Eating clean, NOT working!?!?

jmgabbard

Anyone else eating clean and NOT losing weight or inches??? I have only been trying this clean eating thing for a little over a week but have seen NO changes in my body measurements or the scale! Actually, the scale is creeping up! I'm lifting weights but have done very little cardio. I'm disappointed. I really thought cleaning out the processed food would make a big difference, quickly.

PheonixRizing

Nothing happens overnight, its usually over a period of time that you notice it. A little over a week is a bit short to see amazing results. You should give it more time and concentrate on how you are feeling. The results will come, as with all things, with patience.

PheonixRizing

Also remember that when you are lifting, you are adding muscle mass which will make the scale creep up a bit.

Machafin

Yes, give it more time. If the weight is going up while eating clean that means you are having too many calories (duh!) You cannot put on weight with a deficit in calories even when lifting. It is either the fluctuations in water weight or you are eating too many calories. You need to give it more time and be patient before you decide it is not working.

JRadd14

The term "eating clean" had different meaning for everyone. Calories are ultimately what counts for weightloss... You can eat clean and still eat high calorie foods. And some people eat too few calories or don't get enough protein.

If you are eating more minimally processed foods (fruits, veggies, lean meats, etc.) that is great! Overall, given some time, you should feel better based on these food choices! It's really hard to assess any change only given a week.

It really is hard to tell what is going on without more information (how many cals your consuming, what foods you are eating, what your workouts look like, etc.) but the thing that caught my attention was the weights. I find when I'm adding in more/higher weights, my weight usually goes up before it goes down. Perhaps it's due to muscle repair process, but that's just my experience. Be sure to drink lots of water and get enough protein to support the weight work.

dirty_dirty_eater

How is your caloric intake?

"Clean," "Dirty," or any other meaningless name...won't matter if calories in are not less than calories out.

jmgabbard

I haven't really been tracking my calories. Everything I have read says there is no need to track cals consumed when eating clean. However, I have a VERY hard time losing weight so I think I may need to track. I do not feel I am overeating at all but I also don't typically lose anything if I'm eating over 1000 cals/day...which is not a lot but if I choose clean foods, it's plenty. I think I have a really crappy metabolism. Which is why I have increased my weight training, in hopes of boosting it.
For me, "clean" foods are foods that are not processed and have 5 ingredients or less (for the most part).

_Zardoz_

Track your calorie if you're eating clean had no bearing on weight loss it's the calories that make the difference. If you don't know what you are consuming you cannot judge what is working

jennygeo1

This happened to me when i first started. If i don't work out the scale drops, but when i start lifting/running it stays put (or creeps up). I freaked out about this a little but after 2-3 weeks my body welcomed the change in my diet and activities and the numbers on the scale dropped dramatically. I think when you first make all of these changes your body may hold on to extra water - also muscle mass gain (great in the long run).

Stick with it - you won't regret it.

Machafin

You def want to track your calories when eating clean, don't know where you read that but it is certainly wrong information. Most people cannot tell when they have consumed the proper amount of calories.

tmpecus78

Too many calories is too many calories. You'll gain weight regardless of what you eat.

Confuzzled4ever

Eating clean is simply a choice you make of the kinds of foods you put into your body. It is not a magic formula to lose weight. It's more beneficial from a nutrition standpoint. If you eat 5,000 calories a day worth of carrots, you'll gain weight. Just as you will if you eat 5,000 calories at McDonalds.

If your only goal is to lose weight then you dont' have to eat clean, you just have to eat less. if you want to be healthy and maintan good nutrition, then eating clean is the way to go, but you still have to eat less. Or eat the proper amount.

I'm an eat clean advocate just fyi.. but reality is.. overeating of any food will result in weight gain.

also.. if you are lifing and such you might be converting fat to muscle, which will result in no weight loss, but inches lost.. which is just as good and is something to be happy for. use a tape measure to track this.

tmpecus78

Not sure on everyone else, but so sick of the overused term "clean eating"

cheryhol

Good morning,. Since you are just starting why don't you try just doing cardio for now, at least for the next 12 weeks and then add weights into your plan. I did that the first time I lost weight and I lost 36 lbs in 12 weeks. All I was doing was walking everyday at least 45 min to an hour. Try this it works........don't give up it is a process.


Be Blessed!
Learning to Eat to Live/Fort Worth, Texas

Fiercely_Me

Not sure on everyone else, but so sick of the overused term "clean eating"

So am I.

RGv2

Also remember that when you are lifting, you are adding muscle mass which will make the scale creep up a bit.

Uhh....No.

Adding muscle mass is extremely hard, let alone enough to make the scale move up. Even with "noob" gains.

Sweet_Potato

You don't eat clean to lose weight or inches. You eat clean for better nutrition, to enjoy more delicious and satisfying meals, and to save money.

SchroederNJ

One week?

tmpecus78

Anyone else eating clean and NOT losing weight or inches??? I have only been trying this clean eating thing for a little over a week but have seen NO changes in my body measurements or the scale! Actually, the scale is creeping up! I'm lifting weights but have done very little cardio. I'm disappointed. I really thought cleaning out the processed food would make a big difference, quickly.

Lifting weights adds muscle (muscle burns fat, so this is a good thing). Muscle weighs more then fat, so you might gain a little weight at first, but you will be leaner in the long run. I suggest both cardio and lifting weights along with a healthier diet w/ out the processed foods. Also drink lots of water and avoid weighing yourself daily. Instead weigh yourself 1-2 tops a week.

simplydelish2

Clean eating alone won't cause you to lose weight. It will make you healthier. Weight loss is about a calorie deficit. Make sure you are eating less than you expend.

KAS0917

Also remember that when you are lifting, you are adding muscle mass which will make the scale creep up a bit.

Uhh....No.

Adding muscle mass is extremely hard, let alone enough to make the scale move up. Even with "noob" gains.

I agree, but if she just started lifting weights last week, there is a chance that her muscles are holding in some water as they try to repair the muscle fibers that were torn.

OP - Are you really sore from weight training? Or are you just doing light weights?

As far as eating clean (I personally follow your definition of 'clean', but I don't use it for weight loss - I just feel better when I do it), you need to track for a while to have an idea of what you're eating. There may come a time that you don't need to, but at first it's a must if you're trying to lose weight. You don't know if you are consuming 500 or 5000 calories. And consistently eating at 1,000 calories/day is likely what has slowed down your metabolism. I don't know your height/weight/stats, but that's an awfully low number.

TonyStark30

Clean eat all you want but if you graze on 1kg of Sunflower seeds and raw peanuts a day you will not lose anything.

StacyReneO

Anyone else eating clean and NOT losing weight or inches??? I have only been trying this clean eating thing for a little over a week but have seen NO changes in my body measurements or the scale! Actually, the scale is creeping up! I'm lifting weights but have done very little cardio. I'm disappointed. I really thought cleaning out the processed food would make a big difference, quickly.

Eating clean isn't about lowing weight, it's about overall health. You still need to create a calorie deficit to lose weight.

Joreanasaurous

Too many calories is too many calories. You'll gain weight regardless of what you eat.

This. Plus you just started weight lifting, so you are going to retain some water weight for a bit.

BSdevon

'Eating clean' for a little over a week wont make drastic changes.. eating smart and training smart for months wont give you the ideal body you desire straight away .. but over time your body composition will adjust and change for the better!!! Theres no fast formula.. Keep in mind that starting something new like diet/cardio, resistance training wont undo years and years of bad habit, poor food choices etc.. It takes time to mould and sculpt your body to your desires..

Also standard body weight scales provide a measure of total weight, but don't determine the lean-to-fat ratio of that weight..Standing on most scales can tell you only if you weigh more than the average person, but not if that weight is fat or muscle.

jwdieter

Everything I have read says there is no need to track cals consumed when eating clean.

If anything says that, it's either not talking about weight loss, or it's total bs.

geebusuk

As it's the current trend on here: Why do you think 'eating clean' would help you lose weight/fat?

Very little if any evidence for it that I've seen, especially if for a reasonably healthy and active person.

Confuzzled4ever

Muscle weighs more then fat, so you might gain a little weight at first, but you will be leaner in the long run. I suggest both cardio and lifting weights along with a healthier diet w/ out the processed foods. Also drink lots of water and avoid weighing yourself daily. Instead weigh yourself 1-2 tops a week.

Uh no.. a pound of fat weighs the same as a pound of muscle .. a pound of fat simply takes up more space then a pound of muscle. Think about a pound of feathers vs a pound of steel balls. You'll need a lot more feathers, a larger pile that takes up more space, then you will steell balls, eventhough both piles weigh a pound. So if you are converting fat to muscle and not losing weight you will lose inches, not show a gain. If you are gaining weight you either need to adjust your calories or adjust your exercise routing. SImple.

I agree with the rest of your statement.

Everything I have read says there is no need to track cals consumed when eating clean.

You may want to check your sources..everything I read says in order to lose weight you need to eat less calories then you burn.

Everything has calories, however 1,000 calories of fruits, veggie and lean protein, is a lot more food in quantity then 1,000 calories at a fast food joint.

NatureChik1985

Also remember that when you are lifting, you are adding muscle mass which will make the scale creep up a bit.

Uhh....No.

Adding muscle mass is extremely hard, let alone enough to make the scale move up. Even with "noob" gains.

I agree with this. The Op states that to lose she has to typically eat less than 1000 calories to lose and with switching to clean eating I would be surprised if she is at a surplus. Most likely it is increased water weight from starting a weight lifting program. There is a chance for small newbie gains but it it won't amount to much and you won't keep gaining muscle if you don't fuel your body properly. Let's be honest, there are a lot of people here who beleive they are "building muscle" in a deficit when in reality all they have sone os added strength and dropped fat to reveal the muscle underneath, this does not mean you have actually created muscle.

Clean eating doesn't give you a pass from practicing portion control. You can over eat healthy food and gain just like so called unhealthy food. I should know, because I used to be an obese clean eater.

katiedid1226

It has taken awhile for things to "kick in" so to speak, but finally after six months I am really starting to see my muscles emerge.
Clean eating & lifting heavy....stick with it!

bearkisses

i bet there is a difference in your health!