Because fat contains 9 calories per gram (there are about 28 grams in an ounce), compared to 4 calories per
gram for protein, and 4 calories per gram for carbohydrate – another trick to (at least) maintain weight over the
holidays is to work on limiting your fat intake. This means living on fish and shellfish (without butter or oil) or
chicken and turkey (without skin), which have less than half the calories of beef and pork. The difference in the
calories is simply because beef and pork are much higher in fat. Stop using butter or margaine or oil on
anything. Switch to butter-flavored sprays or super-low-calorie butter-flavored spreads. Stop eating ice cream
and switch to sorbet, sherbert of fat-free ice cream. One again, you’re saving 50% on calories, because of the
lower fat content. If you’re going to have something fried, oven-fry it instead of deep-frying, and once again
you’ll save 50% on calories because of the lower fat content. Most patients are (almost) just as happy with
oven-friend chicken or oven-fried French fries, as the real thing – and the 50% calorie savings can keep your
from gaining weight.