I grew up on a feedlot in northwest Iowa. My dad has been raising cattle since before I was born, and these days he and my brother Jason are tag teaming it, working hard every day to bring the world quality beef that (in my opinion) tastes better than anything on earth.
Growing up, our meals consisted of meat, potatoes, and veggies, with plenty of butter to make them taste delicious. Today, my favorite meal is still a piece of red meat, and lucky for me, my parents keep us stocked with a deep freeze full of it.
At some point, though, I decided I wanted to be “healthy” and everything I read told me to choose chicken and fish over red meat. I’ve never completely given up beef, but I did cut back significantly. Additionally, I switched from pork bacon to turkey bacon, and the list could go on and on. I figured that was just the way it had to be if I wanted to take care of myself.
About a month ago, I was listening to a podcast that was talking about a high fat, moderate protein, low carb diet. It piqued my interest because for YEARS I’ve been buying low fat everything. Low fat yogurt, low fat milk, low fat cottage cheese, and had basically cut out butter all together, replacing it low calorie cooking spray whenever I made eggs, ect. Instead of fat, my diet has been high in protein, and what I learned is that I was actually focusing on protein too much.
After I listened to the podcast I decided to do a bunch of my own research, trying to figure out what made sense to me.
Studies have shown that by taking fat out of our diets, we are actually more susceptible to Alzheimer’s and other problems in the brain. Now, we’re not talking about pizza or cupcakes being healthy, but real healthy fat. The kind of fat we find in beef, and butter, and coconuts, and avocados, ect.
So if fat isn’t making us fat, what is? It might actually be eating too many grains paired with not enough exercise. Think about it. Farmers know this best. If you want to fatten up cattle, feed them some grain and as long as they don’t move around too much they’ll pack on the pounds. Turns out, the same is true for humans! Interestingly enough, most recent research is showing that people who have heart attacks aren’t necessarily people with high cholesterol from healthy fats, but people eating too much sugar. When I heard that it resonated with me, because my dad had a heart attack last October and he always has very healthy cholesterol levels, but he used to eat quite a bit of candy and other carbs.
After reading up on many different high fat diet options, I ended up circling back to the book mentioned in the podcast, because I didn’t want to go to a super high fat diet known as a ketogenic diet. A ketogenic diet means that you’re getting up to 85% of your calories from fat, and that just didn’t seem like a lifestyle that I’d be able to keep up.
I purchased the ebook called The M.A.D.E. Diet, which takes into account how active you are and gives you a formula to calculate your macros. It also incorporates intermittent fasting, in this context which means that I eat all my food within an 8 hour window so that my body can really reach a point when it’s fasted between 12 – 16 hours where it’s really able to burn off fat stores! For the last month 50% of my diet has come from fat, 30% from protein, and 20% from carbs, and I’ve truly never felt better. I have more energy than I know what to do with!
I now eat eggs fried in butter, red meat, heavy whipping cream, real bacon, almond butter, and other healthy fats on the regular. I’ve found a lifestyle that finally makes sense to me because it’s something I can do long term, and the best of all is that I get to enjoy farm food again without feeling a bit guilty! Not to mention, I’ve lost 5 pounds that I didn’t really even have a goal of losing, but always a bonus! AND all bloating has gone away! I’ve been documenting my entire journey on my fitness Instagram account: @amberkuiperfitness, so if you’d like to see what it’s like to enjoy some good wholesome fat in your life, please feel free to take a peak!
My mom and dad are in my virtual boot camp starting today, and I created a menu for them today so all they have to do is implement. They couldn’t believe everything I was telling them they HAD to eat in a day! (Turns out after years of me preaching “healthy” food, they already knew what they were doing). I’m excited about this because it seems that every time I talk with people from a farming background that it’s harder for them to get on the healthy living train because they’re scared they’ll have to give up their comfort food. Well, it turns out farmers were right all along. Enjoy farm grown meat and veggies with butter, and you’re on track! Just stay away from too many grains and all the sugar!
I’ve had so much interest in my virtual boot camp that started today, that I’ve decided to open up another pop-up boot camp starting next Monday, June 13th when I can teach more people about how to successfully implement this lifestyle. There’s not a one size fits all diet, but this definitely is the perfect fit for me and I’m excited to share it with others who might feel the same way!
My boot camp starting next week Monday will follow the 21 Day Fix and 21 Day Fix EXTREME workout calendars, and will focus on this high fat diet. The 21 Day Fix is an at home workout program that can be done from the comfort of your own home in just 30 minutes a day. It’s the program I’ve had the most success with and is on sale this month for the lowest price it EVER gets (21 Day Fix + Shakeology = $140), plus I’m offering free shipping! It would be a true joy to work with you!
Email me at amber@mommysmetime.com for more info!
xo,
Amber
P.S. For more reflections on parenthood and life, follow us on Facebook (Hun Let’s Run) and on Instagram: @ambermariekuiper and @jakekuiper! We’d also love for you to subscribe to our Hun, Let’s Run Podcast! For more info about joining our fitness community as a customer or coach, please email us at amber@mommysmetime.com!
4 Comments
I can relate to a Ketogenic diet. About 20yrs ago we put Madison thru a fasting mode while under Iowa City hospital observation. Once she reached the ketosis state…..she had this diet of Mayo and Bacon fat. I know their was a few other food options for her…..but I also remember everything was weighed out. It did not seem like much food for her.. Our goal was to eliminate her seizures with this diet.
Honestly….it was one of the hardest 3 weeks of motherhood. For a 5yr old that did not understand why she was not getting her salty chips…… she did not know what her seizures were. She would literally shake as we gave her the few Tablespoons of food that was allowed. And when the food was done ….it was done.
At that point….the seizures were not my priority. Her pleasure was the salty chips….and hot dogs. I was not going to take away one more thing from her…when so much had been taken from her already. I gave up on the Ketogenic diet after 3 weeks. I tried but I also learned alot more in those 3 weeks.
Where did you live in NW Iowa? I grew up there from Kindergarten to 7th grade! Now I live in more central Iowa. 🙂 Just curious as I don’t meet too many people who have lived in that area!
Amber I am already a beach body coach but I’m really interested in the 50% healthy fat diet you described. Can I join your Bootcamp to follow along? I’m doing hip hop abs right now and just finished the masters hammer and chisel and saw great results but no abs. I complete understand if you don’t want other coaches in your Bootcamp but I hope you can consider it. I’d love the meal plan you made for your parents. I really think it can change my life as it seems it would work better than focusing on protein. I appreciate you.
Good read..Well done! Thanks, Amber 🙂