Very low fat diet working?!

Question
Stacy
Sorry its private, but my friends use this site too!
I have tried low carb, no gluten, vegetarian diets  to no avail. I am 56 and at least 50 pounds over. When my buddy passed recently from a massive unexpected heart attack, I started to look closer at my diet. He was very much like me, same age and weight, on a low carb diet. Bacon and eggs every day-you get the picture.
I had tried low fat-under 36 grams of fat a day which is recommended for my weight based on percentage of calories- but it didnt 'kick in'. I decided to go very low-what the 'experts say is too low-under 10 grams of fat I day. Now I am starting to slowly lose weight!? I can still eat lots of food  as long as there is little or no fat in it. My calorie count is actually greater now than when I was low carb. Also, my digestion has improved.I cant figure this out. Is it possible that some people like me are just 'fat sensitive'? One more thing, I do drink a bit too much beer, and in the past a few buds with a steak would guarantee bloating and weight gain next day, bloating for days after. Now I can have a few with a low fat meal of say skinless chicken breast, and no issues at all! I am still amazed, and a bit mad I didnt discover this sooner. After all, isnt a low fat diet old school and recommended  by doctors? Google low fat diet and low CARB diet  comes up instead!
Thanks for your thoughts Stacy, and God Bless you and yours! Spring iscoming! Wheeeeee

Answer
Hello Joe, losing weight and staying healthy is hard work.  There are no simple solutions or magic here.  I commend you for wanting to take control of your own health and turn things around.  In order to lose weight you have to consume fewer calories every day.  To lose one pound per week you have to cut your caloric intake by 500 calories a day.  Going on a very low fat diet is not necessarily the approach you want to take.  In doing so you may be missing some key nutrients from your diet.  Your digestion has likely improved because you are making healthier choices.  Fewer processed, high fat foods.  Drinking and eating a large steak meal would cause most people to feel bloated and full. It's not the steak alone it is the alcohol, the portion size and all the side dishes that come with the meal.   

What you need to do is stop focusing on low carb, low fat, no fat and instead put your energy into eating whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy fats (omegas 3 & 6) that you can find in foods like salmon, nuts and olive oil. This is only a distraction to keep you from doing what you really need to do to lose weight.  Watch your caloric intake.  One way to do this is to use an app or a program online where you record everything you eat for a few days.  Look at what your totals are and then find areas where you can cut back.  Watch your portion sizes and keep alcohol consumption to a minimum. Now that the weather is improving make sure that you get outside and exercise.  The weight will come off and you will improve your health.  Good luck and best wishes for reaching your goals.  

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