The Fat Phobia

I read a tweet the other day that said something along the lines of "If you're buying light soy milk, you may have a problem." Guess who buys light soy milk? That's right. This girl.

So I began to think about the other things that I buy. 0% fat greek yogurt. Fat free cottage cheese. I mean, these are foods that are already healthy to begin with, and yet I'm buying low fat and fat free versions of them?

After reading Ann Louise Gittleman's Fat Flush Plan (I decided not to do the plan because you can't do intense exercise while on it and I'm training for a half marathon), I realized that I have a fat phobia. And my guess is, you might have one too.  

In her book, Gittleman writes about hidden factors of why people can't lose weight. One of them is the fear of eating fat. "Eating fat to get thin flies in the face of reason, of everything you've heard about the dangers of fat," she writes,"You're not alone in your fear of eating fat. An estimated 80 percent of Americans eat a diet deficient in essential fatty acids."

The problem with us fatophobes is that we need fat to regulate our body functions. Water retention, sodium balance, and fat metabolism are all regulated by fat, Gittleman writes. By eating the right fats, she says, "you'll end fat cravings, feel full, have more energy, and lose weight."

But don't take this as me saying I'm off to McDonald's to get some fatty food. For one thing, it's No Fast Food February. For another thing, I'd rather sit in my house and starve then go out in the knee deep and blinding snow. Most importantly, fat needs to be in moderation. Fat has more calories per gram than carbohydrates or protein, that's why most diets are low in fat. Nonetheless, some fat is necessary. Steer clear of trans fat, though, watch saturated fat, and make sure to incorporate omega-3 fat (found in fish, almonds, etc.).

Eat fat. Get skinny. Okay I hate the word skinny. Get healthy instead.