A New Way to Think About Body Fat

Extra weight, extra body fat – what does it actually mean and should you adjust your perspective? If you are carrying more weight than you want to or your goal is to not carry more weight than you need to, this blog post is for you.

Extra weight or extra body fat is simply a source of fuel from which the body can create needed energy. Body fat is a source of fuel for your body. We have and always have had two sources of fuel from which the body can create needed energy. The fuel we eat and the fuel we save. We eat food(fuel), energy is created from the food, we use the energy that we need, and the extra that is not needed at the time is stored in the form of adipose tissue (body fat). Our body’s intention is not to be mean to us or make us overweight. It is simply our natural protection if we cannot find food when we need it in the future.  If you eat more than you need or eat when you do not need to; your body assumes that you will need it for later. Kind of like saving for a rainy day.

So, why is this information worth knowing? Because it changes the whole perspective on being overweight. I know it is only semantics, but semantics matter.

Let’s play out two scenarios. Person A is told that she is obese and needs to lose weight. Person B is told that she has stored energy that her body needs to use.  Long-term solutions do not come from self-loathing or shame-based treatment. Long-term solutions come when one likes themselves enough to make changes and keeps liking themselves when the change is not fast enough. Which scenario will be more likely to lead to good results?

I am sure most that read this have received this  memorandum:

Weight loss diets are not a long-term solution to being overweight. They can be a short-term fix, but they will likely do damage to both metabolism and self-esteem and lead to weight being regained.  

 So, if we have more stored energy than we need or want, what do we do?   We allow our bodies to use the stored fuel. That’s it.  Simple enough. We allow our bodies to use the stored fuel as a source of energy to do the work of being human. Our stored fuel is an efficient healthy clean-burning energy. And talk about convenience… it’s attached to us, requires no refrigeration, and… it’s free.

Here are three easy steps you can do today to ask your body to dig into its beautiful, stored source of fuel. The steps also apply if you intend to avoid excess energy storage in the future.

Step 1- after you eat dinner- floss and brush your teeth. You are done eating for the day. During this normal overnight fast, your body will run out of easy-to-access, carbohydrate fuel and will need to dig into body fat/stored energy to keep you operational through the night. You are using your stored energy -while you sleep! So cool. Bonus- I  refer to this as a natural and beneficial digestive rest.

Step 2- Eat robust high protein meals that include healthy fats so that you do not have to snack between meals. This will allow your body to “dine in” for snacks.

 

Step 3- Do not eat naked carbohydrates. Pair all carbs: fruits, grains, bread, crackers, pasta, etc. with protein and /or healthy fat. For example- if pasta is on the menu for dinner- make a recipe that puts pasta in as an ingredient, not the star. Spaghetti and meat sauce modification would be small to a modest amount of pasta and a robust sauce of grass-fed meat, tomato sauce, EVOO sauteed vegetables, and a can of black lentils.

 

If you start these three steps you will be on your way to using your stored energy as it was intended to be used- as energy. These steps are a taste of what it would be like to work with a nutrition coach. such as me. If you want more, reach out by filling in the contact form.

{PLEASE NOTE- this blog post is not intended for individuals who are underweight for any reason}