do i need to 'eat clean'

believer1988

whatever that means.. so since abs are made in the kitchen, do i need to eat clean?? may be silly to ask, but its a serious question otherwise i wouldnt be asking

gigglesinthesun

yes, if you don't start munching on celery right NOW we shall ban you from this website for eternity. :drinker:

Alternatively you could just eat your normal food and stay within your calorie allowance and see how you go. You may find that certain foods keep you full longer or keep cravings away, but that is something that you find out for yourself when you start logging your food accurately. You could also google 'if it fits your macros' and go from there

mungowungo

Only if that's what you want to do.

Will now wait for the chorus of people suggesting that you wash your pop tarts before you eat them so they are "clean". Ho hum.

Railr0aderTony

do i need to 'eat clean'?
whatever that means..

you just need to eat a calorie deficit.

unFATuated

Not if you don't want to. Clean usually is defined as eating as much unprocessed food as possible. Few sugars, packaged foods etc. Keep everything as close to its natural state as possible. Many foods are labelled as 'good' and 'bad' and it can be quite restrictive.

Personally I just don't eat like that. I like fresh food, but sometimes I like to eat sugary, fatty food too. I follow a flexible dieting approach, commonly known as If It Fits Your Macros or IIFYM. You calculate how much protein, carbs and fats to eat each day (based on a formula) and as long as what you eat allows you to hit your goals for each macro, it doesn't matter what it is. My coach who has competed in fitness model competitions, followed a flexible dieting approach for her second comp and had a much better time of it in the lead up to competition and afterward compared to her first competition with a restricted, 'clean' approach.

megsmom2

If you want to...do. if you don't ..don't. Or eat a little healthier, but don't drive yourself crazy with it.

FlaxMilk

Whatever helps you stay at a calorie deficit will help you lose weight. For some, that means clean eating. For others, that means eating "treat" food every day. There's someone on this site who eats 1200 calories a day and 4000 one day a week. Whatever keeps you happy and healthy.

Do ensure you are reaching at least the minimum level macros set by MFP, though I'd aim higher on the protein.

dorrymc

No. Unless you choose to. Emphasis is on choice (like all that we do allegedly) BTW I choose to eat clean most of the time )

Sabine_Stroehm

Eat to fuel your body. However you want to do that.

kenyiareed

By eating clean, you maximize you do a few things like bring your boy back to homeostasis (it's normal working function before you gained all the weight), it helps your body to fight better against disease & illness, and it make your body work better.

I can't post it here because they don't allow attachments but basically all you need to do is:

-Stick to lean cuts of meat (turkey, chicken, lamb) or fish (salmon or cod)
-Eat fresh fruits & veggies in their natural form (the best way to do this is start off with a homemade smoothie in the morning, use fruit in place of sugary snacks)
-Nuts are good
-Use natural herbs to flavor your food
-Use natural sugar (raw honey, agave, or pure maple syrup)
-Eat whole grain pastas & breads, brown rice, quinoa, or beans
-Remember healthy fats (almond butter, coconut oil, olive oil, peanut butter)

I hope that this helps you :0)

wheird

No, you do not need to.

tehboxingkitteh

Only if that's what you want to do.

Will now wait for the chorus of people suggesting that you wash your pop tarts before you eat them so they are "clean". Ho hum.

Why would one wash their pop tarts? That's just tomfoolery.

wheird

By eating clean, you maximize you do a few things like bring your boy back to homeostasis (it's normal working function before you gained all the weight), it helps your body to fight better against disease & illness, and it make your body work better.

I can't post it here because they don't allow attachments but basically all you need to do is:

-Stick to lean cuts of meat (turkey, chicken, lamb) or fish (salmon or cod)
-Eat fresh fruits & veggies in their natural form (the best way to do this is start off with a homemade smoothie in the morning, use fruit in place of sugary snacks)
-Nuts are good
-Use natural herbs to flavor your food
-Use natural sugar (raw honey, agave, or pure maple syrup)
-Eat whole grain pastas & breads, brown rice, quinoa, or beans
-Remember healthy fats (almond butter, coconut oil, olive oil, peanut butter)

I hope that this helps you :0)

Homeostasis isn't just the normal function of the body when you're at a healthy weight.
And while I appreciate the spirit of what you posted, it implies that a person cannot readily fight off diseases and illness without doing the things you suggested.

Skarlet13

Only if that's what you want to do.

Will now wait for the chorus of people suggesting that you wash your pop tarts before you eat them so they are "clean". Ho hum.

LOL those people are so annoying.

wheird

Only if that's what you want to do.

Will now wait for the chorus of people suggesting that you wash your pop tarts before you eat them so they are "clean". Ho hum.

LOL those people are so annoying.

Almost as annoying as the people who insist that you need to eat clean to lose weight. Or avoid carbs, sugar, alcohol, fat, and on and on and on and on.

hstoblish

Um, no... not really. Kind of? This doesn't really have a firm definition, so...

What are your goals? If your goals are just to lose weight, then no. Just eat pop tarts and twinkies until you meet your calorie goal, then stop eating for the rest of the day. Unless you can exercise, then you can eat an extra twinkie.

If your goals are to improve your overall health, then sort of?

Here's the way I think of it: I eat well. My husband cooks me wonderful medium rare pasture-fed steaks with steamed broccoli. I eat rice cakes with all natural peanut butter for breakfast, but on the weekends we eat bacon and eggs. I'll have a bit of chocolate for a snack and some honey in my tea. I prioritize nutrient dense foods so that I can treat myself later. I also know that I don't need many carbs. The hubs needs to eat things like potato salad and breads. I do not need much of that to have energy and feel healthy. Some people would call this eating "clean" but the reality is that I eat well and I prioritize feeling good. A part of this is balance. Hence the dark chocolate.

You don't have to "eat clean" to lose weight, but you probably want to eat well enough that you feel energized and good about what you're putting in your body. Eating twinkies until you meet your goal isn't going help your body get all the nutrients you need to achieve all of the little tiny chemical reactions to keep your body going, but having a little tiny bit of sugar every so often isn't going to kill you... no matter what "Wheat Belly" says.

Skarlet13

Only if that's what you want to do.

Will now wait for the chorus of people suggesting that you wash your pop tarts before you eat them so they are "clean". Ho hum.

LOL those people are so annoying.

Almost as annoying as the people who insist that you need to eat clean to lose weight. Or avoid carbs, sugar, alcohol, fat, and on and on and on and on.

That's fine, but none of the people you describe are in this thread at the moment. I don't see anyone saying you need to eat clean to lose weight here. We're talking about the anti-"clean" eating police, who are indeed very annoying. LOL.

mungowungo

Only if that's what you want to do.

Will now wait for the chorus of people suggesting that you wash your pop tarts before you eat them so they are "clean". Ho hum.

LOL those people are so annoying.

Almost as annoying as the people who insist that you need to eat clean to lose weight. Or avoid carbs, sugar, alcohol, fat, and on and on and on and on.

That's fine, but none of the people you describe are in this thread at the moment. I don't see anyone saying you need to eat clean to lose weight here. We're talking about the anti-"clean" eating police, who are indeed very annoying. LOL.

Okay I think we can agree in principle then that you don't need to eat clean to lose weight but conversely you don't have to eat poptarts or pizza either - unless of course that is what you want to do.

The point is that as soon as the phrase "clean eating" is mentioned you get a certain group of people making annoying comments about washing food etc etc. You don't get the opposite when someone mentions pizza, poptarts or chocolate.

It doesn't bother me what other people eat - the trick is to find the way that works best for you.

kelly_e_montana

You are going to get pages and pages of responses about calories in and calories out and how it doesn't matter.

I will tell you ahead of time that you can do one of two things for the rest of your life:

1) Count calories and eat whatever you want with a lot of flexibility to eat processed or take out foods you enjoy; or
2) Eat primarily nutritionally dense foods (lots of fruits & veggies, lean proteins) and watch your portion sizes/eat intuitively without having to worry too much about calories. The calories will pretty much take care of themselves when you do this.

Choose the freedom that works best for you.

DawnieB1977

I think everyone has a different definition of what 'eating clean' actually means.

To me, it means not eating processed foods, which to be honest, you can't entirely avoid.

I think it's best to stick to homemade food - no ready meals, no McDonald's etc - and have an occasional treat. I agree with the whole calories in vs calories out to a certain extent, but I do think it's best if your calories come from healthier foods. If I eat pizza I feel horrible. If I eat chicken and veg I feel good. That's just me though, I've never been a junk food lover. Except for chocolate

I think you can still lose weight without 'eating clean' though, as plenty of people on this site have done so successfully.

believer1988

thank you everyone!

gabrielleelliott90

No you don't. You can eat however you like on this lifestyle, just stay within calories, I don't eat clean. If you're wondering why my ticker says I've lost 0lb it's because I had only lost 3lb and then gained it back by not tracking at Christmas and on Boxing Day so ignore that, I'm back on track now and going to get to target not eating clean but eating within calories.

gabrielleelliott90

And I must say although I don't condone to eat extremely unhealthy all the time, have some healthy food in there too, I was doing the slimming world lifestyle (similar to weight watchers) and on that lifestyle I was eating really healthy and little junk food. Once a week I'd pig out on junk food because junk food is what I like to eat and I felt I wasn't eating enough of it. I know it's bad, no lectures from anyone thanks. I wanted to be able to lose weight and eat junk food. And hallelujah I came across MFP. Now I eat what I want but also healthy at times so MFP is really great.

jofjltncb6

Only if that's what you want to do.

Will now wait for the chorus of people suggesting that you wash your pop tarts before you eat them so they are "clean". Ho hum.

LOL those people are so annoying.

Which people? The fictitious/very few people suggesting you wash your pop tarts before you eat them? Or the actual people suggesting that there are people who would suggest that?

Phaedra2014

Provide yourself with nutritious foods, whatever that means to you. It's not just about feeding yourself but also making sure you are consuming adequate nutrients.

gabrielleelliott90

Only if that's what you want to do.

Will now wait for the chorus of people suggesting that you wash your pop tarts before you eat them so they are "clean". Ho hum.

LOL those people are so annoying.

Which people? The fictitious/very few people suggesting you wash your pop tarts before you eat them? Or the actual people suggesting that there are people who would suggest that?

The know it alls/health freaks x1000. You probably haven't met them yet.

ndj1979

ahhh yes the age old "eat clean" debate…whichI am sure will be played out about a million more times between now and the next few weeks after new years…

the answer is no….eat in a deficit, work out, repeat…

and how are you defining "clean eating" as there are about a thousand variations of this...

ndj1979

By eating clean, you maximize you do a few things like bring your boy back to homeostasis (it's normal working function before you gained all the weight), it helps your body to fight better against disease & illness, and it make your body work better.

I can't post it here because they don't allow attachments but basically all you need to do is:

-Stick to lean cuts of meat (turkey, chicken, lamb) or fish (salmon or cod)
-Eat fresh fruits & veggies in their natural form (the best way to do this is start off with a homemade smoothie in the morning, use fruit in place of sugary snacks)
-Nuts are good
-Use natural herbs to flavor your food
-Use natural sugar (raw honey, agave, or pure maple syrup)
-Eat whole grain pastas & breads, brown rice, quinoa, or beans
-Remember healthy fats (almond butter, coconut oil, olive oil, peanut butter)

I hope that this helps you :0)

ummm yea, this is a big fat no ….

LOL at natural sugar….

gabrielleelliott90

I think a lot people when thinking about clean eating just think of eating as healthy as they can, you know fruit, vegetables. I know I do.

wild_wild_life

No,"abs are made in the kitchen" just means to eat at a deficit so fat loss will reveal the abdominal muscles everyone has. Not sure where people get the impression it means you have to eat any certain way.

turtleball

I always thought eating clean means eating no processed foods. if that is the case then if you want to do it then do it.

No big deal its your body.