And…we’re back. Sorry for the 2 week delay in the FMM (Friday Morning Motivation). I’ll try not to let it happen again. Let’s pick up where we left off, shall we? In the previous two FMM episodes, we covered Carbs and Protein. Check them out if you want to refresh your memory. Today we’ll cover Fat.

Say it loud and say it proud, “FAT IS GOOD- FAT IS MY FRIEND!”

Learn and apply this mantra and it will go well with you. Continue down the lite, light, fat-free, low calorie, no calorie grocery isle and suffer the consequences.

Fats serve many purposes in your diet and your body: they not only provide thermal insulation and a source of energy, but also are involved in important functions, providing for example the materials for components of cell membranes and the myelin sheaths that electrically insulate nerve fibers. They also help us absorb vitamins A, E, D and K. While it is nearly impossible to remove fat completely from the diet, it would be unhealthy to do so. Some fatty acids are essential nutrients, meaning that they can’t be produced in the body from other compounds and need to be consumed in small amounts.

Here’s the deal. Fat has been vilified by the food and weight loss industries and it’s just not right. Furthermore, it’s very likely that the lack of good fat in your diet that is keeping you overweight. The misplaced distrust of dietary fat may very well boil down to a couple of factors- the fact that it’s called fat (and nobody wants to be fat) and that fat has more calories per gram than carbohydrates and proteins.

Let’s deal with those two things. First and foremost, dietary fat does not make you fat. Fats have little or no impact on insulin levels (insulin is a fat storage hormone) and, therefore, promote the burning of dietary and stored fat for energy. As for fats being high in calories, I say, “Good for them! ” You need calories.

Feeling sluggish? Get some good calories from fat.

Overweight? Eating good fats will help.

Want some flavor? Oh Baby! Good fats deliver!

The truth of the matter is that if no fat, low fat or lite foods were the ticket to skinny, how come Americans are still getting fatter and fatter? Maybe it’s because we’ve crucified the wrong food. Insulin responds to carbohydrate intake. For more on our country’s weight problem and the foods that have seemingly contributed, check out this excellent post by Stephan Guyenet, PhD who writes Whole Health Source-

U.S Weight, Lifestyle and Diet Trends, 1970-2007

It seems our increased appetite for sugars and grains is keeping the pounds around our midsections. So if you’re looking to cut the fat from this area, then don’t cut it out of your diet.

Good fats to check out and enjoy include- avocados, olive oil, coconut milk, coconut oil, nuts, seeds, and of course fats from animal sources like salmon and beef.

So get ‘em in there, enjoy ‘em and get that weight off!

Yours In Health,

Dr. Chris

About the Author: Dr. Chris owns and operates Biles Family Chiropractic in Waxahachie, TX with his wife Dr. Laura Biles. In his fun time, Dr. Chris operates BFC- Better Functional Conditioning, which is a premier training program comprised of bootcamps and group training that helps individuals realize their fitness potential. BFC is not a weight loss program but people lose weight like crazy. It’s not diet program but people learn how food affects them. BFC is a lifestyle for fitness.

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