Can you really eat "clean" your whole life?

stefaniemazz

I'm curious,

I originally lost weight, went from 150 to 110 pounds a couple of years ago. I ate CLEAN, I mostly just ate salads, fruit salads, and chicken.

Then, I gained the weight back, not only was I not eating enough calories when I lost the weight, I was depriving myself of everything I loved. Pasta, burgers, Pizza etc.

Now, I'm losing weight again, I'm at 130 from 137 and I haven't been eating clean at all.

If I crave a burger, I will have one. I have cheat days on Saturdays.

I see some people say they eat egg whites, chicken for lunch (plain chicken), chicken for dinner EVERYDAY. How is that sustainable? If you can do it, good for you, but I would lose my mind.

I want to lose weight the right way this time, but can I actually achieve the body I want eating everything I want in moderation, or do I have to eat "clean"?

Holly_Roman_Empire

<----Exhibit one. No, you don't have to eat clean.

KANGOOJUMPS

um, no.
drink whiskey

QuietBloom

No, you do not need to eat whatever your definition of 'clean' is.

twixlepennie

<----Exhibit one. No, you don't have to eat clean.

<

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And Exhibit two, for no you don't have to eat clean

stefaniemazz

No, you do not need to eat whatever your definition of 'clean' is.

Well, what's your definition of clean?

pianochick5254

Of course it is ideal to never consume additives, colorings, high amounts of calories, "imitation food" (oreos, kraft singles, boxed meals, etc) but honestly I don't know anyone that can just not eat these things, at all, ever. I don't see a problem with cheat days where of course its monitored so you didn't get your days calories from doritos alone, however I think that we should be trying to move away from these habits. So honestly I would start with cheat days on Saturdays and then go to every other Saturday being your cheat days where you can eat something junky. It's okay to eat more calories than planned occasionally but making sure they are coming from at least half decent sources is pretty important. If you are craving something sweet on your "inbetween" Saturday, treat yourself to a pile of fruit.

That's just what I think though. Nobody is perfect, myself included.

stefaniemazz

<----Exhibit one. No, you don't have to eat clean.

<

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And Exhibit two, for no you don't have to eat clean

So what did you mostly eat when trying to lose weight?

Sometimes I just don't have time to cook and I will eat a Smart One, people say they aren't that healthy but I don't go over in my Macros or Calories, so I don't see them as that bad, but I could be wrong.

lizziebeth1028

Eating 'clean' would not be a sustainable way of life for me. I eat healthy most of the time, but if I want a cookie or three I'm not depriving myself!! I believe in moderation, that's what works for me.

meshashesha2012

I see some people say they eat egg whites, chicken for lunch (plain chicken), chicken for dinner EVERYDAY. How is that sustainable? If you can do it, good for you, but I would lose my mind.

i think this is why a lot of people fail.

a friend of mine recently brought this up to me because we were talking about weight loss. last year i lost around 30 pounds and am now looking to lose the next 40 pounds. anyway my friend was congratulating me and saying that she can't stick with it because she starts off eating "healthy" and then can only keep it up for so long.

i think most people have a misconception that all it takes is eating "healthy" (which is ridiculous because i gained 8- pounds eating well balanced "healthy" meals that were filled with all the "right" things) to lose weight and they dont have to pay attention to their calorie intake.

in any case i suggested my firnd come back to MFP and just fit the food she regular eats into her calorie goals

Mokey41

Eating "clean" is one of those terms that means different things to different people. If you mean not eating processed foods then sure you can. If you mean eating non processed organic foods that you only grow yourself then you probably can but most people wouldn't.

I don't regard store bought foods as clean regardless of what they're labeled. Almost all of the meat has had hormones used in production and just because something has an organic label on it really means nothing. There are virtually no checks in place to assure that food has been produced organically.

Holly_Roman_Empire

<----Exhibit one. No, you don't have to eat clean.

<

---

And Exhibit two, for no you don't have to eat clean

So what did you mostly eat when trying to lose weight?

Sometimes I just don't have time to cook and I will eat a Smart One, people say they aren't that healthy but I don't go over in my Macros or Calories, so I don't see them as that bad, but I could be wrong.

My diary is public if you're interested. I eat everything from fast food to homemade salads. I think the key is to eat in a way that you find sustainable. Obviously, clean eating was not sustainable for you once you lost the weight the first time. For me, it has to be easy. I can't be vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, or a clean eater just because I don't want to limit the amount of restaurants I can eat at, I don't want to turn down mom's cherry cheesecake, and I like having a celebratory ice cream when something awesome happens in life.

LiftAllThePizzas

Even if I could do it, I wouldn't want to. Fortunately I don't have to choose between being healthy and enjoying food.

themommie

I eat healthy most of the time, but I could not eat clean forever. I always stay under calorirs but if I want a burger I have one no mayo though just ketchup and mustard. I have changed they way I eat but I do not eat clean

QuietBloom

No, you do not need to eat whatever your definition of 'clean' is.

Well, what's your definition of clean?

I wash my fruits and vegetables before I eat them.

BenjaminMFP88

Eat whatever the heck you want that fits your micro/macro goals.

QuietBloom

Of course it is ideal to never consume additives, colorings, high amounts of calories, "imitation food" (oreos, kraft singles, boxed meals, etc) but honestly I don't know anyone that can just not eat these things, at all, ever. I don't see a problem with cheat days where of course its monitored so you didn't get your days calories from doritos alone, however I think that we should be trying to move away from these habits. So honestly I would start with cheat days on Saturdays and then go to every other Saturday being your cheat days where you can eat something junky. It's okay to eat more calories than planned occasionally but making sure they are coming from at least half decent sources is pretty important. If you are craving something sweet on your "inbetween" Saturday, treat yourself to a pile of fruit.

That's just what I think though. Nobody is perfect, myself included.

Cookies, cheese and boxed food are imitation foods? Please go on...

Francl27

You don't have to eat clean. I couldn't do it, personally. I love food too much.

LoraF83

I couldn't because I don't even understand that term and I refuse to spend the rest of my life confused and befuddled by something that doesn't even matter.

ashliejones13

as long as youre at a deficit and have energy, you can eat whatever you want. it's not like youre trying to become a body builder. you can view my diary if you want. i have really good days and really bad days, but i always lose weight or stay the same. i only gain when i try. lifting weights and cardio takes care of the rest.

MaryJane_8810002

No that is completely unrealistic unless you are into the bodybuilding pageant scene...

mrsnaethe

Eating clean is important for your health, not just weight loss.

If your diet consists of mainly processed, boxed "food" full of preservatives and additives, you will be unhealthy regardless of your weight.

Not only will you be unhealthy, but you will be supporting one of the most corrupt companies in the world. (Monsanto)

Do yourself a favor and eat what comes from the earth. It's not difficult to follow by any means, it's a lifestyle that was followed by our ancestors not so long ago.

Also, the majority of chicken sold in a public market is no where NEAR clean.

allaboutthecake

This topic comes up ALOT. If you eat at maintenance, you'll not gain. If you eat at below, you'll lose weight. With that said, at MY age, I'll *try* to eat a little more wholesome in order to drop bloated salty weight. Scale doesn't lie. So if its water weight or fat weight, I still want it off. And yes I could eat whatever I wanted 25 years ago and still get a rockin' hard body from my workouts.

Having had yet another birthday, it does change the way am able to tone/tighten up. I feed my body so it will take care of me. Does that mean I don't still eat my own baking, NOPE! But then again some could argue my own baking is "clean" LOL cuz there's no preservatives.:laugh:

mammamaurer

:huh: shure just wash all your food, cookware, dishes, and your self prior to eating. :bigsmile:

harlanJEN

Always must chuckle at the eating CLEAN term.

Personally, I always bathe, swipe on some mascara, put on a good bra - you know "clean myself up" before I have a burger with a fried egg and a pint of stout. I'm definitely eating CLEAN. Clean is good.

In all seriousness. It's LIFE. Make good choices that you OWN, enjoy your food, relish in treats, find activity you love and ROCK ON. I could probably live on doughnuts for the rest of my life. However, I choose not to do that because I choose NOT to feel and look like a doughnut. Therefore, I include doughnuts in my life, but my eating doesn't revolve around them. Nor does it revolve around kale.

twixlepennie

<----Exhibit one. No, you don't have to eat clean.

<

---

And Exhibit two, for no you don't have to eat clean

So what did you mostly eat when trying to lose weight?

Sometimes I just don't have time to cook and I will eat a Smart One, people say they aren't that healthy but I don't go over in my Macros or Calories, so I don't see them as that bad, but I could be wrong.

When I was actively losing weight I ate fast food at least three times a week (and none of that subway 'healthy' stuff, I'm talking burgers and fries here lol), frozen entrees (mostly lean cuisines), guzzled diet soda, 'diet' foods (diet hot cocoas, 100 calorie packs etc). Oh and lots of cookies. I just counted calories and watched portion sizes.

Now I'm in maintenance and I still eat fast food 3-4 times a week, still guzzle diet soda and still eat cookies all. the. time. I no longer eat the frozen entrees or intentionally buy 'diet' food, because I have enough maintenance calories now to eat things like the 700 calorie hot dog lunch I had today

dym123

Your definition of clean seems to be a bit warped. I try eat mostly whole foods, minimally processed foods, I pasta, burgers and pizza. Yes, I plan to eat this way for the rest of my life.

jwdieter

Sure, you can eat "clean" your whole life. If you think "eating clean" is some sort of crazy restrictive concept and you only eat raw asparagus from your backyard, that's on you.

Holly_Roman_Empire

Your definition of clean seems to be a bit warped. I try eat mostly whole foods, minimally processed foods, I pasta, burgers and pizza. Yes, I plan to eat this way for the rest of my life.

Probably because everyone's definition of "clean eating" is different.

chivalryder

Of course you can!

You don't have to though.

wheird

While "eating clean" is admirable, it certainly isn't necessary. I like to urge people to address their negative relationship with food by confronting their love of "junk" and learning portion control. However, when someone is new to eating in a healthy way, it can be a little hard for them to do this as they are mostly focused on the scale.

So do what you feel is sustainable for your goals. If that means eating clean, so be it. But I do highly suggest that you get your cravings under control so you can enjoy the foods that you love.