Hello! Trying to eat clean.

Becka4Real
Becka4Real Posts: 1,527 Member
edited November 8 in Introduce Yourself
Hi! I'm new to MFP, but excited to start my journey. I've been successful losing weight after baby #1, and now I'm working on the weight from baby #2. My family has decided to start eating clean, so I'm also figuring that out. Would love to chat to get and give encouragement!
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Replies

  • Welcome Becka4prez! I eat clean too, but I like to call it "closer to the earth". I've been on MFP on and off for a year, losing 50lbs in the process! I'll send a friend request, always looking for new friends!
  • kattbigs
    kattbigs Posts: 28 Member
    that's great! i'm new too, would love more friendly faces on my newsfeed, helps me stay on point!
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    for the record, clean has nothing to do with weight loss...

    eat the foods you like, just less of them ...

    that's all I got...
  • ndj1979 - eating clean has been a huge factor in my weight loss!! every body is different!! by eliminating sugar, I have a healthier relationship with food! by reducing dairy and grains, I am inflammation free and feel better/workout better/live a better life! by focusing on nourishing my body with nutrients from real food, my metabolism has kicked into high gear! and by focusing on meals filled with veggies and meats, not pasta and cheese, I do in fact eat less calories. IT'S ALL CONNECTED. Time for everyone to figure out what works best for their body, lifestyle and goals :)
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    9a344cfa7a0e46b7975691aaa66cbf39.jpg
  • lollitakennedy
    lollitakennedy Posts: 33 Member
    Sugar I have gotten under control. I dont eat sugar. I substitute.
    It is the salt and fat that Im working on now.
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
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  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    sjaykay13 wrote: »
    ndj1979 - eating clean has been a huge factor in my weight loss!! every body is different!! by eliminating sugar, I have a healthier relationship with food! by reducing dairy and grains, I am inflammation free and feel better/workout better/live a better life! by focusing on nourishing my body with nutrients from real food, my metabolism has kicked into high gear! and by focusing on meals filled with veggies and meats, not pasta and cheese, I do in fact eat less calories. IT'S ALL CONNECTED. Time for everyone to figure out what works best for their body, lifestyle and goals :)

    no, you replaced calorie dense foods with less calorie dense foods and created a calorie deficit. Clean eating has nothing to do with it. I do not eat "clean" (whatever that is) and I have no problem gaining, maintaining, or losing.

    please define "real" food? Is the food I eat fake, because it is not clean?

    I believe you are referring to the Thematic Effect of Food (TEF) which has been shown to be minimal.

    at the end of the day it is CICO ...calories in vs calories out because you know, math and science and stuff...

    Finally, you can eat a diet of veggies and meats, be over your calories, and gain weight, period.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    Sugar I have gotten under control. I dont eat sugar. I substitute.
    It is the salt and fat that Im working on now.

    really? So no fruits, bread, vegetables, etc? that is pretty impressive...
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    Becka, you used the word "clean" when referring to eating. Since that has no real meaning and most of MFP isn't a fan of that term, expect some backlash.

  • Mycophilia
    Mycophilia Posts: 1,225 Member
    The only clean food I eat is cabbage, and that's because I wash it first.
  • skullshank
    skullshank Posts: 4,323 Member
    edited December 2014
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    at the end of the day it is CICO ...calories in vs calories out because you know, math and science and stuff...

    tumblr_inline_mkxp06Bs4v1qz4rgp.gif

    MATH AND SCIENCE ARE DIFFERENT FOR SOME PEOPLE!
  • jasonmh630
    jasonmh630 Posts: 2,850 Member
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    sjaykay13 wrote: »
    ndj1979 - eating clean has been a huge factor in my weight loss!! every body is different!! by eliminating sugar, I have a healthier relationship with food! by reducing dairy and grains, I am inflammation free and feel better/workout better/live a better life! by focusing on nourishing my body with nutrients from real food, my metabolism has kicked into high gear! and by focusing on meals filled with veggies and meats, not pasta and cheese, I do in fact eat less calories. IT'S ALL CONNECTED. Time for everyone to figure out what works best for their body, lifestyle and goals :)

    no, you replaced calorie dense foods with less calorie dense foods and created a calorie deficit. Clean eating has nothing to do with it. I do not eat "clean" (whatever that is) and I have no problem gaining, maintaining, or losing.

    please define "real" food? Is the food I eat fake, because it is not clean?

    I believe you are referring to the Thematic Effect of Food (TEF) which has been shown to be minimal.

    at the end of the day it is CICO ...calories in vs calories out because you know, math and science and stuff...

    Finally, you can eat a diet of veggies and meats, be over your calories, and gain weight, period.

    OP... ndj1979 is right. You lost weight by creating a calorie deficit. What you were referring to is the METHOD in which to CREATE that deficit. Eating clean doesn't inherently cause weight loss. Yes, everyone's body is different... But in terms of mathematical and scientific fact, they AREN'T different.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    sjaykay13 wrote: »
    ndj1979 - eating clean has been a huge factor in my weight loss!! every body is different!! by eliminating sugar, I have a healthier relationship with food! by reducing dairy and grains, I am inflammation free and feel better/workout better/live a better life! by focusing on nourishing my body with nutrients from real food, my metabolism has kicked into high gear! and by focusing on meals filled with veggies and meats, not pasta and cheese, I do in fact eat less calories. IT'S ALL CONNECTED. Time for everyone to figure out what works best for their body, lifestyle and goals :)

    It IS all connected. Good for you for trying to create a healthier lifestyle.
  • sullus
    sullus Posts: 2,839 Member
    sjaykay13 wrote: »
    ndj1979 - eating clean has been a huge factor in my weight loss!! every body is different!! by eliminating sugar, I have a healthier relationship with food! by reducing dairy and grains, I am inflammation free and feel better/workout better/live a better life! by focusing on nourishing my body with nutrients from real food, my metabolism has kicked into high gear! and by focusing on meals filled with veggies and meats, not pasta and cheese, I do in fact eat less calories. IT'S ALL CONNECTED. Time for everyone to figure out what works best for their body, lifestyle and goals :)

    Those have far more to do with the 54 lbs you lost than the nature of the food you ate to get there.
  • sam_the_girl
    sam_the_girl Posts: 53 Member
    You can technically gain weight while eating clean, I agree with that but eating whole foods or even incorporating more fruits and vegetables in your diet has significant health benefits that can't be ignored. I think of eating "clean" the same as eating things closer to nature but I could be mistaken? Sometimes it's more important to look at the long term picture of what you're trying to accomplish (preventing cancer, diabetes, feeling awesome) then losing weight quickly. By having a clean diet, you're most likely going to lose weight (whole foods are full of fiber which will prevent those binges of eating crap), although it might take a longer time. Our bodies are designed to eat whole foods, not processed garbage. That's my two cents anyways.
  • TheVirgoddess
    TheVirgoddess Posts: 4,535 Member
    It must be Friday.
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    There is no definition for clean eating. Focus on whole foods that are nutrient dense. If you find yourself craving something "processed" or "unclean", I'm all for having it if it fits in your calories, especially if a small portion of something keeps you from binging in huge amounts after weeks/months of denying yourself.

    Find what works for you. The easiest way to do the above is cook for yourself. Pick up a cookbook and embrace the recipe builder in this app (no matter how horrible it has become, it's unfortunately what we're stuck with; I use the old recipe builder as it is easier to use).

    For snacks, find foods that work with your schedule and habits and will help you meet your goals. I like greek yogurt and also love jerky (although carrying floss becomes a must).
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    edited December 2014
    Becka4prez wrote: »
    Hi! I'm new to MFP, but excited to start my journey. I've been successful losing weight after baby #1, and now I'm working on the weight from baby #2. My family has decided to start eating clean, so I'm also figuring that out. Would love to chat to get and give encouragement!

    A couple of suggestions:
    1. describe how/what you are actually eating. Using a term like "clean" tells people nothing
    2. avoid the term "processed" which also says little. Unless you pick the foods from your own garden, everything is processed to some extent. If you mean that you are trying to avoid pre-packaged foods and cook your own, the term "convenience foods" is more descriptive

    Otherwise, welcome to MFP! The tools here work really well if you actually use them. Weigh, measure, and log accurately. Be honest about your activity level. Accept that weight loss is not linear and you will have times where you stall. Let common sense prevail.

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  • cwlsr
    cwlsr Posts: 71 Member
    Serah87 wrote: »
    9a344cfa7a0e46b7975691aaa66cbf39.jpg[/quote

    I will make it short! Thank you for the picture. It made me smile and wonder what does clean mean? I believe that clean can mean different things to different people who are making the judgment call about the food they consume.

    Please explain what clean means to you.

    Thanks
  • Becka4Real
    Becka4Real Posts: 1,527 Member
    Hey, I enjoy a good debate. Looks like everyone has different ideas. Haha For me, I'm just trying to reduce sugar and processed foods. Will I eat cake with real sugar every now and then, hell yes! But I want most of my food to be fruits, veggies, whole grains, and meat that was prepared by me! That's my definition. :-)
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    I will eat sugar every now and then, but i want my diet to mostly be foods with sugar...
    Becka4prez wrote: »
    Will I eat cake with real sugar every now and then, hell yes! But I want most of my food to be fruits, veggies, whole grains, and meat that was prepared by me! That's my definition. :-)

  • Becka4Real
    Becka4Real Posts: 1,527 Member
    Oh, also, I agree, you can gain or lose weight on any kind of foods. This is just what I think will be healthy for me.
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    cwlsr wrote: »
    Serah87 wrote: »
    9a344cfa7a0e46b7975691aaa66cbf39.jpg[/quote

    I will make it short! Thank you for the picture. It made me smile and wonder what does clean mean? I believe that clean can mean different things to different people who are making the judgment call about the food they consume.

    Please explain what clean means to you.

    Thanks

    "Clean" means nothing to me.

    I eat all foods in moderation, because in life their will always be cake, ice cream, etc. ;)
  • sullus
    sullus Posts: 2,839 Member
    edited December 2014
    cwlsr wrote: »
    Serah87 wrote: »
    9a344cfa7a0e46b7975691aaa66cbf39.jpg

    I will make it short! Thank you for the picture. It made me smile and wonder what does clean mean? I believe that clean can mean different things to different people who are making the judgment call about the food they consume.

    Please explain what clean means to you.

    Thanks

    That's the problem with the term - it has no set definition. For example I am comfortable calling many brands of potato chips (I eat Cape Cod, generally) clean. If you look at the ingredients on cape cod chips it is: Potatoes, Canola Oil, Salt. There is nothing else in them. The fact that someone else sliced and cooked them is irrelevant to me.

    Some people will say they are unclean because potatoes are unclean.
    Some will say they are unclean because they come bagged up from a factory.
    Some will say unclean because *GASP* Potato Chips, jeeez!!!

    But fact of the matter is - they're no different than chips you would make at home, natural, and yes ... Clean.
  • cwlsr
    cwlsr Posts: 71 Member
    edited December 2014
    Becka4prez wrote: »
    Hey, I enjoy a good debate. Looks like everyone has different ideas. Haha For me, I'm just trying to reduce sugar and processed foods. Will I eat cake with real sugar every now and then, hell yes! But I want most of my food to be fruits, veggies, whole grains, and meat that was prepared by me! That's my definition. :-)

    I will keep it short! Thank you for you response to my question. I believe we are on the same page. MFP allows you to monitor your food intake and by doing it daily will allow you to reduce those food items that you want to eliminate.

    The best to you in your endeavor because being healthy is what it is all about.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    Becka4prez wrote: »
    Oh, also, I agree, you can gain or lose weight on any kind of foods. This is just what I think will be healthy for me.

    ok - I do not eat clean and my health makers are almost perfect...what does that mean?
  • dieselbyte
    dieselbyte Posts: 733 Member
    sjaykay13 wrote: »
    ndj1979 - eating clean has been a huge factor in my weight loss!! every body is different!! by eliminating sugar, I have a healthier relationship with food! by reducing dairy and grains, I am inflammation free and feel better/workout better/live a better life! by focusing on nourishing my body with nutrients from real food, my metabolism has kicked into high gear! and by focusing on meals filled with veggies and meats, not pasta and cheese, I do in fact eat less calories. IT'S ALL CONNECTED. Time for everyone to figure out what works best for their body, lifestyle and goals :)

    How do you have a "healthier" relationship with food by eliminating sugar? You do know that rice, veggies, fruits, etc contain sugar, yes? So you've eliminated an entire food group? Doesn't seem like a "healthy" relationship with food to me... *the derp*

  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    Becka4prez wrote: »
    Hey, I enjoy a good debate. Looks like everyone has different ideas. Haha For me, I'm just trying to reduce sugar and processed foods. Will I eat cake with real sugar every now and then, hell yes! But I want most of my food to be fruits, veggies, whole grains, and meat that was prepared by me! That's my definition. :-)

    so you make your own whole grains and bread?
This discussion has been closed.