Healthily Increasing Body Fat?

[Anonymous]

Is there a healthy way to increase body fat? I've tried incorporating healthy fats into my diet and get plenty...as a result, I've gained weight but my body fat is still at 10-12%. (Per my doc, I need to gain fat, not weight, in an attempt to kick-start my body into ovulating regularly before TTC.)

[Anonymous]

Sorry no clue. I'm at like 30%...Do you lift a lot of weights?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry no clue. I'm at like 30%...Do you lift a lot of weights?

Nope. I make a point of never running or lifting weights since I tend to get muscular quickly...I'm so not a gym rat, but I do have a healthy lifestyle and get a lot of out-and-about activity.

[Anonymous]

What's your BMI?

[Anonymous]

Fat doesn't make you fat, it just supports brain, endocrine and cellular function. Carbs, or fat and carbs together, make you fat.

It's still a good idea to increase fats to support fertility, but that should include saturated fats from pastured meats (including organ meats) and eggs, as well as fatty fish, nuts, olive oil, etc. Healthy fats for fertility do NOT include polyunsaturated fats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fat doesn't make you fat, it just supports brain, endocrine and cellular function. Carbs, or fat and carbs together, make you fat.

It's still a good idea to increase fats to support fertility, but that should include saturated fats from pastured meats (including organ meats) and eggs, as well as fatty fish, nuts, olive oil, etc. Healthy fats for fertility do NOT include polyunsaturated fats.

Wow, how . . . made up. Looky here, paleo person, if you've found a diet that works for you, yay, but get a grip.

Healthy fats for pregnancy and lactation include, prominently, omega 3s, which are polyunsaturated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's your BMI?

20

[Anonymous]

Olive oil is a great source - whip yourself up some easy homemade salad dressings, I like oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, and pepper.

Eggs are a good source, and I try to make guac when I think of it or eat avocados. Nuts are a great source of healthy fats, preferably raw and unsalted.

I'm in your same boat OP. I'm getting my thyroid tested next week. I've always been slim but can't keep weight on lately, and I don't know if its anxiety and stress or something else.

[Anonymous]

16:40 has some great suggestions: healthy oils, eggs, nuts, avocados. You can put nuts in things like muffins (if you like to bake) and smoothies, too. Fatty fishes if you like them (salmon, etc.). If you drink milk maybe going with something other than skim.

[Anonymous]

I'd be happy to give you some of my fat-friendly DNA, but probably not what you want. HOwever, I think there is a book on this, called the Fertility Diet. yes, lots of healthy fats.

Have you had other tests (re hormones, such as thyroid, etc) done as well? are you eating plenty of calories in general? maybe you have a freaking fast metabolism? ITs unusual for women to have such low body fat without trying, so perhaps its worth exploring.

good luck!

[Anonymous]

PP - Small amounts of O-3 (and PUFAs as a minor component of whole fats) are obviously fine. Primarily polyunsaturated, primarily O-6 vegetable oils are not.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I'm already doing loads of healthy fats, including most of the suggestions above, although they are greatly appreciated (avocado, whole milk, nut butters, good ice cream, olive oil). I've gained a fair amount of weight doing this, but no measurable body fat increase and still no ovulation. It sounds like I should get my thyroid checked and feel lucky, except for this pesky IF thing.

[Anonymous]

Stop being as active. When I work out, I can eat whatever I want and not gain. Enjoy being a couch potato for awhile. Eat later in the evening. Think like a bear in hybernation.