How Many Grams of Fat Are Needed to Lose Weight?

You want to lose weight by eliminating all foods containing fat. Your primary goal is to lose the weight, keep it off and look good forever. Many crash diets eliminate fat yet crash diets are often temporary. To lose weight, you do not need to eliminate all fats. Your body needs a certain amount of fat. Eliminating it completely from your diet will not lead to a healthy body. To lose weight while consuming fats, you need to know how much fat you can eat and which fats are healthiest.

Amounts

To lose weight, you may consume up to 75 grams of "good" fats per day. That's a guideline, so don't stress if you only consume 50 or 60. Besides fats, your new food plan should include fruits, vegetables and whole grains. To satisfy your fat intake, you may consume small amounts of lean meats, poultry and fish as well as low-fat dairy products such as yogurt and some cheeses.

Fats

Know your "good" fats versus your "bad" fats. Bad fats include the obvious -- ice cream, cake and cookies, basically any food that has been commercially processed or roasted or injected with high-fat additives. "Good" fats include lean meats, poultry and dairy fats. Also strongly recommended are olives, unpasteurized butter and cream, peanuts and peanut butter, flaxseeds or flaxseed oil, extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil, almonds, pecans, walnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, macadamia, fatty fish like salmon.

Eating

Eat six small meals a day. Have a snack between lunch and dinner, late afternoon being a time when your body craves nutrients while it struggles to get through the second half of the day. By eating six small meals a day, you help your body adapt to a decrease in calories. Don't forget to treat yourself every once in a while by eating your favorite fatty dessert or snack. By doing this, you will satisfy your food cravings. Remember, consuming fats with a healthy eating plan is not a crash diet but a permanent lifestyle change. Combine this new healthy eating plan with exercise and you will lose weight the smart way.