.

In fact, this time around I am trying to make sure I get enough fat. The so called “good” heart-healthy fat.

MUFAs (pronounced moo-fah) are monounsaturated fatty acids, plant-based fats found in some of the world’s most delicious foods–avocado, nuts and seeds, oils, olives, and dark chocolate! Studies show that these good-for-you fats enhance heart health and protect against chronic disease. And now the latest research shows that these dietary superstars may even target fat where it’s hardest to lose–in your belly! (From Prevention.com:)

So now, I try to have some of these everyday. And since fats metabolize slower and stay in your system longer, I feel hungry less often.

Before for an afternoon snack, I would have a fat-free “mock” treat–you know like a low cal, fat-free Twinkie-type snack or some fat-free potato chips or cookies. They tasted great and were around 100-150 calories.

But I was hungry again in less than an hour since they were made of empty white flour carbs and no fat.

Now, for a snack I’ll have a handful of raw almonds or some sliced turkey wrapped around a wedge of avocado and sprinkled with sea salt or even my beloved three squares of dark chocolate–so dark it is almost like baking chocolate!

They taste great, are between 100-150 calories and I am not hungry again for up to three hours.

Yeah good fats!

If you’d like to read up on these MUFAs here are a few links:

Eating MUFAs for a flat belly

Shopping for MUFA foods

Okay…let’s do our regular check in. How was your week?

Mine drove me crazy since I have banished my scale to the barn for a while. I did not have time to fit in exercise except for two days due to a reason that will be explained in a future post. My eating was great on three days and so-so the other four. I am using a pair of jeans for measurement and they fit just like they did last week so I don’t think I have gained but don’t feel a loss either.

How about you?

And what are your musings about the whole fat-free vs. good fat subject?

Leave a comment with your thoughts.

I’ll grab me some dark chocolate and read them! :-)

Sweet Blessings,

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