Should I eat clean or count calories?

2

Replies

  • SunshineDecember
    SunshineDecember Posts: 70 Member
    Both :) You can eat super clean, and never loose an inch if you're eating too many cals. And you can eat crap, count calories, and loose weight, but you'll feel like ****. Go for both in moderation - allow yourself a treat every once in a while, and don't freak out if you go a little over your calories :)
  • stumblinthrulife
    stumblinthrulife Posts: 2,558 Member
    You'll feel better if you do both.

    Also you can earn elite points that can be spent on smug looks and snarky comments when you see someone eating McDonalds.

    Why did no-one tell me this? How many clean-calories must I count to earn a point, and how many points does a smug look or snarky comment cost?

    Also, how do I get the cashier at the grocery store to comment on my obviously superior selection of groceries?
  • canadianbugga
    canadianbugga Posts: 101 Member
    Both. Eat as clean as you can but still allow your self on occasion to have some treats or else you might go crazy and end up binging or giving up. Just make sure you log it and stick to your calories and macros it will be ok. You will find the more you stick to clean foods, the more "bang for your buck" you will get for your allowed calories.
  • Cr01502
    Cr01502 Posts: 3,614 Member
    It's a personal preference.

    If you have problems with sugar cravings and binge eating eating clean may help you adhere to calorie restrictions.

    Otherwise you can just watch your macros.
  • NaughtyForties
    NaughtyForties Posts: 69
    Eat clean as much as possible - I manage to eat clean nearly 100% of the time, but like most I have the odd mad moment, then slap myself back into touch PDQ.

    If you eat clean you'll look lean, eat crap and you'll pile on fat. For me it's simple I prefer the former over the latter, so stay focused.
  • underwater77
    underwater77 Posts: 331 Member
    calories burned > calories eaten to lose weight.

    I do think that "clean" eating helps to make sure your calories stay relatively low, but if you want to get all 2000 calories you're allotted in one Big Mac meal, by all means.

    I don't eat clean by whoever's definition, but I stick to lean meats, fruits and veggies, and some dairy for the most part. I find with these things, I can eat a ton of food all day long and stay within my calorie goal.
  • miss_brown1989
    miss_brown1989 Posts: 27 Member
    I eat very clean, no processed food (packaged bread and grain products, so-called "healthy" meal replacement crap" aspertame and "light" food or fast food)

    I feel sooo much better and if you find ways to prepare clean foods its delicious, my fav is potatoes which you can do in so many ways.

    But i still count every calorie and am losing weight at a great rate.
  • Rhonnie
    Rhonnie Posts: 506 Member
    I say start with which ever one is easier for you to stick to, then slowly modify your diet to incorporate your other goal.
  • ericarae33
    ericarae33 Posts: 211 Member
    Why does it have to be one or the other. I say eat clean as much as possible, but a treat here and there isn't bad!
  • miss_brown1989
    miss_brown1989 Posts: 27 Member
    Oh yeah and you can eat WAY more food eating healthy food too. (fruit, veg, meat, whole dairy (not the altered light ****) and some and as few grains/wheat and you can, since your body cant actually digest them properly and you can be bloated. Unless you soak them first that is in vinagar or whey. (real whey not the powdered crap)
  • Duck_Puddle
    Duck_Puddle Posts: 3,237 Member
    "Clean" calories count the same as "dirty" calories. You need to consume fewer calories than you burn in order to lose weight-those calories can be clean, dirty or a mix-as long as there are less of them than your body uses-you'll lose weight. You'll probably feel better if you're eating more nutritious stuff and less crap-since you're more likely to be getting the mix of vitamins and minerals your body needs. But the most important is that you do something you can sustain forever and ever, amen. If you can see passing on McDonalds, Taco Bell, Snickers bars, Oreos, etc. then have at it. I'd imagine if you're human, it's not reasonable to assume you'll go the rest of your life without occasionally eating some crap. If you find a way to fit it into your life without it consuming your entire diet (or in a pattern of overindulgent binges), you'll be I'm good shape.
  • CEHayes73
    CEHayes73 Posts: 221 Member
    I started by counting calories, and then 'cleaning' up my diet. I can't make the commitment to eat clean, but I try to eat 'cleaner', i.e. make the least processed choices I can live with. Sometimes I do great, other times not so much. Good luck.
  • sanvanhaaften
    sanvanhaaften Posts: 118
    I agree with the majority and think you should do both, I'm on the Paleo diet since January first and take one day off and have something non paleo, that gives me good new energy for the coming week. Also try to do some type of exercise every day for one hour at least.
    I hope that you can find what works for you, take advice is cool but it's better if you try and see for yourself :drinker:
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    Count calories, track macros, eat mainly nutritious foods (irrespective of whether they fall into a yet agreed upon definition) and have some treats that can be downright filthy.

    YES! Like ice cream!

    Ice-cream is just a little grubby. Toasted pop tart ice cream sammiches on the other hand....
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    "Eating clean" does not negate calories..lmao. Calories in are calories in. If you eat at a caloric surplus - no matter how healthy, you are still at a surplus.

    And just some extra info to throw out there about "clean eating" for anyone who isn't sure what that is....

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/822501-halp-my-sandwich-isn-t-clean
    http://www.wannabebig.com/diet-and-nutrition/the-dirt-on-clean-eating/
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    Oh yeah and you can eat WAY more food eating healthy food too. (fruit, veg, meat, whole dairy (not the altered light ****) and some and as few grains/wheat and you can, since your body cant actually digest them properly and you can be bloated. Unless you soak them first that is in vinagar or whey. (real whey not the powdered crap)

    Being someone who has overeating issues plus being a bored/emotional/stress eating...eating more isn't really cool..lol. I would rather eat correct portions and eat "smarter" than more..lol. That means I won't end up wondering why I can't meet my calorie goals or ending up deficient in certain nutrients. And yes, I speak from experience.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    counting calories is how the site works, where you choose to get those calories from is totally up to you.

    more importantly, don't be bumping 3 minute old threads. for reals
  • GiantsGetDevoured
    GiantsGetDevoured Posts: 33
    1200 calories of donuts and 2400 calories of broccoli and chicken will
    Produce different results. Calories are more important. Your body doesn't
    Know what "clean" food is. Good luck!
  • CorvusCorax77
    CorvusCorax77 Posts: 2,536 Member
    You should find they go together nicely.... But since 100% clean is hard and too much of even the cleanest foods will tip the scales, I vote for count calories, eat mostly clean, and work out like a beast!
  • vmekash
    vmekash Posts: 422 Member
    Track calories whether or not eating clean.
  • WickedGarden
    WickedGarden Posts: 944 Member
    do both.

    I did WW, and ate pretty much processed foods, but was STARVING all the time. Didn't lose any weight.

    Started P90x, and eating clean. Working out really makes you want to eat clean. Lost some weight, but I *looked* better, more refreshed.

    I do the 80/20 rule, I still eat some processed foods, I still go out to eat, but I just usually make sure it's 'somewhat' healthy.
  • mem50
    mem50 Posts: 1,384 Member


    Also, how do I get the cashier at the grocery store to comment on my obviously superior selection of groceries?

    Make sure the person ahead of you has a LOT of crap food in the cart. I get tons of compliments on my food choices! :bigsmile:
  • jrmartinezb
    jrmartinezb Posts: 147 Member
    I say do both, but don’t obsess over either of them. That is what has worked for me.

    A calorie deficit is necessary to weight loss. There’s just no way around that. In my experience, counting calories is the best way to eat at a calorie deficit.

    I know clean foods will usually be more nutrient rich, more filling, and will be better for my health; so I try to eat clean most of the time. Clean food is also usually way less calorie dense, so counting calories has naturally led me to clean eating.

    On the other hand, whatever nutrition plan you follow must be something you can really adhere to. The best plan won’t do any good if you only follow it for a couple of months. Me, I don’t actually want to go for 100% clean eating. That’s just not something I can do on the long run. I allow myself to go over my calorie goals and I have “filthy” foods when I feel like it. I want my diet (in the sense that diet is what you eat) to be an enjoyable part of my life, not something that restricts it.
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/822501-halp-my-sandwich-isn-t-clean

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/817188-iifym

    This. Do what is sustainable for you.
  • NikoM5
    NikoM5 Posts: 488 Member
    Here's an article by Alan Aragon on clean eating. FYI Alan is the man when is comes to no BS sports nutrition science.

    http://www.wannabebig.com/diet-and-nutrition/the-dirt-on-clean-eating/
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    Go for a long term sustainable clean. The healthier you eat, the better healthy tastes.

    And chocolate does sometimes too.
  • ashleydmassey
    ashleydmassey Posts: 106 Member
    The better you eat, the more you can budget in to eat. That said, everything in moderation is key, in my opinion. If you go too far extreme from how you eat in "real" life, you will probably have a tougher time abstaining and then sustaining. If you have a sweet tooth, don't deny it, but feed it reasonably. I started as a major sweet-a-holic and now I might have something sweet, aside from fruit, once a week...if that. And I'm totally okay with it. It keeps me from extreme cravings, that would lead to overloading without slowing down progress. It's all about balance. I'm so much more focused on "better" eating than "perfect" eating. Though I don't eat all that horrible anyway.
  • snowflowr82
    snowflowr82 Posts: 141 Member
    Darn Facebook has conditioned me to want to like so many of these posts lol :) I agree with doing both eating as clean as you can with some cheats and making sure you count calories I've had the best success when i count calories and am making better food choices i think you will also get the best results that way its what i'm doing right now myself!! Good luck
  • CEHayes73
    CEHayes73 Posts: 221 Member
    I'm so much more focused on "better" eating than "perfect" eating.

    ^^^^ Love this!
  • LBNOakland
    LBNOakland Posts: 379 Member
    I would recommend both! I went to Humdingers today. it was great! Grilled fish, grilled asparagus, grilled zuchini, piri-piri mushrooms. I was feeling really clean and healthy! LOL Put my food in here. The dipping sauce I did dip into was 200 Calories!! I am not beating myself up about it but I will NOT choose to dip next time. The food was delish without it! Had I not come back and counted, I would not know what the better choice is for the next time I visit Humdingers! In the future, I will be more aware of those types of sauces as well. It is all a learning experience for me. COunting calories is also teaching me better choices. Most of the time, I try to plan my choices BEFORE I eat! :bigsmile:

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