How much fat should we consume each day

[Quiver0f10]

I have heard 30% or less is good to lose. I seem to be eating between 10-12% and was wondering if I should try for more. Thinking the low fat might have something to do with my messed up cycle.

[Jami]

Here's one lilnk you might want to look at. http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/cholesterol.html

I've heard 30% as a minimum for healthy hormones too. I'd at least make sure you're taking some sort of essential fatty acid suppplement like fish oil or flaxseed oil, I think 6 g a day is recommended if that's the only source of those fats.

Jami

[Pam "SFSOM" in TN]

Remember that if you dip low on nutrients your body needs, your body will conserve to make sure you don't die (just in case there's a famine out there). And fat, IMO, is a nutrient, and the fat-soluble vitamins that require it are CERTAINLY nutrients.

It is quite possible that you are simply making your body go into conservation mode by eating too litte. Find out how many calories it takes to nourish a body that is 20 lbs lighter than you are at your current activity level, the force yourself to eat that much per day. Once a week, go over that amount by a good bit (10% or so) so your body will clearly know there's no famine. Once a week, go under that by about 100 calories just to trick your metabolism into responding the next day. Oddly, there is a point where the less you eat, the slower you let go of fat. It sounds like you've reached that point. Try to remember where you were calorie-wise when you were consistently losing and go back there.

It always sounds like a good idea to lose weight with very low calorie diets, but it never works out long term and can really mess people up. And it sounds like it's not really working out short-term for you, either.

I really do think it's very necessary to get the fats that you need. You can't mess with your body indefinitely and not have it rebel on you. If your cycles are messing up and you're eating this little fat per day, please consider that perhaps your body is realigning your fertility (not that you're terribly concerned with that right now, but still) so that it does not get pregnant while there is a "famine" like it perceives there must be.

Drizzling some EVOO on a roasting of onions, artichoke hearts, and peppers should give you back what you need, almost. Add in a couple tablespoons of Arrowhead Mills pb, and you're golden.

Nourish yourself. Your body will certainly respond.

[Quiver0f10]

Thanks, Pam. I am going to make sure to eat more good fats. I am using sparks and have been eating middle of the road for what it says I should be eating calorie wise so I think I am eating enough, just not the right things. I will mess with it some and see.