How Much Fat?

[studyinscarlet]

So I've read the book (few times) and I've read the posts about the percentages so I know the ratio of fat that I should be eating but what I am wondering is, how much actual fat (in grams) is too much and how much is too little? 65% of your total intake could be 40 grams a day or 140. What is a good healthy and effective range? Thanks!

[carbless_in_seattle]

Re: How Much Fat?

well, i know that for induction I figured it out like this. So I'm supposed to eat less than 20g/carbs/day. AND carbs are not supposed to be more than 5% of my diet, right? so 20g/carbs, as 5% of my diet, and then I'm supposed to eat 30% protein and 65% fat, that=

20g carbs= 80 calories

80 calories is 5% of 1600. So according to Dr. Atkins, on induction I should be having around 1600 calories a day.

65% of that (fat) is 1040 calories. Divided by 9 (calories in a gram of fat), is 115.5.

So about 115g of fat/day is about right for induction.

I guess when you move onto OWL and start adding more carbs, that your fat naturally goes down? That's what people say anyway, which implies that you stay at 1600 calories, your %'s just change. I guess that's why some people say Atkins is really just another version of a low-calorie diet, because your calories are naturally kept restrained by the ratios. I'm probably going to get torn a new one for writing that.

[studyinscarlet]

Re: How Much Fat?

I'm probably going to get torn a new one for writing that.

Haha, it does end up being somewhat low-cal for me just because of the appetite suppression.

Anyway, that makes sense though. Thanks. I have been eating about that much (80-100 grams a day now that I'm in OWL) but I wasn't sure if that was enough or too much. 115 grams of fat a day just seems like so much but I guess that's just the old me's way of thinking about it.

[Greeneggs&ham]

Re: How Much Fat?

Wow! I thought I was a math nerd, but that is really nice use of algebra. So Dr. A -IS- trying to stick us on a low calorie diet after all! Nice detective work Carbless!

[liv]

Re: How Much Fat?

Dr A did not really use that ratio. It sort of have come up later to help people understand how much of what to eat. I liked the math too

[not2late]

Re: How Much Fat?

The percentages are based on Duke University's analysis of an Atkins Induction menu. The study was done when Dr. ATkins was still alive and he served as a consultant for the study.

But to the original question of how much fat. Not that much. 1 tablespoon of butter or olive oil has about 100 calories. That's just to give you an idea of a physical amount of fat. There's a sticky in the Induction Forum that explains "how much fat" you eat.