How much importance do you put on the fat/protein/carb ratio?

[Zarabelle]

Hi everyone

I am learning a lot this time round and have just read a very interesting sticky about the 65% fat, 30% protein and 5% carbs goal each day.

My fat percentage is almost always in the 70s, carbs - approx 5% and protein 20s. Does this need adjusting?

I enjoy eating the fat as it makes food so much tastier. Should I be cutting back a bit and having some protein without fat?

[not2late]

Re: How much importance do you put on the fat/protein/carb ratio?

It's a guide.

I think it's most useful for the folks who

1. think Atkins is a high protein diet
2. have been brainwashed by the low fat people and are afraid to eat fat

I didn't follow the percentages during my weight loss. I ate lean meats like poultry, pork and fish so I made sure I had at least 1 serving (1 tablespoon or so) of an added fat (olive oil, nuts, cheese) along with these leaner meats and veggies, because it takes about a tablespoon or two of fat to make a meal "high fat".

[Suechef]

Re: How much importance do you put on the fat/protein/carb ratio?

I've been wondering about this. How do these things add up:

1. I read on a recent post that one mistake newbies make is too much protein.
2. According to the rules for induction we are supposed to "eat liberally" from meat, fish, poultry.

Well, which is it?

3. If there is in fact a sort of recommended amount of protein, in grams, then presumably that equates to a certain number of calories (4 c per gram, right?).

4. If we are supposed to have X grams of protein, and we are following the percentages, then it should be very easy to figure out almost exactly how much fat we are supposed to have, since it's in direct correlation to the amount of protein.

(I say it should be easy but I haven't bothered to drag out the calculator to do it )

Any thoughts welcome.
cheerio,
Sue

[mitzimarie]

Re: How much importance do you put on the fat/protein/carb ratio?

From what I understand:

When you are in Induction, the guide is 65% Fat, 5% Carbs, 30% Protein. As you progress through the rungs and add back carbs, the Carb percentage will increase as the Fat percentage decreases. The protein always remains at 30%... it is the constant.

Having said that - while I don't get too hung up on percentages, I DO track them. The thing I use them for - I make sure that my protein doesn't go over 30%... excess protein turns to glucose. And it sure doesn't hurt that I like fat.

[not2late]

Re: How much importance do you put on the fat/protein/carb ratio?

I've been wondering about this. How do these things add up:

1. I read on a recent post that one mistake newbies make is too much protein.
2. According to the rules for induction we are supposed to "eat liberally" from meat, fish, poultry.

Well, which is it?

I work in a doctor's office, so trust me when I say, Dr. Atkins is using the word "liberally" the way many doctors use it. Like if a doctor says "you may walk on your healing leg liberally", he means you may walk on it if you like---you don't have to restrict yourself if you can tolerate the walking. I know, when patients in this office here the word "liberally" used in that context they sometimes think it means "go ahead and run that marathon you were planning to do before you injured your leg 4 days ago."

Dr. Atkins is using the word in much the same way: if you want to eat lamb, go ahead; if you want to eat lobster, go ahead; you don't need to restrict the types of animal proteins on the diet.

With that said, Dr. Atkins goes on to say you don't have a license to gorge yourself on the diet and he mentions a couple times that excessive protein intake will be converted to glucose which the will eventually be converted to fat.

So the bottomline is go ahead, eat whatever meat you want, but that doesn't mean you can eat five dozen eggs and 10 pounds of bacon for breakfast.

3. If there is in fact a sort of recommended amount of protein, in grams, then presumably that equates to a certain number of calories (4 c per gram, right?).

There are 4 calories per 1 gram of protein.

4. If we are supposed to have X grams of protein, and we are following the percentages, then it should be very easy to figure out almost exactly how much fat we are supposed to have, since it's in direct correlation to the amount of protein.

There are 9 calories per 1 gram fat and 4 calories per 1 gram carb. So yes, you can figure out exactly how many grams of eat you can eat, provided you know how many calories you are eating. For example, if you are eating 1000 calories a day (I'm making it easy for me to do the math ) , then according to the percentages, it will be 72 fat grams, 75 protein grams, and 12.5 carb grams.

But honestly, I'm too lazy to do all that---counting carbs is more than enough work for me to do. So I just follow the rules and count carbs. For me, at least, getting too hung up on calories and percentages, just makes doing this Diet more of a burden than it really is.

[Suechef]

Re: How much importance do you put on the fat/protein/carb ratio?

I'm not hung up on it exactly, I just like to know how things work. Protein-wise today I've had:
6 oz pork
4 oz turkey
3 oz cheese
Adding a small amount from veggies, this puts me at around 100 g. protein which, supper left to go, seems like a lot (I don't always eat this much protein this early in the day).
So, I just wondered. Thanks for all your responses. I know the bottom line is figuring out what works for me.
cheers,
Sue

[liv]

Re: How much importance do you put on the fat/protein/carb ratio?

I don't worry about it. I keep an eye on it but do not obsess. I want to make sure that I do not scimp on my carbs. Most of the time my fat is higher than 65.

[matawguro]

Re: How much importance do you put on the fat/protein/carb ratio?

I totally ignore the ratio thing. The only importance to it that I see is when comparing Atkins to other diets that use ratios.

[Robin's Nest]

Re: How much importance do you put on the fat/protein/carb ratio?

WOW, I just learned something! I did not realize that about protein eaten in excess eventually turns to glucose. That is definately a good thing/thought for me to know! My doctors only mention.. watch the carbs! giggles.. dang. Good insight, Mitzi!

[SugarFreeSheila]

Re: How much importance do you put on the fat/protein/carb ratio?

As with fat, protein isn't something I seek out on Atkins - it is merely something I allow. Therefore, I eat only when hungry and only 'til satiated, and pay fat/protein/carb ratios absolutely no mind.

[blue996]

Re: How much importance do you put on the fat/protein/carb ratio?

I watch them and I find I almost never eat enough protein which I am trying to improve.

[Porcelain]

Re: How much importance do you put on the fat/protein/carb ratio?

I don't freak out over them but I watch them because my eating was so out of control before I started the diet, I didn't even know what a normal amount of food looked like, how many calories it was, how much fat or anything. I am trying to learn how to eat right and in a normal manner and I use it as a guideline.

[Zarabelle]

Re: How much importance do you put on the fat/protein/carb ratio?

Thanks for your comments everyone. I have found keeping an eye on my fat useful as it has reduced my calories substantially without me feeling I am missing out. x