Eating Fats Doesn't Make You Fat

Consuming too many calories and living a sedentary lifestyle can lead to unwanted weight gain. If you ever tried counting calories, you know how restrictive the diet feels and how quickly the sense of deprivation sets in. If you want to shed pounds and preserve metabolically active muscle tissue, try balancing your macronutrient intake. The trick to maintaining a healthy body weight lies in understanding how each macronutrient plays a different role in supporting the body, so tailor your menu plan accordingly.

• CARBS - Carbohydrates are your body's most accessible source of energy. Carbs not only provide your body with precious fuel, they aid with digestion and improves heart health. Even if you need to lose a lot of weight, carbohydrates are not the enemy, when you choose the right carbs in the right portion sizes.
• FAT - Eating fats doesn't make you fat. In fact, fats are an important energy source that helps to control your appetite and play a major role in weight management and disease prevention. Whether you want to burn fat stores or gain lean muscle, the consumption of healthy fats should stay relatively constant in your menu plan.
• PROTEIN - Protein is especially important as you age. It ties to development of lean muscle mass and satiety in terms of controlling your appetite. Your body uses protein to make enzymes, hormones and other body chemicals to support your bones, nails, hair, muscles, cartilage and skin.

Avoid placing too much focus on optimizing ratios and make sure you eat a balanced combination of real foods that will contribute to your overall health and wellness. The overall goal of weight loss should be to reduce fat deposits while preserving lean muscle tissue. Moreover, when it comes to choosing what to eat more of and what to cut back on, consider your goals for balancing body weight and muscle mass.