Low Fat Diet Plans - Secrets For Success!

Losing weight is really about losing fat, so naturally, eating less fat seems like the logical solution. But unfortunately it's not quite that simple. There are so many different kinds of fats in the foods we eat, and some are actually good for us! Add to that the variety of low fat diet plans available, and suddenly what seemed like a simple solution is now a whole lot more complicated! So we've decided to break it down for you, and let you in on a few secrets for success with low fat diets.

The Low Down on Fats

It's important to be aware of the different kinds of fats and their effects on the body, especially the ones to avoid. Saturated fats have been identified as the main dietary cause of high blood cholesterol, which contributes to heart disease. The American Heart Association recommends that your saturated fat intake is no more than 7% of total daily calories. Then there's hydrogenated fats. These are fats that have undergone chemical processing, making them similar to saturated fats, which means they also contribute to high cholesterol. The process of making hydrogenated fats, produces trans-fatty acids, which should be avoided. According to the American Heart Association, your intake of these trans fats should be less than 1% of total calories, since they are worse than saturated fats when it comes to high cholesterol. Even if you don't have high cholesterol now, if you happen to be overweight then you're at risk of developing it later on. For this reason, a low fat diet plan is a great way to not only lose weight, but also reduce your risk of further health problems.

Now, the good news is that unsaturated fats, such as polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats may actually help lower blood cholesterol, but the key is to consume them in moderation. The American Heart Association recommends that your total fat intake is between 25 - 35% of total daily calories, but should mostly be made up of unsaturated fats. So this means that a healthy low fat diet plan is not one with no fat whatsoever. In fact, it is quite healthy for one third of the calories in a diet plan to come from fats, provided they are the right kind of fats. Does this mean that as long as you keep an eye on your total calories, you can enjoy healthy fats and still lose weight too? Well, in theory, yes, but in reality you may have trouble sticking to your diet plan. Below are the reasons why.

Minimize Calories, Maximize Fiber

The catch is that these healthy, unsaturated fats contain a lot more calories per gram, and don't provide the same feeling of fullness, when compared to other high fiber foods. The trick to successfully losing weight, is to minimize the amount of calories you consume, and at the same time maximize the amount of fiber you consume. In this way, low fat diet plans can really work wonders by cutting out the foods that have concentrated calories, and which you also need to eat more of to feel full. Instead, foods that are high in fiber make us feel more full or satisfied and make dieting a whole lot easier!

You'll find that the best low fat diet plans are ones that include a variety of high fiber foods, such as fruit, vegetables and cereals. It is so important to feel that your hunger is satisfied while on a diet plan, be it a low fat diet plan, or any other plan for that matter. This is really key to avoiding the temptation to snack between meals and going over your 'calorie budget'. High fiber foods also have a lot of other health benefits, such as reducing the risk of bowel cancer. Keep this information in mind when looking for a low fat diet plan, so you can choose one that promotes your future health and ensures you start losing weight today!

The highly recommended Medifast program offers a range of low fat diet plans that have been developed by doctors and are clinically proven to produce great results. Click here to find more information about the medifastdietplan.com Medifast diet and medifastdietplan.com/diet-plan/low-fat-diets-plans-for-success low fat diet plans as well as tips and advice on successfully losing weight.