Most of us on this forum were born at a time (or after) when the widespread low fat, low cholesterol rhetoric began in this country. We have been raised to fear fat, especially saturated fat. We have been told that saturated fat and cholesterol are the causes not only of obesity, but heart disease and other illnesses plaguing our population.

Well, the truth is coming out, slowly but surely. We have all been lied to. There are many theories as to why we have been lied to, whether it be through ignorance or through some sinister or clandestine agenda, but the fact is: IT IS NOT SATURATED FAT OR CHOLESTEROL THAT IS THE CULPRIT. IT IS SUGAR, GRAINS, HIGH CARBS, STARCH.

Mental programming dies hard. We are all programmed with a fear of fat and cholesterol. The only way to get over it is to research and read and experiment with our own physiologies.

Did you know? The link at the end of the quote contains a very lengthy excerpt from "Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats" by Sally Fallon with Mary G. Enig, PhD (NewTrends Publishing 2000. It's a fascinating, enlightening read. It is well worth every minute it takes to peruse and absorb the material. If you want to begin to give up your fear of fat and cholesterol, sit down with a refreshing LC drink of your choice and read it through. It really clears up a lot of questions and concerns.

I'd love to start a discussion here about the truth about fats and cholesterol, and the effort to give up the dreaded "Fear of Fat."

Jen, Thanks for starting this discussion. There is so much information as well as misininformation available. This forum has helped me to be better informed.

However, I struggle daily with the psychological effects. Even tho' I want to believe with all my heart that y'all are right----I fight the battle of guilt everyday in my mind! I am doing 70/25/5 M & E at this time and subconsciously, I truly FEAR waking up to find I have gained 50 lbs instead of losing!!

Manaburn suggested I adopt "I have been lied to" as my mantra. I wish it was that easy. Everyday--I see more low fat propaganda. I feel so wishy-washy!

I want to believe what I read on this forum but it still unsettles me. Maybe it is the "if it's too good to be true" thing that holds me back from being able to embrace this WOE completely.

Thanks for opening this thread.

S

This has been my main struggle and hurdle with the
WOE. I will do great for 2 months and look into one of those magazines full of lies and get really scared about the amount of fat I am eating. This always tosses me off the wagon. I really need to get it into my head I have been lied to and then maybe I can succeed. Thanks for the post.

I too am thankful for this thread. When I look at my adult life, I have been heavy 2 times. Both have been when I was "Watching" my weight (rise steadily) on Dr. Ornish's plan. This last time was triggered by my inlaws who have been very successfully reversing their heart disease. My MIL is upset about my new WOL. She is convinced that I'm hurting myself. Meanwhile, her weight is creeping up on her. I so want to direct her towards SB at least! I think that women (at least the ones I know) are more inclined to carbo load w/ bread on a lf diet. They are in maintenance, and eat meat a few times a week, and I see dad reach for another slice of pork, and mom grab another roll. Boy do I remember those days of denial. We have been lied to, and continue to be lied to. Everything about the added fat in my diet is a plus for me! I use less conditioner, less lotion, have fewer breakouts...not to mention that EVERY SINGLE SYMPTOM OF HYPERINSULINISM that I exhibited (which is most of them) Vanished. Gone. Almost immediately. My kids have their mom back! MY DH has his randy little lovebug back. I have me back! Burger anyone? Extra cheese and bacon???

I appreciate it it so much when people share the BENEFITS they have experienced with this WOE. It helps confirm that this is the way to go.

I do remember that, when I did a low fat diet years ago after my children were born, my hair fell out, what was left was thin and my nails were in terrible condition. My skin was horribly dry and lackluster.

Coconut oil has changed that! Maybe, all the other fat I am eating as well.

So--where did all the lies get started, anyway!? WHY did they think heart disease, high cholesteral, obesity, etc., was FAT related? Maybe if we go to where "the axehead was lost" we can reprogram our faulty thinking.

Ditto me. I, who used to have such shiny, thick lustrous hair, and a skin that glowed without any facial or night cream, suddenly landed with dry lustreless hair and skin on the D Ornish diet. The shine in my hair and skin came right back -- I think in a matter of weeks -- when I began Atkins --

Yep, I have had to up my fat content on induction due to exercise and the problem of waking in the night hungry. I have added more butter and pecans to my diet and its helping. I am still in ketosis.

I want to add that I believe a focus on grass-fed meat/fat is very important. The Omega EFA imbalance in grain-fed products is unhealthy. I recently discovered that arachidonic acid (an Omega 6 fatty acid) is high in grain-fed meat/fat, some people are sensitive to this acid, and it can cause inflammation and constriction in the body. I'm one of those sensitive people. My troublesome blood pressure (previously 140s/80s) was lowered immediately (108/63, as of today) by lowering arachidonic acid by a switch to solely grass-fed food sources.

Jen, out of curiosity can you give some examples of symptoms you experience? I'm interested in this. I THINK my butcher is grassfed/organic, but as they get their meats from different local farmers I can't be sure all the time. Even if I were not sensitive I would want to eat grassfed anyway.

I have chronic musculoskeletal pain (inflammation) and chronic fatigue. And I had high blood pressure (constriction). Arachodonic acid can actually aggravate or cause any inflammation or constriction problem, like asthma, which is inflammation of the airways.

My pain and fatigue are less these days, and I'm hoping over time they'll disappear completely. The blood pressure corrected itself virtually overnight. I've got sciatica, and I think I'm going to try some acupuncture for that.

It took me about a year to get over the "fear of fat" thing. When I first started Atkins, I remember thinking, "ok if this doesn't work, I am going to gain 50 lbs in no time." I was not worried about calories, and eating about 70% fat. Well, the weight immediately started falling off, so I felt pretty good. I was still a little uneasy about the high fat, though. Then, after doing Atkins for about 14 months I had a complete physical. Theh Dr. said everything was great, and my cholesterol numbers were excellent. At that point I was convinced that this was the proper way to eat. I have been at it for over 3 years now and have never felt better.

OH JL! That is music to my ears. What a great testimony to keep us on the path. I do want to look good, but more than anything, I want to be healthy! You have accomplished both.

Thank you for sharing your fantastic success! I needed that!

About 6 months ago, at 241 lbs, I was shocked when my blood pressure was close to 200 over 90-something. Rather than take the BP medication, I started LC immediately. The BP immediately began to plummet. Now, it's in the 130s over 60-something. That' a huge improvement in a very short time!

I am 53 and I do not exercise (yet) because of a chronic pain/fatigue syndrome. I have lost 44 lbs in 6 months. This, to me, is an amazing accomplishment. As I lose weight and improve my health, my pain is starting to lessen, and soon I think I'll be able to incorporate some form of exercise.

I eat lots of saturated fat and cholesterol, and lots of protein: over 2 T of coconut oil every day, lots of eggs, animal fat, fatty fish, homemade mayo made with walnut oil, fish oil, olive oil. I never count calories, only carbs. Here are my numbers from a typical day:

1949 calories 151 fat grams 9 carbs 129 protein grams

Why Have We Been Lied To? That is the question of the day. Here's a theory I have:

The FDA, the AMA, and Big Pharma are all in bed together, and have been for quite a few decades. The big mega-corporations are in there too. It's all about $$$$. And how are those dollars generated? Big bucks are tossed in their direction only if people are ill. The 'powers that be' are not concerned about our health. They only thrive when we are sick. The doctors are owned by the AMA and Big Pharma, and they are trained to 'push drugs' and they promote sickness, not health. I'm not saying that doctors are all inherently evil. They've simply been trained (brainwashed) like just about everybody else.

Our country is not a 'one nation under god' proposition anymore; it's a corporation. The food pyramid is a joke, and it is still being pushed on us to pad the pockets of the power elite.

The only way we can prove out our assumption that we've been lied to and that everything is backwards and upside down is to become our own doctors and take responsibility for ourselves. We become our own guinea pigs. We venture bravely out of the mainstream and into the fringes. We begin to think for ourselves and to turn off to the propaganda machine.

I personally don't read magazines or newspapers, don't watch television, and don't go to doctors unless it's an emergency. I've jumped off the bus. I do my research and I think for myself. One credo I've come to live by is this: If the mainstream is pushing something and everyone is soaking it up like a herd of cattle, it's probably a lie. That old adage, "If everybody's doin' it, it must be right" for me has become "If everybody's doin' it, it must be wrong." I question everything!

The propaganda machine is firmly in place and doing what it does best: hypnotizing people to succumb and believe in its agenda. To break free takes a strong act of will.

'Nuff said for now. Let's keep this going!

can you all give me some more information on the issues of fat? My dh has recently started Atkins with me due to my begging, crying and bribing. He was doing lo cal and lo fat but LOADS of carbs. KWIM? So, he is now willing to eat what I do BUT I can't explain to him articulately how fat is actually good for you. TIA!

Conspiracy effort, huh? Sheesh. It is very possible. Seems like when $$$ are involved, anything is possible

Boggles my brain. Maybe I cannot change the world but I am responsible for my little corner of the world--and it is going to be a LOW CARB corner!

LCers--REVOLT!

Jen--GREAT progress! Thanks for the encouragement!