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MUFAs - beautiful, tasty fats!



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There is a lot of talk on here about Protein, about carbs and about calories. What I don't see very often is talk about fats. Not the stuff we are trying to shift from our butts and guts, but the good stuff the MUFAs, monounsaturated fatty acids. Cold Water fish, seeds, nuts, avocados, dark chocolate, olives.... Great stuff! Calorie heavy but very, very good for our health and our weight loss, they enhance heart health, protect against chronic disease, and, wonderfully, they target abdominal fat.

Do people here track their intake?

Are NUTs recommending people ensure to keep their MUFA intake up?

I sometimes suspect when I see how few calories some people are consuming that they are not eating these wonderful fats. Especially when they are struggling with weight loss and get stuck in stalls.

It is so easy to become so focused on calories and on Protein and carbs that we can forget about that other part of the MFP pie chart. Our fats. We have to eat fat to burn fat.

Are you consciously choosing your fats?

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I usually have a slice of avocado or more every day. I no longer consume butter which I used to do on a daily basis. I also have many bottles of EVOO which are flavored and they are fabulous. Great post!

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I try to have a little healthy fat every day. Definitely love avocados!!

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I'm not sure if this counts and I'm very much preop but I am really getting into coconut oil...so many uses...hope my sleeve likes it post op!

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Very true and great post!

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I'm not sure if this counts and I'm very much preop but I am really getting into coconut oil...so many uses...hope my sleeve likes it post op!

Hmmm, while there are claims about health benefits from coconut oil it is very high in saturated fats and low in monounsaturated fatty acids.....

I use it in some cooking because of the flavour and high smoke point but it can't count as a MUFA, sorry!

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Avocados really are the most awesome food :-)

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Hmmm' date=' while there are claims about health benefits from coconut oil it is very high in saturated fats and low in monounsaturated fatty acids.....

I use it in some cooking because of the flavour and high smoke point but it can't count as a MUFA, sorry![/quote']

Oops... ;)

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These are great ideas. I need to up my calories, I'll give some of these a try.

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Love salmon, crave it actually, organic eggs, and avocados. I eat Peanut Butter too, not sure if that counts. Love this subject. I read a book called "Why Women Need Fat" which went into great detail about this lack of the Omega 3 fats in the American diet, why and wherefore etc., and how it is directly connected to obesity. Eating the healthy fats is so good for us!

pre-surgery weight 325; surgery date 2/28/2013; surgery weight 307; 8 weeks past-op weight 281.4

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It is incredibly difficult for me to get my hands on MUFAs these days, I am in a deployed environment, not a lot of avocadoes or salmon in these parts ;)

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I take 3-6 g molecularly distilled Omega 3 daily. It is made from sardines and avocados. The only downfall is it is very pricy. The kind I take is super Omega 3 from super, faster, healthier:

http://www.sfh.com/products/omega_3-oil

I have experienced the benefits of decreased inflammation in the body over the last 2 months:

Smaller waist ( targets that Abdominal fat)

Minimal soreness from training

Good performance during training

Increased cognitive processes

Clear and radiant skin

It is not too hard to swallow, but they make it in several flavors if that helps you. You can also mix the liquid in with something else like a shake or food.

Highly recommend everyone take a high quality Omega 3, not just the standard fish oil capsule from the grocery store or costco. Make sure you are getting at least 1 g of EPA and DHA daily whether it be this product or something like it.

I still eat salmon when it is available or add some avocado slices to salad.

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Love salmon' date=' crave it actually, organic eggs, and avocados. I eat Peanut Butter too, not sure if that counts. Love this subject. I read a book called "Why Women Need Fat" which went into great detail about this lack of the Omega 3 fats in the American diet, why and wherefore etc., and how it is directly connected to obesity. Eating the healthy fats is so good for us!

pre-surgery weight 325; surgery date 2/28/2013; surgery weight 307; 8 weeks past-op weight 281.4[/quote']

Peanut Butter is great! I have started using an organic almond and peanut butter blend which has become my new favourite :-)

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It is incredibly difficult for me to get my hands on MUFAs these days' date=' I am in a deployed environment, not a lot of avocadoes or salmon in these parts ;)[/quote']

That sucks. Can you order in supplements?

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@Fiddleman

I prefer getting my nutrients from quality food where possible, but agree that supplements can assist when we need to intensify our intake, or when access to quality nutrients is challenged. I do not take any supplements regularly though do at times where I need to.

Omega 3, while an essential unsaturated fat, is a poly unsaturated rather than a mono unsaturated :-)

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
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      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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