Weight Loss, Fat Loss, and Maintaining Good Fats

Awhile back my girlfriend started melting down regarding weight loss. Her Dr. advised her to lose weight after finding her blood pressure quite high. "He told me I have to loose 35 pounds, and soon because it's a health risk among women over 35. I could end up with all kinds of problems including heart disease!"

She leaned into my face at my desk at work, "When I asked him what the best way to lose weight was, he said, "Weight watchers or a similar method to it, is the safest way to lose the most weight and you'll have more chance of keeping it off."

I was interested in her problem, but wasn't sure what the urgency in her demeanor was. Then she said, "Would you join a weight loss class with me? I need a friend to support me; I read that it's better if I have a buddy."

She is such a dear woman and so innocent in her ways, that although I'm not more than 10 pounds over my optimum weight, I said, "Sure Michele, how much is it to join?"

I smiled when I found out she had already booked us an appointment right after work that day. So, at a nominal charge we joined a weight loss class, and I found out some things I hadn't been aware of.

First, we were measured and weighed, and sat in on informative meetings. We discussed how my "mere" 10 pounds of fat was equivalent to packing around 10 pounds of butter! If you carry anything weighing 10 pounds around in your hands all day, you would get tired.

So, it's obvious eliminating fat is important. However, eating enough good fats is also important for the overall health of your cardiovascular system and the elasticity in your skin! Have you ever seen a person who has gone on a really strict fat free diet with little or no meats, etc.? They get so dry looking, and their wrinkles show up much more. This is caused by a lack of good fat in their diet that makes them look gaunt and haggy. Yes, I said it, haggy.

Eating certain amounts of good fats like olive, flax, or peanut oil daily is highly recommended. Make sure you get your omega three fatty acids too. Our bodies don't produce this essential antioxidant and it is very important. It is found in fish, but you can buy it in supplement form.

This class taught, as weight watchers teaches, that all food is good to eat, but, not every day and portion control is extremely important.

I learned there are certain foods called "free foods." Things you can eat without worrying about portion sizes. The list is huge, so look it up, if you're going on a diet, they are mainly non-starchy vegetables. Things like carrots, green beans, lettuces, onions, spinach, celery, bok choy, mushrooms. Most things you would find in a stir fry are considered low enough in calories that you can fill up on them and not even count the calories for your daily intake. Eat them raw is to get the most benefit.

If you like to munch throughout the day, this is a great piece of info.

The information on good fats and low calorie foods we should all be eating is extensive. We had fun looking it up online.

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