Clean Eating

SLLRunner

Bugs are natural...wouldn't that be considered clean?

Only if you give 'em a bath first.

jofjltncb6

I agree that you must be active to lose but you lose just from eating cleaner depending on how much and what your diet looks like now.

I disagree...with both assertions...

...except the tiny piece about "how much" which is the one and only key to weight loss.

Meerataila

Bugs are natural...wouldn't that be considered clean?

Only if you give 'em a bath first.

:laugh:

Still no. But I just found out all figs have at least one female wasp in them, apparently they're carnivorous fruit.

So I'm never going to touch those, either. My food list narrows.

jmv7117

I am sick of "dieting". I've done low calorie and low carb diets, and while they helped me lose weight, I haven't been able to stick to them long term. I want to change how I eat to feel better and hopefully lose weight , and cut out the processed yucky foods, and eat clean. I've been doing a lot of research on the foods we can eat, and about meal prepping. At this time I don't belong to a gym, and don't have cardio equipment at home. I am wanting to join a gym this summer, but first I want to get started eating clean, and going on walks with my baby for some light exercise.

My question is will I start to see any weight loss results from eating clean, and watching caloric intake, even if I haven't begun working out regularly? I notice most of the people I see talking about eating clean are also very active in the gym. This is a goal for me, but not yet.

If eating clean results in a calorie deficit for you then yes, you will lose weight. With respect to clean eating and active in the gym, I eat clean and am active. I use gym equipment when I have access to it which is about 4 months of the year but do not have a gym membership. I think there is a correlation between eating healthier and increased activity, often exercise based activity. If your goal is to eat clean and get active in a gym, then go for it

jmv7117

You always need to eat a deficit to loose weight. Not denying that by any means at all, which was not the point of my comment. I'm just saying that eating clean and healthy is good. Which it is. I could loose weight eating candy at a calorie deficit all day but I would be super super unhealthy. What's the point of loosing weight if you're unhealthy doing it? I just don't get it.

I don't understand either but this is the advice given on MFP all the time. Personally, I prefer going the healthy route but to each their own.

jmv7117

Search the forums for everyone's input on eating clean. The general consensus of the people who have taken off substantial weight is that "eating clean" is the new "paleo" is the new "adkins." It's a fad. 500 calories of frozen waffles won't make you any fatter than 500 calories of broccoli.

I don't think clean eating is a fad. Firstly, clean eating has different definitions for everyone. For me and many others it means eating unprocessed food. So, nothing with a commercial, barcode or label. I'm not 'paleo' or this or that, but I strongly believe in focusing my diet around those foods.

Losing weight is calories in vs calories out; this is a science. But, that doesn't mean that you HAVE to count every single calorie that passes your lips. I've tried that before. I last 2 weeks, max, and then I just don't have the energy or the headspace to continue with it. With 'clean eating', some days I might not be at a deficit at all. Other days I may have a large or moderate deficit. I personally find that, as someone below mentioned, it's just easier to keep energy intake down that way.

Lots of people against clean eating and who take the 'everything in moderation' approach often cite the professor and his twinkie diet as evidence you can lose weight and eat junk food. And it's true. But weight loss is about so much more. In order to keep it up for the long haul, you need to be satisfied and nourished, and with lots of foods in your diet that contain a lot of calories and not a lot of nutrients, I believe it's much harder to keep up long-term.

So, I don't think clean eating is a fad, and I think the more you include nutrient dense, whole foods in your diet, the better your results will be, especially long term

If clean eating is a fad then we've been following a fad for over 30 years :laugh:

jmv7117

mjo1102 - I agree with you completely... People here can be of no help.

I, personally, cannot lose weight by simply eating at a deficit. I find that my moods are better, I feel better, my autoimmune condition responds better, and I lose weight when I eat more whole foods (which, to me, is "clean" eating). To me, that means eating a lot of organic produce, a colorful array of veggies and fruits, organic/grass fed/free range meats, no dairy, very little soy (this is hard to eliminate entirely, I find), and no gluten. I do not eat gluten because it causes me to have debilitating nerve pain - pain that I dealt with for many years with massage, physical therapy, and ART, and it never got better...only worse. I gave up dairy to see if it would further healing my nerve pain or my autoimmune condition would respond.

I also find that I can eat more calories and lose weight when my diet is high (good) fats, moderate/high protein, and lower carb. I could eat 10 twinkies/day for 1500 cals and not lose weight (actually, I'd gain weight), or I could eat 1700 cals of organic chicken, pork, beef, avocado, squash and cucumbers from my garden, dark chocolate, olive oil, coconut oil, nuts, and fruit, and lose weight. I do not eat a lot of grains - will sometimes have kernel corn or rice. It is amazing the difference I feel in the amount of bloating that I have as well. I notice I build muscle much quicker and recover from workouts quicker. My moods have improved and I no longer have PMS or bouts of depression. My autoimmune condition is much less severe.

This doesn't mean that I never eat anything from a package. I just try to choose items with few ingredients when I do. I want to live better through my eating, as I view it as medicine.

Point is, do what feels right to do. It cannot hurt to make better choices and to eat foods that are more vitamin and mineral dense for their caloric load.

Why does it have to be so extreme? Do you see people coming on here touting the health benefits of eating only 10 Twinkies a day? Is it so hard for you people to wrap your head around eating whole foods for dinner and having 1..count it, 1 Twinkie for dessert? Jesus.

I can't speak for other clean eaters, but for me/us yes it does have to be what you consider extreme. I wouldn't waste a red penny on a Twinkie! Thanks for the suggestion though. Besides a piece of fruit if dessert is desired is cheaper than a Twinkie any day :laugh:

Imadorkable

It all depends on your definition of "eating clean". For me, I cut out all artificial sweeteners, sodas, and sweets (not sugar just pastries, candy, cakes, ect). I am also trying to eat healthier (i.e. more fruits and veggies). Before I was only loosing less than a pound a week (I had MFP set on 2 lbs a week). The first week I started to eat better I dropped 5 lbs and the next week 3 lbs. I feel so much better too. Eating "cleaner" is not going to help you lose weight. Making better food choices, exercise and calorie counting will. Good luck!

CMB1979

"Clean" eating is fine but you won't lose weight from it. You only lose weight by eating fewer calories than you burn. That's the ONLY way. Calories in < calories out = weight loss. That's it.

Amen! Tell it again!

SLLRunner

It all depends on your definition of "eating clean". For me, I cut out all artificial sweeteners, sodas, and sweets (not sugar just pastries, candy, cakes, ect). I am also trying to eat healthier (i.e. more fruits and veggies). Before I was only loosing less than a pound a week (I had MFP set on 2 lbs a week). The first week I started to eat better I dropped 5 lbs and the next week 3 lbs. I feel so much better too. Eating "cleaner" is not going to help you lose weight. Making better food choices, exercise and calorie counting will. Good luck!

It's the calorie deficit that makes you lose weight. I know, because I eat my lactose free ice cream every day with trail mix on it. I just make sure to work it into my calories.

caimay175

Lol @ bugs in preschool.

MinimalistShoeAddict

I have always been a clean eater. I think its gross to eat dinner without properly washing your hands beforehand



In all seriousness, if you eat less than your TDEE you will lose weight. If you consume more than your TDEE, you will gain weight regardless of how "clean" you are eating.

Exercise and proper macro-nutrient rations will make achieving your health/fitness goals (other than just weight) easier.

Once you track your macros for a while, I think you will find that there are ways to fit in almost any food you like (assuming reasonable portions).

There are many people on MFP who regularly fit ice cream, candy, pizza, etc into their macro targets while losing weight.

Good luck!

tpt1950

Alluminati

mjo1102 - I agree with you completely... People here can be of no help.

I, personally, cannot lose weight by simply eating at a deficit. I find that my moods are better, I feel better, my autoimmune condition responds better, and I lose weight when I eat more whole foods (which, to me, is "clean" eating). To me, that means eating a lot of organic produce, a colorful array of veggies and fruits, organic/grass fed/free range meats, no dairy, very little soy (this is hard to eliminate entirely, I find), and no gluten. I do not eat gluten because it causes me to have debilitating nerve pain - pain that I dealt with for many years with massage, physical therapy, and ART, and it never got better...only worse. I gave up dairy to see if it would further healing my nerve pain or my autoimmune condition would respond.

I also find that I can eat more calories and lose weight when my diet is high (good) fats, moderate/high protein, and lower carb. I could eat 10 twinkies/day for 1500 cals and not lose weight (actually, I'd gain weight), or I could eat 1700 cals of organic chicken, pork, beef, avocado, squash and cucumbers from my garden, dark chocolate, olive oil, coconut oil, nuts, and fruit, and lose weight. I do not eat a lot of grains - will sometimes have kernel corn or rice. It is amazing the difference I feel in the amount of bloating that I have as well. I notice I build muscle much quicker and recover from workouts quicker. My moods have improved and I no longer have PMS or bouts of depression. My autoimmune condition is much less severe.

This doesn't mean that I never eat anything from a package. I just try to choose items with few ingredients when I do. I want to live better through my eating, as I view it as medicine.

Point is, do what feels right to do. It cannot hurt to make better choices and to eat foods that are more vitamin and mineral dense for their caloric load.

Why does it have to be so extreme? Do you see people coming on here touting the health benefits of eating only 10 Twinkies a day? Is it so hard for you people to wrap your head around eating whole foods for dinner and having 1..count it, 1 Twinkie for dessert? Jesus.

I can't speak for other clean eaters, but for me/us yes it does have to be what you consider extreme. I wouldn't waste a red penny on a Twinkie! Thanks for the suggestion though. Besides a piece of fruit if dessert is desired is cheaper than a Twinkie any day :laugh:

Then don't eat the Twinkie cause no one is suggesting you eat it. Reading comprehension and context are your friends.

likehemingway

You don't need a gym membership to lose weight. I've lost 20lbs and have done all my work at home, through running, and through free videos and apps, with equipment I've bought from sporting goods stores, it's amazing how much can be done with a yoga mat, a couple variations of dumb bells, and a kettle bell or two.