Guilted by clean eaters?

GiniAldam74

It depends on your goals. If all you care about is looking better naked, eating clean is not needed. If you want better general health, it is more important.

Eating “clean” - http://www.wannabebig.com/diet-and-nutrition/the-dirt-on-clean-eating/

totally agree here, I am neither one or the other in regards to 'clean eating' but it depends what you mean...do you mean conv enience foods or still eating junk but less of it? but when it comes to dieting am strict and do have certain bug bears re some diaries and I did blog it. And despite what i wrote it may be a big thing to go from just example 3 donuts a day to 1 and lose weight but for general health it is not good in the long run, and I do understand that time is an issue for busy people but there are healthy option ready meals out there and dont think this is a problem. But at the end of the day we all like to vent our opinions and we all have them and dont think anyone genuinely wishes you to feel guilty think we all trying to help in our own way as to what has worked for us. Do what you feel is right for you despite what i or anyone think, pick and choose the info that is good for you.

SoDamnHungry

I don't feel guilted by clean eaters unless they say something to me specifically, at which point I really just feel annoyed. Funny, whenever I go out with one friend she feels like has to drink water because I never order a sugary drink. It's simply because I don't like them. Sometimes it's all in your head...

77tes

I'm sorry that the clean eating of others makes you feel guilty. I have to admit to being guilty of making a friend feel bad because of my comments encouraging her to eat better. I realized that my comment made her skip logging, so I suggested she close her diary. That is what she did, and she has been doing better ever since.

I think everyone becomes a missionary for what they think is best. Do what you can and what works for you. When you have more time, you may be able to improve your diet. Good luck!:flowerforyou:

kokaneesailor

I think that anyone that want's to clean up their diet by eliminating as many processed foods as they can should do it sensibly. Personally I have found that by removing undesirables and replacing them with healthier options is the the most effective. To try and change everything overnight would make your body revolt. Inch by inch or baby steps is the key, IMHO.

I have changed my diet and I haven't felt this good since I was a teenager, and that was a couple of years ago.

There's no reason to feel quilty, you are in control of your life. Eat clean or do not, it's your decision, not someone else's.

Best of luck.

christimw

no one can MAKE me feel guilty over my food choices, or anything for that matter. they can talk all they want. in the end, if i DO let them get to me and i CHOOSE to feel guilty over my eating, then i see that as a signal that i KNOW i need to be doing something differently.

if you are happy with your choices, no one can make you feel guilty!

kimr41

You just need to do what works for you. I am NOT a clean eater at all & never will be or want to be honestly. I love chocolate & have it pretty much every day, I'm not willing to give it up. I have learned to make some adjustments to make things better & do better portions because that is what I will be able to live with long term.

iryshjones

i don't know if this will help or not but i also work 12hr shifts - days and nights. The only way i get through it is to make all my meals and snacks on my day off - i put them in tupper ware containers and then pack my lunch the night before (or morning) i go to work.
I am lucky in that way because i do not mind eating the same thing for 3 or 4 days
Sounds like you are doing just fine, everyone has a different life and so you do what works for you!

quiltingducky

I like the phrase "everything in moderation". It's about what fits your lifestyle and at times, budget.

super_monty

I don't eat clean anymore more, but there is a difference between eating well, eating clean and constantly eating junk.

I see people eating junk every day like KFC, Burger King, high salt pizza, ready meals and utter crap constantly then cutting corner the rest of the day to come in under. Thats just wrong and not healthy.

I have eaten a McDonalds today and will have a bag of crisps and a drink later today is a bit of weird day since I have been out with the family all day and a kids party.

I am not going to beat myself up over it because i have eaten really well the rest of the week and been the gym several times and know I can improve my diet if weight goes on. Even though there is processed stuff in my diet like cottage cheese and light coleslaw and cheese I am doing well.

Nothing wrong with eating semi clean if you are sensible and if its working.

downsizinghoss

I like it dirty. Unless you have the time to grow vegetarian chickens in the back yard, you do what you can.

aqm22

IMO, eating "clean" is a fad. Just like low/no-carbs, organic, low fat, gluten free, etc. all other "bad/dirty food" out there. None of that matters. All that matters is a balanced diet, knowing what you put in your mouth and making sure you have all the nutrients necessary to fuel your body. If you do that, I think you're good. If not, well, it's not necessarily bad.

It's just my humble too cent.

And no, I don't feel guilty. I find it aggravating people spouting off that certain food (rice and pasta seems to be the new enemy right now) are bad and make you sick. I try not to comment on those post anymore. I don't think they listen anyways.

BikinimomE

I think that this is an area where common sense should trump dogma.

Are you eating "mostly" nutrient dense foods, and are you making some effort to limit processed foods when possible? Do this and I think you'll be in an excellent spot for both body composition and health even with the inclusion of some processed junk food.

Are you just creating a deficit eating almost all processed foods? Do this and you'll still lose weight, you might even get the same body composition benefits if your macros are set up and hit correctly, but you could possibly have health problems, satiety issues, performance issues, etc.

Yup

penrbrown

IMO, eating "clean" is a fad. Just like low/no-carbs, organic, low fat, gluten free, etc. all other "bad/dirty food" out there. None of that matters.

Well. No. You're wrong. Some people eat clean because they have no other choice.

chocl8girl

I am a clean eater - not by choice though. I just have a lot of allergies and can't eat packaged food.

I have this very important thing to say, and I say it without judgment;

Every path is not perfect.

Some choices are less good for you then others.

Clean eaters aren't making you feel guilty. YOU are making you feel guilty. So stop it.

:flowerforyou:

Determinednoob

I eat my bacon in the shower. S'ok?

Akimajuktuq

IMO, eating "clean" is a fad. Just like low/no-carbs, organic, low fat, gluten free, etc. all other "bad/dirty food" out there. None of that matters.

Well. No. You're wrong. Some people eat clean because they have no other choice.

"Clean" is another word for whole, natural, healthy foods. Few of us are eating completely clean, but many of us do the best we can. Whole, natural foods are a "fad"? LOL. Ever since day 1 on MFP someone occasionally says I am following a "fad" and warns me to "be careful". I don't know whether to laugh or cry... Less than a hundred years of eating foods that come in a box or plastic package and many of us think that's the "normal" way to eat. I think the whole modern lifestyle is a "fad"!

super_monty

IMO, eating "clean" is a fad. Just like low/no-carbs, organic, low fat, gluten free, etc. all other "bad/dirty food" out there. None of that matters.

Well. No. You're wrong. Some people eat clean because they have no other choice.

Eating clean is hardly a fad people where doing it for 1000's of years until multi million corporations starting filling food with e numbers, fat, salt, sugar then marketing at kids and helping the nation get sick, they dont care about health only profit.

I also thing eating clean can be great if you know little about food, cook a lean bit of fresh meat, some veg and a couple of small potatoes and you have a well balanced meal, often low sat, low bad fats and high in fire and vitamins.

I ate rather clean for a while, it helped me lose 41 lbs and it was easy to do, if the weight goes on again the clean eating with be my 1st stop.

ArroganceInStep

More good food for me. Sounds like a win-win.

linz1125

I'm not a very clean eater either, but I figure I'm just not THERE in my journey yet. Right now, I'm focused on religiously logging & keeping up with steady exercise. Once I get those habits down, then I can set new goals for myself.

I think clean eating is a lifestyle change that you need to do when you're ready. But of course, more fruits and veggies in your diet sooner than later can't hurt.

Don't feel bad. Be proud of the lifestyle changes you've made and maintained since the start of your journey!

I completely agree with this 100%. This is your journey- own it! Do what you are doing, as long as it is working for you. Even though I am a major advocate of clean eating, it is not for everyone. For me it was a very gradual change - and something that I struggle with every day.

I always felt guilty if I wasn't the one doing low-carb when it was the craze. But for me, that just wasn't right. I am the daughter of an Italian bread baker and beer brewer - so our entire diet was basically beer, pasta and bread! That wasn't right for me...I finally found what is right for me, and I may get a little over-zealous when giving advice to others about it, but that's because it is something I truly believe in it.

Do what is right for you- at the end of the day, you need to feel good about what you are doing for yourself- which is making changes to better yourself. Be proud of yourself and your journey.

aqm22

IMO, eating "clean" is a fad. Just like low/no-carbs, organic, low fat, gluten free, etc. all other "bad/dirty food" out there. None of that matters.

Well. No. You're wrong. Some people eat clean because they have no other choice.

Eating clean is hardly a fad people where doing it for 1000's of years until multi million corporations starting filling food with e numbers, fat, salt, sugar then marketing at kids and helping the nation get sick, they dont care about health only profit.

I also thing eating clean can be great if you know little about food, cook a lean bit of fresh meat, some veg and a couple of small potatoes and you have a well balanced meal, often low sat, low bad fats and high in fire and vitamins.

I ate rather clean for a while, it helped me lose 41 lbs and it was easy to do, if the weight goes on again the clean eating with be my 1st stop.

I'm not talking about prepackaged food that comes in boxes. I'm weary of those too, trust me. It's worse for me because I know a lot of what those weird pronouncing ingredients mean. I'm talking about when people denounce almost every food on the planet because they don't think it's "clean".

I like my rice (I really don't understand why people think white rice is processed food, but whatever). I like my msg (especially the expensive kind that comes from mushrooms, yum). I didn't get fat from eating those. I got fat from sitting on my butt.

And in my post I clearly state that if you know what you put in your mouth then you should be good. It's all about balanced. That's just my lowly opinion. But I guess I shouldn't talk, I buy fresh meat/fish and veggies and cook almost every night

waldo56

My reason for posting this though is that I read all these posts on the community that (I feel) ridicule those of use who don't eat clean. They guilt us into thinking we're putting garbage in our mouths if we don't eat like they do.

For sure.

But then I remember the whole eating clean concept is for stupid people who are not numerically adept, that struggle with elementary school level math and/or for people that are weak and not capable of controlling themselves. The rest are just gullible souls who are into that us vs. them thing that buy into the marketing hype.

Most of them are fat too.

Health food is a myth. Deal with it.

super_monty

IMO, eating "clean" is a fad. Just like low/no-carbs, organic, low fat, gluten free, etc. all other "bad/dirty food" out there. None of that matters.

Well. No. You're wrong. Some people eat clean because they have no other choice.

Eating clean is hardly a fad people where doing it for 1000's of years until multi million corporations starting filling food with e numbers, fat, salt, sugar then marketing at kids and helping the nation get sick, they dont care about health only profit.

I also thing eating clean can be great if you know little about food, cook a lean bit of fresh meat, some veg and a couple of small potatoes and you have a well balanced meal, often low sat, low bad fats and high in fire and vitamins.

I ate rather clean for a while, it helped me lose 41 lbs and it was easy to do, if the weight goes on again the clean eating with be my 1st stop.

I'm not talking about prepackaged food that comes in boxes. I'm weary of those too, trust me. It's worse for me because I know a lot of what those weird pronouncing ingredients mean. I'm talking about when people denounce almost every food on the planet because they don't think it's "clean".

I like my rice (I really don't understand why people think white rice is processed food, but whatever). I like my msg (especially the expensive kind that comes from mushrooms, yum). I didn't get fat from eating those. I got fat from sitting on my butt.

And in my post I clearly state that if you know what you put in your mouth then you should be good. It's all about balanced. That's just my lowly opinion. But I guess I shouldn't talk, I buy fresh meat/fish and veggies and cook almost every night

I dont think you should worry about it, should like you are pretty balanced.

I will always eat rice, i need the carbs. Even if a go on a so called eating clean diet i will still cheat a little and eat rice. People don't like it because it bleached and a starchy carb.

I got fat for loads of reasons, inactivity, carbs, processed crap, smoking, video games, apathy, denial, depression.

keeping totally clean gets boring quick imo, so just do what you can. its more about eating healthy.

e.g. I hated salad and spinach etc never ate until 12 months ago. Yet if I put a tea spoon of processed low carb light dressing on it (10 cals) I can eat a big bowel of it everyday. A pretty good trade off i would say and i would stick that under clean so what ;-)

IntuitiveEater

I hear ya. Everyone should be allowed to eat however they want and not feel guilty about it. Everyone's needs are different.