Many people who are trying to eat healthier are still afraid of fats. With so much mixed messaging out there, it’s no surprise. From low-fat food trends to keto’s high-fat obsession, understanding what’s actually good for you can feel overwhelming.
Our nutrition coaches in Norwood hear these questions all the time. That’s why we’re breaking it down.
In this post, we’ll explore the truth about good fats vs. bad fats, debunk the myths, and show how nutrition coaching can help you feel confident — not confused — about your choices.
What Are Fats and Why Do They Matter?
Fats are one of your body’s three essential macronutrients, alongside protein and carbohydrates, and they play a critical role in supporting both your body and brain.
For years, fats were unfairly blamed for weight gain and heart disease, but current science tells a different story. In fact, your body needs fat to thrive.
At Fit Body Boot Camp, we focus on helping our members understand the role of dietary fats as a fuel source, a hormonal regulator, and a tool for satiety, not something to fear.
Benefits of Having Fats In Your Diet
The right balance of macronutrients in your diet will help you feel your best, fats included. Here’s how healthy fats can support your fitness journey:
- Regulate hormones, especially those related to metabolism, hunger, and reproductive health
- Support brain function and cognitive performance, since your brain is nearly 60% fat
- Aid in the nutrient absorption of fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K
- Boost cell membrane integrity, which supports everything from muscle repair to immune function
- Provide long-lasting energy, especially helpful for those balancing workouts and busy lives
- Keep you full and satisfied after meals, reducing mindless snacking or sugar cravings
A balanced diet doesn’t eliminate fat. Instead, it prioritizes the right types of fat in the right amounts.
That’s where guidance from Fit Body Boot Camp coaches can be game-changing. Our approach to nutrition coaching helps you find the right strategy, support, and sustainable change.
Good Fats: Your Body’s Secret Weapon
Good fats can be categorized into two main types: monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. These are the fats that people often learn to incorporate into their meals rather than avoid.
Common examples include:
- Avocados
- Olive oil
- Almonds, walnuts, and seeds
- Fatty fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel
Benefits of eating more healthy fats include reducing “bad” LDL cholesterol, lowering inflammation, and supporting heart health. Plus, they help you feel satisfied for longer, reducing cravings and emotional eating.
Bad Fats: The Ones to Minimize (Not Fear)
Some fats make it harder to reach your goals, not because they’re inherently evil, but because they don’t support your heart, energy, or metabolism the way healthy fats do.
Two types of fats you should limit in your diet include:
- Trans fats are found in some packaged snacks, baked goods, and frozen foods. While mostly banned in the U.S., trace amounts can still show up. Scan labels for “partially hydrogenated oils” and steer clear.
- Saturated fats are common in fatty cuts of meat, full-fat dairy, and creamy sauces. These aren’t off-limits, but too much can raise LDL (“bad”) cholesterol.
Norwood Fit Body Boot Camp nutrition coaches keep it simple: look for whole-food swaps and read ingredient labels. Replace packaged snacks with fruit or nuts, choose lean proteins, and use olive oil instead of heavy sauces.
These small shifts help you replace unhealthy fats with nourishing ones — a simple, effective way to build healthier habits that last.
Busting Fat Myths: What Coaches Want You to Know
Even with all the science we now have around nutrition, myths about fat still show up everywhere, from social media to outdated meal plans. Our coaches hear these myths regularly and want to set the record straight.
Here’s what you really need to know:
Myth 1: “Eating fat makes you fat.”
It’s a common belief, but it lacks supporting evidence. Weight gain actually happens when you consume more calories than your body needs over time, not from eating fat itself.
Healthy fats can actually support weight management by keeping you full longer and reducing cravings. Our coaches help members learn how to include the right fats in the right amounts as part of a sustainable eating plan.
Myth 2: “Low-fat means healthy.”
Not necessarily. Many low-fat packaged foods replace fat with sugar, salt, or refined carbs, which can have adverse effects on blood sugar and energy levels.
Our nutrition coaches encourage clients to focus on whole foods, rather than relying on marketing labels. An avocado or a handful of nuts is often a better choice than a processed “low-fat” snack bar.
Myth 3: “All saturated fat is bad.”
Saturated fat has a bad reputation in the nutrition community, but the truth is more complex. While excess saturated fat can raise LDL cholesterol, not all sources are equally harmful.
Whole foods, such as eggs or coconut oil, work as part of a balanced diet when you eat them in moderation. Our coaches help you examine your entire dietary pattern, not just one ingredient, to develop a realistic and healthy approach to eating.
How Nutrition Coaching in Norwood Makes a Difference
At Fit Body Boot Camp, our approach to nutrition coaching is rooted in education, personalization, and realistic action — especially for clients in Norwood who are navigating real-life schedules, families, and stress.
Your coach will teach you how to:
- Recognize which fats support your goals and which hold you back
- Read food labels to avoid hidden trans and saturated fats
- Add the right types of fat to your meals to boost energy and control cravings
- Make sustainable swaps, not drastic overhauls
Ready for More Clarity Around Your Diet?
If you’re still feeling unsure about which fats to eat and which to limit, you’re not alone. The good news is that you don’t have to figure it out on your own.
With guidance from our expert coaches, you’ll learn how to eat in a way that helps you meet your nutrition goals without giving up the foods you love.
Join Fit Body Boot Camp in Norwood for personalized nutrition coaching that makes healthy eating simple, sustainable, and effective.
