eat clean or eat less?

ayoubm3949

some people say in order to lose weight you just have to eat clean.. others say you don't have to, you just need to eat less calories than you burn..meaning you can have all the junk food you want as long as you meet your calorie goal. but don't other macros affect your weight loss too? so even if you eat less calories.. if food is high in carbs/sugar/sodium.. you'll just gain weight, no?

what do you think?

skybird455

actually both, all of the above. Eat clean, eat less, cut out sugar, more protein. works for me, but everybody is different. You can friend me if you want, see my clean diary ;0) well mostly clean cept two days a month

stargazer008

I do both actually, I try to eat healthy whole food and reduce my caloric intake which is the best option in my opinion.

infamousmk

You don't have to eat clean to lose weight - the Twinkie diet proved that. The science of weight loss really is calories burned vs. calories consumed, but the quality of food does play a part in how healthy you are in the end.

Ellas_Time_4_Change

Ultimately weight loss does come down to calories in calories out. However, if changing your body composition is also important to you, then eating clean (i.e more protein) while keeping calories down should be a priority too.

SPNLuver83

I don't think just eating junk food is going to equate to weight loss, but I don't think one has to eat completely clean either. I do a bit of both. I have a calorie deficit. I eat pretty healthy- whole grains, more fruits and veggies than before, light cheeses and dairy, less refined sugar... but I'm not gonna deny myself chocolate, not in a million years. But I opt for dark chocolate now... I also eat pizza, hamburgers, french fries, tacos etc etc, just in moderation.

TLL09

I try to do both. I don't lose weight unless I cut out the processed crap food that I love to eat.

Ellas_Time_4_Change

I don't think just eating junk food is going to equate to weight loss, but I don't think one has to eat completely clean either. I do a bit of both. I have a calorie deficit. I eat pretty healthy- whole grains, more fruits and veggies than before, light cheeses and dairy, less refined sugar... but I'm not gonna deny myself chocolate, not in a million years. But I opt for dark chocolate now... I also eat pizza, hamburgers, french fries, tacos etc etc, just in moderation.

Great reply and you look amazing btw

sarah44254

I know for sure that you don't have to eat clean to lose weight. Just stop eating and you will see a loss.

Eating clean is a healthier option when compared to eating less junk. Imagine eating at your goal macros, good wholesome foods, greens and veggies, proteins and healthy fats, complex carbs... that is a healthy way to live and your body will flourish from the good attention you have been giving it.

Now imagine eating a huge bowl of ice cream midday every day. This ice cream has none of the nutrients the veggies will give you, but it will try to mirror the fat, protein, and carb ratio you have been trying to reach. This is not as healthy as the first option.

Lastly, there is the option of hitting calorie goal and not macro goal - say you eat a big mac and fries and that earns you your 1200 for the day (not certain of the numbers, let's imagine). That meal had probably the same void nutrition as the ice cream, yet didn't even fit the macro goals (all carbs and fat pretty much - some protein from the patty in the burger).

Macros are more for your body composition and overall health. If you want to lose weight but NOT muscle - you try to reach your macros and eat protein to convince your body that your muscle is important and should not be cannibalized.

My suggestion is to first meet calorie goal - then try to add in nutritional foods like veggies and fruits and other fresh deliciousness - THEN try to hit your macros.

hiker282

Eat clean....try eating a pound of any kind of vegetables and then eat a pound of McDonald's and see which one gives you more calories. Eat more clean food, eat fewer calorie, grease, nasty fat infested foods, and get out and move your booty and lose weight.

poedunk65

I loe and hae to have my weekend beers. So i count them as calories and adjust what i eat to accomodate my counts for the day. Sometimes i will workout harder andlonger on a saturday just to burn extra calories for my nights out.

lordsangel

I think youcan eat some junk food (not clean) but I would really limilt it if possible. You can eat all the veggies and fruits you want, youneed some of every kind of food group but i think you'd be surprised at the correct portion size of food. We eat waaaay too much and laugh at an actual portion size. It's pretty crazy how little you get in one portion. But to answer your question, you can eat what you want and just stay under the calorie goal but not all calories are created equal. You'll get a lot more benefit out of 100 cals of veggies, not to mention more food, than you'd get in 100 cals of ice cream for example. And you'll feel better too if you eat clean food.

taso42

how much you eat affects weight gain or loss
what you eat affects health and body composition

NoAdditives

You can lose weight eating junk as long as you are burning more calories than you consume. But, you'll end up losing muscle mass and can still have a high body fat percentage. If your goal is losing weight, eat what you want as long as it fits into your daily calorie goal. If your goal is overall health, eat healthier foods more often, and junk food less often.

JoniBologna

I like to adhere to the 80/20 rule. I eat 80% clean, whole, unprocessed foods and 20% whatever else I want.

Rae6503

I wash my hands before I eat.



Sometimes.

tidmutt

Eat less to lose weight. End of story.

Addendum:

Eating clean (whatever that means exactly) can possibly help you lose weight more effectively since it will probably mean cutting processed foods that are often calorie dense and not filling. It may also improve your health. I like the primal/paleo approach to eating and have followed it for some time, it did NOT equal effortless weight loss like some people will make out.

jaded_rose

I do both. i've found that eating less then I burn works for me. but i've also found that when I eat clean i feel better about myself they when I eat junk. so i would od both. this doesn't mean that i don't eat junk food from time to time but I fell better when I eat clean.

SexyCook

Eat Clean + Working Out= Results.....I don't think it would be called a healthier lifestyle is you were still trying to eat junk and lose weight... It does not happen over night and you will sometimes find yourself eating some of things you like...Commit to trying to be healthier should be the ultimate key!! I find people just try to find the quick easy route.....

littlewhittles

I loe and hae to have my weekend beers. So i count them as calories and adjust what i eat to accomodate my counts for the day. Sometimes i will workout harder andlonger on a saturday just to burn extra calories for my nights out.

Me too. I try to eat healthier, because it's better for me and I can eat more, but I have my occasional pizza nights and beers. I just make sure the calories all work out at the end of the day.

I find, personally, if I cut out all the "crap" I enjoy, I just get grumpy and hold a grudge against my diet. I choose to do both. That way I stay on track without getting bent out of shape.

strawberrie_milk

You only need to eat less if you want to lose weight. Pay attention to macros to lose as much fat/as little LBM as possible - you still have to eat less calories though.

GasMasterFlash

My dog eats her poop sometimes. She's pretty thin.

gogojodee

I think it's a combo of both. I do both, some days one more than the other. If I'm eating a pizza or cupcakes (wow, I haven't had one since I started MFP! And that was in March haha :noway:) I'm going to measure/weigh or cut it in half. It's not depriving myself, yet I'm trying to be fair intaking cals and working out!

mommyred35

I don't think just eating junk food is going to equate to weight loss, but I don't think one has to eat completely clean either. I do a bit of both. I have a calorie deficit. I eat pretty healthy- whole grains, more fruits and veggies than before, light cheeses and dairy, less refined sugar... but I'm not gonna deny myself chocolate, not in a million years. But I opt for dark chocolate now... I also eat pizza, hamburgers, french fries, tacos etc etc, just in moderation.

^^^^^^^ agree

jadedone

I eat clean on principle, not for weight loss. I started eating clean way before I attempted to lose weight. And I will fully admit, calories in and out are more important than eating clean. Especially if you are far from your goal weight. (I was about 60% clean 7 years ago, increasing my clean eating by a bit each year...and over the past 7 years I had gained ~30 pounds)


*** I define eating clean as sticking to minimally processed foods, avoiding artificial ingredients and preservatives. You can definitely make clean ice cream, clean potato chips, clean cake and clean french fries.

ryn013

actually both, all of the above. Eat clean, eat less, cut out sugar, more protein. works for me, but everybody is different. You can friend me if you want, see my clean diary ;0) well mostly clean cept two days a month

yupp, this is pretty much what I go by. also watch your fat, saturated and trans fats to be specific.

Justjoshin

how much you eat affects weight gain or loss
what you eat affects health and body composition

As simple as it gets.

momtokgo

It depends on you. Everyone is going to be different. I have to eat cleaner to lose weight. I can eat junky foods and stay under my calories, but the scale never goes anywere and I just end up bloated and feeling rotten. If I cut out the crap foods and eat fairly clean, I lose weight easily.

graelwyn

I try and eat as clean as I can, but also allow myself a little dark chocolate, and plan on allowing myself a cheat meal or cheat food once a week or so, whether that be a meal and dessert out, or my normal healthy meal and ice cream or chocolate. That seems to work for me well enough. I don't believe in really low carbs, I do believe in listening to what your body is telling you and what you fancy eating (unless that entails a dozen doughnuts or a kilo of chocolate lol). I also believe that if you have everything in moderation most of the time, and listen to your body, everything else will pretty much fall into place naturally without any need to be checking protein, fat and carb amounts.

chusheto1

The only problem with not eating clean is that you will go over your calories on three cookies, instead of three large portioned meals of the good stuff. Other than that, carbs are carbs, fat is fat, etc. etc.

Fast carbs (refined sugar) cause fluctuations in your blood sugar which will make you experience hunger sooner. If you don't think you would respond to the "call of the wild" then load up on ice-cream I know that I don't have the will to stay hungry, so oatmeal and brown rice it is, for me and potato chips and ice-cream in very limited amounts. Lost 30 lbs doing this, so... I would say it's working

Darlingir

for me it's about changing my behavior and eliminating my trigger foods....so I eat less, eat clean..it's a life style change. I personally compare my self to an alcoholic...if I eat any foods that "trigger" a binge I will go off the deep end..so..inevitably.. I need to eliminate it.