Who has lost weight NOT eating clean?

jonnythan · July 2013

33lbs down in less than 4 months eating, like everyone says, whatever I want in moderation

Doesn't everyone eat what they want?

No. A lot of people deny themselves the things they want to eat because others make them feel that they have to.

nyrina4life · July 2013

I think if I ate clean, I would fall off the bandwagon in a week or so. I try to eat healthier, and I may not succeed every day, but I don't beat myself up over it. I make sure to workout, and watch my calories. I have lost 12 pounds since June, and am working toward a healthier me! I lost 75 pounds a few years back, and it was not by clean eating. Just exercise, and moderation. (Sucks depression came and knocked me on the floor...)

Some people eat clean, and do fantastic. I don't think I will ever be one of those people. I figure, I am going to die someday

I'd like to enjoy life, and have stuff that doesn't taste like cardboard.

Persipan · July 2013

...I just had a Peanut Butter Poptart for breakfast.

Wait... there are Peanut Butter poptarts? Are they any good?

WendyTerry420 · July 2013

Lose "weight" is pretty indiscriminant. Ive seen very few people with admirable bodies that ate IIFYM. They lost weight but probably slightly less muscle than fat so theyre still squishy and lack the dry, hard, look, that very clean eating affords. If you have psych issues and dietary compliance issues, and you DONT have to look good in front of a camera in the light, go for it.

lol

You must be new here.

lexoxoc · July 2013

I do generally eat fairly clean but I also don't lol. I enjoy the foods I want to enjoy when I want to enjoy them

I had half a peanut butter candy bar last night and will finish the other half tonight, I also had a bloody mary and will have another tonight...everything in moderation does the trick for me!

lithezebra · July 2013

I don't even know what "eating clean" means.

chasetwins · July 2013

the only thing I have cut out of my life (for now) is fried dough and bread bowls from Domino's pizza...other than that..I eat what I want for the most part so long as it is in my calories. Tortilla chips with reduced fat cheese and salsa a few times per week in this house

clairedrose · July 2013

I am not at all a clean eater. With that said, I am constantly evolving the way that I eat. When I first started, calories were all I was concerned about, and I think that is a good thing because it helps you learn portion control without being overwhelmed. As time has gone on and I have learned more, I am making better food choices because I want to. I still eat whatever I want, but I do find my wants changing.

This

Soccermavrick · July 2013

The main thing to losing weight is burning more calories than you take in. But I think the "clean" word - at least to me means eating smarter. Trying to Burn more calories, but also helping the process by increase my protein while decreasing my Carbs and Fats. To me it is a matter of trying to make it Easier to lose weight. I know at 40+ there have been some weeks I am burning calories going to the gym, but not watching what I was eating, which resulted in minor gains and not losses.

I also think though that people are bringing the Bodybuilder terms over to this site adding to the confusion. A Dirty Gainers in bodybuilding is eating very heavy, and just trying to add bulk. But the bulk is not clean, lean muscle, which is lost easily, hence not real gains. Hence the term Dirty Gainer.

Honestly, I use this site more to help me be aware of what I am putting in my body, which in turn means that instead of Fast Food for lunch everyday, maybe I try to do it only once or twice a week. Eating smarter so to say. But I am certainly not perfect.

kevindhaliwal · July 2013

aha i've lost around 30 lbs when i started but that time I used to hit gym 7 days a week and hard weight training, so i guess i was burning calories there

MamaCatO · July 2013

I eat anything and everything I want. In moderation. I've been at this for just over 2 months and I'm down 30 lbs. It's the eating anything I want that keeps me going. I don't have cravings from denying myself things, so I don't binge. I control my portions, I exercise, I lose weight.

Beastmode454 · July 2013

i am not a clean eater

look though my diary you will see baconators, fast food, processed food, and all other kinds of stuff as long as it fit is my macros i eat what i want and have lost over 60lbs

the deficit is what matters

^
^
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Can i get a hallelujah up in here!!

magerum · July 2013

This has reached critical mass.

bcattoes · July 2013

33lbs down in less than 4 months eating, like everyone says, whatever I want in moderation

Doesn't everyone eat what they want?

No. A lot of people deny themselves the things they want to eat because others make them feel that they have to.

I'm not sure I buy that. Excluding those that are force fed, we all choose what we put in our mouth. We make that choice based on what we want most.

Wanting a Big Mac and eating a salad because you think it's healthier isn't much different than wanting 2 Big Macs and only eating one because you think two is too many calories. It still comes down to what you want most.

ajominy · July 2013

My motto is it's life, enjoy it and do everything in moderation. I have made a lot of changes, eat healthier and make better choices...but....I definitely do not eat like that all the time. If I didn't eat the foods I love, I would never make it. I really believe that I have been so successful b/c I allow myself to eat what I want from time to time and I don't deprive myself, binge and get upset. It's a lifestyle not a diet for me and life happens so I am going to enjoy it.

jonnythan · July 2013

33lbs down in less than 4 months eating, like everyone says, whatever I want in moderation

Doesn't everyone eat what they want?

No. A lot of people deny themselves the things they want to eat because others make them feel that they have to.

I'm not sure I buy that. Excluding those that are force fed, we all choose what we put in our mouth. We make that choice based on what we want most.

Wanting a Big Mac and eating a salad because you think it's healthier isn't much different than wanting 2 Big Macs and only eating one because you think two is too many calories. It still comes down to what you want most.

Buy it or not it's absolutely true. Yes it's about what you want most but many people don't understand what choices have what effects.

You can't deny with a straight face that there are people out there who think they have to eat clean to lose weight.

bcattoes · July 2013

33lbs down in less than 4 months eating, like everyone says, whatever I want in moderation

Doesn't everyone eat what they want?

No. A lot of people deny themselves the things they want to eat because others make them feel that they have to.

I'm not sure I buy that. Excluding those that are force fed, we all choose what we put in our mouth. We make that choice based on what we want most.

Wanting a Big Mac and eating a salad because you think it's healthier isn't much different than wanting 2 Big Macs and only eating one because you think two is too many calories. It still comes down to what you want most.

Buy it or not it's absolutely true. Yes it's about what you want most but many people don't understand what choices have what effects.

You can't deny with a straight face that there are people out there who think they have to eat clean to lose weight.

No, I suppose not. MFP has taught me that some people are much more clueless about food, weight loss and nutrition than would ever have imagined before joining.

But however misguided their reasoning, they eat what they want.

cebreisch · July 2013

I don't eat clean. I've heard of people who only have veggies grown from their own garden or only organic stuff, or make sure nothing they have has nitrates in it or high fructose corn syrup, blah blah blah.

Don't get me wrong - in a perfect world, I'd love to be able to have the time, effort, money, etc. to be able to do that. BUT this is not a perfect world, I'm human, and human's are fallible beings. That means that I have to do the best with what resources are available to me and what effort I'm willing to put into it.

I'm willing to have cheeseburgers without the buns. I'm willing to get grilled chicken instead of fried, to have pretzels instead of Doritos or French fries. I'm not willing to give up cake because it has regular eggs in it (instead of free-range or organic, or whatever they're called) or because the frosting has butter in it - I just don't have it all the time like I used to, and try to plan for it if at all possible.

suziepoo1984 · July 2013

I dont think i would be able to maintain a healthy weight by eating clean as i love food too much!! I dont feel i am on a diet most of the time now as i eat whatever i want and try to fit them into my calories. Veggies and fruits come into play when i have almost reached my calories goals for the day and i am hungry :blushing:laugh:

renwicker · July 2013

I lost all my weight eating whatever....just less of it and exercising. Now that I've lost the weight I have certainly picked up better habits when choosing my food and fitting into my diet. Eating fruits and vegetables vs. chips and burgers doesnt make you lose weight, but I sure feel better when I do. I very rarely get ill, and I have a lot more energy than I did with a diet of fast food and microwave meals. The eating "clean" movement is more about overall health than losing weight IMO. Not saying its the gospel tho. I still eat what I want, I just want different things more now.

smantha32 · July 2013

Me

ChgingMe · July 2013

You dont NEED to eat clean to lose weight, although it IS healthier for you. My doctor recently told me if I wanted to lose weight, use portion control. He said the size of your 2 fists is the amount you should be eating each meal. It is the right size for your stomach and wont stretch it out. GOOD LUCK!

I just started eating off smaller plates. We usually use paper plates at home so I bought the dessert plates. Hoping it will help me with portion control.

symonspatrick · July 2013

I have lost all of my excess body fat not eating clean. My main focus has been on eating and drinkiing less calories than my body needs. If and when I exercise it is for physical fitness. I drink water and other liquid drinks and eat foods with water in them to stay hydrated. So far it has been working great for me.

Bernadette60614 · July 2013

What I would find interesting:

Given that the majority of people regain the weight they lose, are people who "eat clean" those the ones who keep their weight off or is it those people who don't eat clean?

I think most of us here have lost these lbs before...the killer is in maintaining the weight loss.

jonnythan · July 2013

What I would find interesting:

Given that the majority of people regain the weight they lose, are people who "eat clean" those the ones who keep their weight off or is it those people who don't eat clean?

I think most of us here have lost these lbs before...the killer is in maintaining the weight loss.

They're mostly the ones who eat clean, because their dietary changes are unsustainable in the long run.

RobynMWilson · July 2013

I did..back in 1987. Kept it off by cutting portions and exercising. BUT, I have a better body now at 40 than when I did at 15 when I lost my weight because I eat much better these days. Much better results from eating better and I am capable of doing more physically than I was when I was 15!

Bernadette60614 · July 2013

Same here. I'm lost lots of weight on every diet imaginable. But, the only way I've kept it off (I want to lose a few more lbs for sports) is by clean eating. I have more energy, no cravings and I just feel like being active.