Clean eating whilst calorie counting
MissJS1983
Posts: 7 Member
For those that choose to clean eat whilst calorie counting. How are you getting on?
0
Replies
-
Hi MissJS1983,
I eat clean and by that I mean, I eat a plant based whole food diet. I'm exercising and losing about 2 - 3 pounds a week. I'm not eating sugar, trans fats, saturated fats, hydrogenated fats or cholesterol. Those are dirty calories as far as I'm concerned. They're empty calories and have no nutritional value what-so-ever. If other people want to eat them they can it's their life and I don't care.0 -
"Clean" means different things to different people, but I eat reasonably clean and count calories and have lost a great deal of weight while making myself healthier.
It can be done.
0 -
When you say clean eating, what do you mean? Since this is not a scientific term, it means something different to everyone. Many people will criticize the term and while I don't agree with it's cultural attachments, I won't criticize... just want to know what you mean when you say that.0
-
I have lost 20 pounds and maintaining with eating everything in moderation.0
-
UltimateEscape wrote: »Hi MissJS1983,
I eat clean and by that I mean, I eat a plant based whole food diet. I'm exercising and losing about 2 - 3 pounds a week. I'm not eating sugar, trans fats, saturated fats, hydrogenated fats or cholesterol. Those are dirty calories as far as I'm concerned. They're empty calories and have no nutritional value what-so-ever. If other people want to eat them they can it's their life and I don't care.
Of course if it works for you and you find it sustainable, then great. But terms like "empty calories" always make me cringe, along with saying that they don't have nutritional value.
Your mileage varies, it seems, but if it provides me with energy, it has value. And I don't think anyone with cholesterol levels that test in a normal range probably needs to be concerned with their intake of it.
I guess I just adopt a "use the right tool for the right job" philosophy where most tools have some use.
0 -
MissJS1983 wrote: »For those that choose to clean eat whilst calorie counting. How are you getting on?
"Today, two decades down the road, clean eating, or eating clean, is a major movement, spurred by people from all walks of life who want to feel good about what they're putting in their bodies."
What is clean eating?
http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/23/health/clean-eating/index.html
0 -
Clean eating to me means the 3 second rule. Which sometimes ends up being the 5 or 10 second rule. 0
-
-
0
-
-
We were asking OP what their definition is, not the definition that you follow @UltimateEscape, since you are not them, you cannot speak for them nor define what they think.
Again, my point was not to be critical of the term, but to ask OP what they meant so that we could have an educated discussion that steered shy of dogma. As a vegan, I understand what clean eating means to me, but my definition does not match the one that you linked, nor do I take dietary advice from CNN who has their own financial agenda to push. Please refrain from interjecting dogmatic idealism into a conversion that is not yours so that something can be discussed outside of your own well meaning, but misguided idealism.0 -
"The key to eating clean is to base your diet on foods that are as natural and unprocessed as possible. That means having a whole apple instead of sweetened applesauce, old-fashioned rolled oats instead of instant oatmeal and organic, grass-fed steak instead of a fast-food burger. By eating clean, you'll consume less saturated fat, trans fats, sodium and sugar and more fiber, heart-healthy mono- and polyunsaturated fats, vitamins, minerals and antioxidant phytochemicals. You'll most likely enhance your health and lose weight."
Source:
How to Eat Clean
http://www.ehow.com/how_2049770_eat-clean.html
0 -
UltimateEscape wrote: »"In folklore, the five-second rule states that food (or sometimes cutlery) dropped on the ground will not be significantly contaminated with bacteria if it is picked up within five seconds of being dropped. Some may truly believe this assertion, whereas most people employ the rule as an amusing social fiction that allows them to eat a dropped piece of food, despite the potential reservations of their peers."
So, what if you dropped your food on some dog poo would the rule be the same 5 - 25 seconds before you eat it?
Really? I suppose if I were hungry enough
0 -
I don't use the term clean eating to describe how I eat and it seems to mean slightly different things to different people, but I don't eat added sugar, most grains, or highly processed foods. I have lost 100 pounds doing this. Whatever you choose to eat or not eat, you can do it along with calorie counting.0
-
UltimateEscape wrote: »Hi MissJS1983,
I eat clean and by that I mean, I eat a plant based whole food diet. I'm exercising and losing about 2 - 3 pounds a week. I'm not eating sugar, trans fats, saturated fats, hydrogenated fats or cholesterol. Those are dirty calories as far as I'm concerned. They're empty calories and have no nutritional value what-so-ever. If other people want to eat them they can it's their life and I don't care.
Of course if it works for you and you find it sustainable, then great. But terms like "empty calories" always make me cringe, along with saying that they don't have nutritional value.
Your mileage varies, it seems, but if it provides me with energy, it has value. And I don't think anyone with cholesterol levels that test in a normal range probably needs to be concerned with their intake of it.
I guess I just adopt a "use the right tool for the right job" philosophy where most tools have some use.
The term "Empty Calories" has been around since 1955 and still used today to describe food that has little or no nutrition only calories. Most empty calories promote poor health that's why health care professionals advise people not to eat them.
What are Empty Calories?
Today, there are a number of foods and beverages in American diets that contain empty calories – calories from added sugars and/or solid fats, but with little if any nutrient value. Because of this, calories from added sugars and solid fats in food are referred to as empty calories. Knowing what constitute empty calories can be assistive in making better food choices.
Source:
http://www.foodpyramid.com/myplate/empty-calories/
----
empty calories
noun plural
Definition of EMPTY CALORIES: calories from food that supplies energy but is not nutritionally balanced
Source:
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empty calories
----
Empty Calorie Foods
Most empty-calorie foods are highly processed foods that contain added fat and sugar. Examples include baked products such as cakes, cookies, pies and pastries as well as puddings, doughnuts, fries, jams, syrups, jelly, sweetened fruit drinks, breaded fried burgers and ice cream. Empty-calorie foods also make up most of the long shelf life foods and beverages sold in vending machines such as chips, salted snacks, candy, soda, energy and sports drinks. Although empty-calorie foods are cheaper and more readily available than nutrient-dense foods, habitual consumption of these foods can have a negative effect on health.
Source:
Empty-Calorie Foods Vs. Nutrient-Dense Foods
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/emptycalorie-foods-vs-nutrientdense-foods-1350.html
----
0 -
BecomingBane wrote: »When you say clean eating, what do you mean? Since this is not a scientific term, it means something different to everyone. Many people will criticize the term and while I don't agree with it's cultural attachments, I won't criticize... just want to know what you mean when you say that.
Nice way to put it.
I'm not actually logging now (probably will start again next week) and I don't personally use the term "clean eating," but I counted calories and ate a really nutrition-focused diet mostly based on whole foods when I was counting (and I eat a similar diet now, but am watching portion-sizes vs. counting).
For me, I lose much better if I do count, although I seem to be able to maintain okay without it.0 -
UltimateEscape wrote: »BecomingBane wrote: »We were asking OP what their definition is, not the definition that you follow @UltimateEscape, since you are not them, you cannot speak for them nor define what they think.
Again, my point was not to be critical of the term, but to ask OP what they meant so that we could have an educated discussion that steered shy of dogma. As a vegan, I understand what clean eating means to me, but my definition does not match the one that you linked, nor do I take dietary advice from CNN who has their own financial agenda to push. Please refrain from interjecting dogmatic idealism into a conversion that is not yours so that something can be discussed outside of your own well meaning, but misguided idealism.
No, not gonna do it. If you don't like it then don't read it or respond to it. It wasn't directed at you was it?
Good to know that pseudo science and ehow has such a strong and well written advocate.
0 -
UltimateEscape wrote: »"The key to eating clean is to base your diet on foods that are as natural and unprocessed as possible.
I think it's best just to have OP answer and give her perspective when everyone is different in how they use these terms.
For example, "as possible" is problematic, since you can usually find a way to make foods less processed (grow it yourself!). I can make tomato sauce with "fresh" rather than canned tomatoes in January, but why? Just because I can? The "fresh" (where I live) aren't really fresh and are rather tasteless, whereas the canned are fine and generally nothing but tomatoes.
Anyway, I don't use the term "clean eating," but I usually think people mean basically what I mean by "whole foods" and I'm bored with arguing about it. So I just think it makes sense to find out what people do mean so a discussion can be had. If someone means "vegan" or "paleo" or "low carb," I know they don't eat like me, if they mean lots of cooking and lots of vegetables, they probably do.0 -
For me clean eating means as little processed foods as possible, as little refined sugars, preservatives, sweetners, ect. Mostly fresh whole food.
It's working great for me. I feel great, and have lost 16 lbs in the last 6 weeks. My Blood Pressure is falling, and my cholesterol levels are improving.
I do enjoy a few beers on the weekends, and will sneak some french fries when we go out so my results aren't as good as they should be, but I'm ok with that.
It's a life change for me, and I'm not giving up beer and french fries... So...0 -
You know that definition of empty calories (the one about sugar and solid fats, i.e., sat fat) includes butter and cheese and any foods with butter and cheese as empty calories or containing empty calories, right? Also steak.
I don't much care and that goes along with a vegan view of "clean eating," I suppose, but it's hardly the most common understanding one sees at MFP.0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »You know that definition of empty calories (the one about sugar and solid fats, i.e., sat fat) includes butter and cheese and any foods with butter and cheese as empty calories or containing empty calories, right? Also steak.
I don't much care and that goes along with a vegan view of "clean eating," I suppose, but it's hardly the most common understanding one sees at MFP.
As a vegan, I don't agree with this definition at all. Butter is a healthy fat in moderation, cheese, dairy and steak are all great sources of fat and protein for those that consume them. They have no business being lumped into empty calories any more than many other foods included in the links/definitions provided. Hence my statements about pseudo science's strong advocate.
0 -
BecomingBane wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »You know that definition of empty calories (the one about sugar and solid fats, i.e., sat fat) includes butter and cheese and any foods with butter and cheese as empty calories or containing empty calories, right? Also steak.
I don't much care and that goes along with a vegan view of "clean eating," I suppose, but it's hardly the most common understanding one sees at MFP.
As a vegan, I don't agree with this definition at all. Butter is a healthy fat in moderation, cheese, dairy and steak are all great sources of fat and protein for those that consume them. They have no business being lumped into empty calories any more than many other foods included in the links/definitions provided. Hence my statements about pseudo science's strong advocate.
Yeah, I was basically joking since most "clean eaters" on MFP aren't vegan, but vegans are the ones actually complying with the definition.0 -
UltimateEscape wrote: »BecomingBane wrote: »UltimateEscape wrote: »BecomingBane wrote: »We were asking OP what their definition is, not the definition that you follow @UltimateEscape, since you are not them, you cannot speak for them nor define what they think.
Again, my point was not to be critical of the term, but to ask OP what they meant so that we could have an educated discussion that steered shy of dogma. As a vegan, I understand what clean eating means to me, but my definition does not match the one that you linked, nor do I take dietary advice from CNN who has their own financial agenda to push. Please refrain from interjecting dogmatic idealism into a conversion that is not yours so that something can be discussed outside of your own well meaning, but misguided idealism.
No, not gonna do it. If you don't like it then don't read it or respond to it. It wasn't directed at you was it?
Good to know that pseudo science and ehow has such a strong and well written advocate.
"Do you savor fresh, homemade cookies or enjoy candy when you're watching a movie? Do you drink soda or fruit-flavored drinks? These food items are all examples of empty calories. Empty calories are calories that contribute to your total caloric intake, but supply little or no nutritional value."
What Are Empty Calories? - Definition & Foods
http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-are-empty-calories-definition-foods.html
So your definition is what some educator uses as her arbitrary meaning for the term? OK.
That's the issue with terms such as "clean" and "empty calorie" ... the meaning varies from person to person. Attempting to define "empty calorie" as lacking nutrition fails on the macronutrient level.0 -
Since this thread has been so thoroughly derailed on page one and the OP doesn't appear to be returning, I'll go ahead and add my Greatest Hits compilation of definitions for "clean eating" as they've appeared here on the boards. Some of these have been formatted to better fit the list, but many of them appear exactly as they did in their original comments. Be sure you read through to the end where they really start to diverge.
I like to note that by some of these definitions Fritos are a clean food. By some of them eggs, pistachios, and beef are not.
Nothing but minimally processed foods.
Absolutely no processed foods.
Shop only the outside of the grocery store.
Nothing out of a box, jar, or can.
Only food that's not in a box or hermetically sealed bag, or from e.g. McDonald's.
No take-out or junk food at all.
Nothing at all with a barcode.
Nothing with more than 5 ingredients.
Nothing with more than 4 ingredients.
Nothing with more than 3 ingredients.
Nothing with more than 1 ingredient.
No added preservatives.
No added chemicals.
No chemicals, preservatives, etc. at all.
No ingredients that you can't pronounce.
No ingredients that sound like they came out of a chemistry book.
Nothing that is processed and comes in a package or wrapper, or has any ingredient that sounds scientific.
Don't eat products that have a TV commercial.
Don't eat foods that have a mascot.
If it grows or had a mother, it is ok to eat it.
Don't eat products that have a longer shelf life than you do.
Eat "food" and not "food-like substances."
No added sugar.
No added refined sugar.
Swap white sugar for brown.
No "white" foods.
Nothing but lean meats, fruits, and vegetables.
Nothing but lean meats, fruits, vegetables, and beans.
Nothing but a plant-based whole food diet.
Eat foods as close to their natural state as POSSIBLE, and little to no processed food.
Only meat from grass-fed animals and free-range chickens.
Only pesticide-free foods.
Nothing that causes your body bloat or inflammation.
No trigger foods, nothing from fast food chains, nothing in the junk food aisles, and no high gmo foods.
No red meat, no sweets, no pasta, no alcohol, no bread, no soda, nothing but fresh fruits and vegetables, complex carbohydrates and lean proteins.
No bad carbs and processed foods.
Anything that makes a better choice.
Not cheating on whatever diet you are on.
Any food that doesn't make it difficult to hit your macro/micro targets.
Why does it matter? Well, first clarity is important. None of us knows which definition the OP follows or how strictly they intend to follow it. More information is always useful when giving answers.
But also, for many of us how we talk about food affects the way we think and feel about our diets. Positively grouping some foods or food categories can lead to overrestriction and negative feelings for some people when we choose to eat outside of those groups. It doesn't happen to everyone and it doesn't necessarily go hand-in-hand with eating clean. But it's something to be aware of when conversing with others about their choices.
tl;dr How we talk about food matters. How we think about food matters. And no one but the OP has any idea what the OP means by "clean eating."0 -
diannethegeek wrote: »Since this thread has been so thoroughly derailed on page one and the OP doesn't appear to be returning, I'll go ahead and add my Greatest Hits compilation of definitions for "clean eating" as they've appeared here on the boards. Some of these have been formatted to better fit the list, but many of them appear exactly as they did in their original comments. Be sure you read through to the end where they really start to diverge.
I like to note that by some of these definitions Fritos are a clean food. By some of them eggs, pistachios, and beef are not.
Nothing but minimally processed foods.
Absolutely no processed foods.
Shop only the outside of the grocery store.
Nothing out of a box, jar, or can.
Only food that's not in a box or hermetically sealed bag, or from e.g. McDonald's.
No take-out or junk food at all.
Nothing at all with a barcode.
Nothing with more than 5 ingredients.
Nothing with more than 4 ingredients.
Nothing with more than 3 ingredients.
Nothing with more than 1 ingredient.
No added preservatives.
No added chemicals.
No chemicals, preservatives, etc. at all.
No ingredients that you can't pronounce.
No ingredients that sound like they came out of a chemistry book.
Nothing that is processed and comes in a package or wrapper, or has any ingredient that sounds scientific.
Don't eat products that have a TV commercial.
Don't eat foods that have a mascot.
If it grows or had a mother, it is ok to eat it.
Don't eat products that have a longer shelf life than you do.
Eat "food" and not "food-like substances."
No added sugar.
No added refined sugar.
Swap white sugar for brown.
No "white" foods.
Nothing but lean meats, fruits, and vegetables.
Nothing but lean meats, fruits, vegetables, and beans.
Nothing but a plant-based whole food diet.
Eat foods as close to their natural state as POSSIBLE, and little to no processed food.
Only meat from grass-fed animals and free-range chickens.
Only pesticide-free foods.
Nothing that causes your body bloat or inflammation.
No trigger foods, nothing from fast food chains, nothing in the junk food aisles, and no high gmo foods.
No red meat, no sweets, no pasta, no alcohol, no bread, no soda, nothing but fresh fruits and vegetables, complex carbohydrates and lean proteins.
No bad carbs and processed foods.
Anything that makes a better choice.
Not cheating on whatever diet you are on.
Any food that doesn't make it difficult to hit your macro/micro targets.
Why does it matter? Well, first clarity is important. None of us knows which definition the OP follows or how strictly they intend to follow it. More information is always useful when giving answers.
But also, for many of us how we talk about food affects the way we think and feel about our diets. Positively grouping some foods or food categories can lead to overrestriction and negative feelings for some people when we choose to eat outside of those groups. It doesn't happen to everyone and it doesn't necessarily go hand-in-hand with eating clean. But it's something to be aware of when conversing with others about their choices.
tl;dr How we talk about food matters. How we think about food matters. And no one but the OP has any idea what the OP means by "clean eating."
This is a great post. Thanks... I might steal your list for other times I'm talking with people about clean eating. It'll be interesting to add to, if nothing else.
0 -
*reads the list*
I am a dirty, dirty girl.
(Also, it's only been about 2 1/2 hours for the OP. She could be like working or something.)0 -
UltimateEscape wrote: »BecomingBane wrote: »UltimateEscape wrote: »BecomingBane wrote: »We were asking OP what their definition is, not the definition that you follow @UltimateEscape, since you are not them, you cannot speak for them nor define what they think.
Again, my point was not to be critical of the term, but to ask OP what they meant so that we could have an educated discussion that steered shy of dogma. As a vegan, I understand what clean eating means to me, but my definition does not match the one that you linked, nor do I take dietary advice from CNN who has their own financial agenda to push. Please refrain from interjecting dogmatic idealism into a conversion that is not yours so that something can be discussed outside of your own well meaning, but misguided idealism.
No, not gonna do it. If you don't like it then don't read it or respond to it. It wasn't directed at you was it?
Good to know that pseudo science and ehow has such a strong and well written advocate.
"Do you savor fresh, homemade cookies or enjoy candy when you're watching a movie? Do you drink soda or fruit-flavored drinks? These food items are all examples of empty calories. Empty calories are calories that contribute to your total caloric intake, but supply little or no nutritional value."
What Are Empty Calories? - Definition & Foods
http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-are-empty-calories-definition-foods.html
OP is the one whose opinion was asked about clean eating. Everyone has his or her own definition, and since OP had the original question, OP's version of it is the one we need to base our answers on, not yours. Please stop derailing the thread with your nonstop quoting of someone else's definition of the term.0 -
MissJS1983 wrote: »For those that choose to clean eat whilst calorie counting. How are you getting on?
It completely depends on your definition of the term. How you do eat, OP, and how it is working for you?0 -
See @diannethegeek if this was a sticky I could have just linked it myself!0
-
UltimateEscape wrote: »BecomingBane wrote: »UltimateEscape wrote: »BecomingBane wrote: »We were asking OP what their definition is, not the definition that you follow @UltimateEscape, since you are not them, you cannot speak for them nor define what they think.
Again, my point was not to be critical of the term, but to ask OP what they meant so that we could have an educated discussion that steered shy of dogma. As a vegan, I understand what clean eating means to me, but my definition does not match the one that you linked, nor do I take dietary advice from CNN who has their own financial agenda to push. Please refrain from interjecting dogmatic idealism into a conversion that is not yours so that something can be discussed outside of your own well meaning, but misguided idealism.
No, not gonna do it. If you don't like it then don't read it or respond to it. It wasn't directed at you was it?
Good to know that pseudo science and ehow has such a strong and well written advocate.
"Do you savor fresh, homemade cookies or enjoy candy when you're watching a movie? Do you drink soda or fruit-flavored drinks? These food items are all examples of empty calories. Empty calories are calories that contribute to your total caloric intake, but supply little or no nutritional value."
What Are Empty Calories? - Definition & Foods
http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-are-empty-calories-definition-foods.html
OP is the one whose opinion was asked about clean eating. Everyone has his or her own definition, and since OP had the original question, OP's version of it is the one we need to base our answers on, not yours. Please stop derailing the thread with your nonstop quoting of someone else's definition of the term.
"Sugar, which provides mostly empty calories that don’t boost heart health, can appear several times on an ingredient list because different forms of it have been used in different amounts. But they do add up. Other terms to beware: corn syrup, barley malt syrup, dextrose, sucrose, maltose and any word ending in “ose.” "
Source:
Johns Hopkins Medicine
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/healthy_heart/eat_smart/quick-qas-do-you-know-how-to-read-food-labels-for-a-heart-healthy-diet
0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.2K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 421 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.9K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 23 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.5K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions