Does clean eating really make a difference for you?
britneyy32
Posts: 97 Member
Do you guys really see a difference when you eat clean vs. not eating clean (but still sticking to your daily calorie restriction)? I hear a lot of people say that they can eat unhealthy and lose weight as long as they have a calorie deficit, and eating clean doesn't make a difference. Does it make a difference for you? Do you lose significantly more weight while eating clean?
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Replies
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Hi there. I have been working hard on "cleaner eating" as I can be self described as a carb and sugar addict. I have worked really hard to eat less processed, far less sugar (and also have omitted aspartame and sugar substitues) and include more veggies more fruits more organics and much more water.
Coming from someone who could demolish ice cream half gallons by herself if allowed to do so, just being more mindful and making better decisions whenever i can, it has made a difference in my weight loss but even more importantly it's made a HUGE difference in my overall health and mood.
the sugar highs and lows, the caffeine uges, the drive to carb binge for a "lift" have all but been eradicated. i feel less "hungover" in the mornings becuase my diet has elimiated a bunch of the processed stuff i used to enjoy.
i have more energy and now i find myself craving healhier treats. like for instance, instead of going for the baked goodies we have in the house (because my husband doesnt believe in "clean") i just enjoyed a medium red delicious apple and 1/2 teaspoon of organic peanut butter. i am satisfied, satiated and most importantly guilt free. i used to always regret eating choices later at night but since i have made the transition to cleaner eating and living, i haven't been angry or frustrated with myself in a long while.
good luck. do what works best for you. it can be a gradual transition and see which aspects fit your life best.
enjoy the journey!0 -
Short answer: Yes
Long answer: It's not JUST about the calories, but about the quality of those calories. You can lose weight by eating greasy fast food every day and sticking under your calorie goals, but your liver and colon will hate you for it. Eating better (personally) has made my hair thicker (which is good, since it's getting kind of long), cleared up my skin, and had other benefits which are kind of gross.
Meanwhile, when I do lapse (I still manage to stick below my calorie goals during these lapses) I pay dearly for it if it goes on long enough. My gut starts to hurt really bad, and my skin starts to get all gross. Not to mention my colon starts punishing me too. So I try to keep it clean as I can.0 -
It makes a huge difference to me.
First, highly processed food always makes me hungry. With clean food, I get more and more full for a couple hours after I eat.
Second, it's healthier so I feel better. And it's cheaper serving for serving if you shop well.
Third, sodium, fat, and sugar are high in processed food to give them more flavor. If they're 'diet' or 'healthy', they have even more fat and salt to make up for the lack of sugar.
After you eat clean for a while, low quality processed food tastes pretty gross. Really good quality excellent food always tastes great, however - even if it's all white flour and sugar. Love those high quality bakeries!0 -
Hi I can tell you that I have been eating mostly clean for two years now. When I do eat unhealthy say a bag of potato chips I actually feel very sick. I think eating clean most of the time is much better way to loose weight.0
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Short answer: Yes
Long answer: It's not JUST about the calories, but about the quality of those calories. You can lose weight by eating greasy fast food every day and sticking under your calorie goals, but your liver and colon will hate you for it. Eating better (personally) has made my hair thicker (which is good, since it's getting kind of long), cleared up my skin, and had other benefits which are kind of gross.
Meanwhile, when I do lapse (I still manage to stick below my calorie goals during these lapses) I pay dearly for it if it goes on long enough. My gut starts to hurt really bad, and my skin starts to get all gross. Not to mention my colon starts punishing me too. So I try to keep it clean as I can.
Absolutely.
Yeh, you can lose weight (fat+muscle) by eating all kinds of food (or pseudofood) but you can also be skinny and unhealthy.
Food is the bedrock of everything from physical composition to mental health and everything in-between, why short-change yourself?0 -
Eating "clean" has worked for me. My experience is that being strict about my nutrient intake makes sticking to a caloric deficit easier. A lot of my MFP friends aren't nearly as picky and seem to do fine, so experiment and see what works for you.0
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Yes I notice a difference immediately. Chips, fast food, candy, baked goods while they taste good they don't make me feel good. When I stick to veggies and fruit and lean proteins I feel so much better.0
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There is a HUGE difference. Stick with raw veggies, fruits, lean protein, whole grains, water, tea, and coffee. Stay away from the processed/chemical foods. Eat organic whenever possible. You will feel better and look better (hair, skin, body). And lastly watch your portion size! Ever since I started eating smart and clean, I have had more energy and can tell a big difference in the way I feel and look. And I rarely crave junk food anymore. Take time to cook your meals. Have common sense with your food. they say "longer shelf life, shorter life. shorter shelf life, longer life."0
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In terms of weight loss, no it doesn't make a difference. But in terms of just being healthy overall it does.0
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I didn't switch to cleaner eating to lose weight, I actually did it for health reasons. It has taken a while, but yes, I have started noticing a considerable difference.0
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Clean eating makes a difference for me because I am not doing it to be skinny. I am eating clean to be healthy. I hear all the time life is short and live life large. Bullchit, live is long and we are going to have to live with the choices we make for the next 50 years and I for one, want to be out parasailing when I am 80, not drooling in a chair in the nursing home.0
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My mind seems clearer when I eat cleanly. I don't know that it makes a difference for me on the scale, but I sure as heck FEEL better and am less likely to ditch the whole program just because the number on the scale isn't dropping.0
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Today I ate 1/2 a piece of pizza and threw up..
Eating clean or mostly clean has not changed the amount of weight I lose, but it has changed my body composition. I was losing weight before but my body was still.. squishy lol. My loose skin is more hydrated and more elastic, my muscle is stronger and tighter, I don't feel bloated. I'm not hungry when I shouldn't be. Once the toxins are out... you notice a huge difference.0 -
I have only lost weight eating "clean" Whenever I don't I don't shed anything.0
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My short answer is also a BIG fat YES!
My testimonial :
I am not perfect and a highly processed cookie or something squeeks its way in every once in a while. But 90% of my choices are clean and my mind/body thank me for it everyday. I have SOOO MUCH more energy, I need less hours of sleep to feel rested, my skin looks healthier and my mood/attitude is greatly improved.
It is 100% possible to lose weight and not eat clean at all, but I promise you that if you put 2 people of the same age, height, weight next to eachother - one who eats clean and the other who doesnt, the 'clean eater' will look considerably thinner, toned and healthier overall. So why eat dirty if in order to look like you want to you have to lose more weight and eat less than if you just chose different foods?0 -
Yes, absolutely...especially in terms of weight loss, fat loss, and energy levels.0
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Before I started eating clean 80% of the time
After I started eating clean 80% of the time
This was over the course of about 1.5-2 months, I changed nothing about my workout and simply just changed my diet. I didn't believe it until I saw the results in pictures0 -
Yes, huge difference. When I started MFP and was on a "diet" I was starving. When I noticed on the app on my phone that I had very little potassium in my diet, I started reading labels more than trying to get better nutrition. That equated to more fruits and vegetables. Within a couple of weeks, I was hitting on all cylinders and have never looked back. Think WHOLE FOODS, PLANT BASED and you'll thank yourself for it. Plus you will be eating A LOT! Just look at my food diary.0
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absolutely 100%. especially as a vegetarian, I notice a MASSIVE difference in how I feel, my digestion, etc when I eat clean, fresh foods and cut out the processed junk.0
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Definitely, wish I had been eating clean ever since I started my weight loss!!!!0
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Absolutely! My body has adjusted to clean eating so well. I don't crave artificial sugar or refined carbs anymore, and I used to be a huge chocoholic. I've lost lots of weight and my body is much more defined.0
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huge difference. especially my energy level and how I feel in the morning0
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I wouldn't say I lose a significant amount of weight but I feel better. I am less bloated. And I lose weight just a bit faster.0
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This was over the course of about 1.5-2 months, I changed nothing about my workout and simply just changed my diet. I didn't believe it until I saw the results in pictures
WOW! You look great! I have seen your pics on your profile but you can really tell how big of a difference there is when they are displayed close together. WTG!!!0 -
Preservatives and such are a big migraine trigger for me, so ... definitely, at least in terms of how I feel from day to day. I don't crave junk any more either, so that's a big plus. I had coke for the first time in months the other day and it tasted like sugary dishrag water. It was kind of a letdown.0
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In terms of weight loss, no it doesn't make a difference. But in terms of just being healthy overall it does.
For you, maybe, although I doubt it.
I would argue that cutting the processed stuff and sugar will have a large impact on body composition (not just 'weight loss') in most cases.
It ain't just about the calories ...0 -
So glad you asked this question! I am still teetering between clean and not so clean... so the responses have been very helpful for me! Thanks :happy:0
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I decided on monday to start eating clean... I have noticed a huge difference in the way I feel. and in the water retention. I am fuller and more satisfied. I am in the process of switching out my pantry and buying better things... Today was a huge mess. Got pulled to work another area about 30 miles away I wasnt prepared, i usally go home to eat. I ate 2 taco frescos from taco bell, not too bad but started feeling it within a few hours, swelling. Dinner was even worse, i did have a turkey burger but chips too. I am starving now.. I did see a huge difference and 2 pound wt loss in two days water weight i know... I recommend it.0
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Yes, yes, yes, yes, and a big fat YES! Weight loss in particular no, you could lose weight eating the crap, but my health and well being has improved drastically since I started eating cleaner. Headaches are a prime example. I got chronic migraines constantly, as did my son. Since we started eating clean, neither of us has had a single one.0
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I've never tried to lose weight while on a diet of fast food and processed foods, so I can't speak on it's weight loss abilities; however, I can say that as far as how the two diets make me feel (as far as energy), there is no difference. My energy feels the same no matter what I eat, no matter how much I eat (within reason). The regularity from a high fiber diet is awesome, though; cycles of constipation and diarrhea while eating junk is not. Also, fast food diets (which contain toooons of sodium) elevate my blood pressure to unhealthy levels (borderline hypertension), while healthy diets keep it under control.0
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