Eating "junk" and losing weight?
Replies
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I learned years ago that my "idea" of what someone else should do, is not my business. I stick to managing my OWN LIFE and it is not my business to try to shove, push, preach, or judge others for theirs.0
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I see SO many people on here who have their diaries open and eat more than half of their calories from what's considered "junk" food. What's the deal with this?! I realize I'm the one with 150 pounds left to lose, but wouldn't these people be losing more if they would eat fruits and vegetables at every meal? I'm striving for 75% fresh food. Is that maybe unrealistic? And there are people losing .5 pounds per week but eating candy, chips, etc. Would it not make a difference if they'd eat real food instead? Maybe I'm just confused!
Yes, I could have lost more weight if I didn't enjoy kettle chips and fast food on occasion. But then again, I would have been miserable and likely would have given up. So for me, enjoying my treats and working them into my calorie allotment whenever I can is what made me lose weight. Here's another shocker.... I have never been able to get my ratio right. I did try but decided I am not that obsessive about food. I also don't own a kitchen scale (again too obsessive compulsive for me to keep up with long term).
In the end, doing whatever works for you is what will get you to your goal weight. Trying to do what works for someone else will inevitably lead to failure.0 -
Exactly. People are getting their information from TV and Youtube and "nutritionists" and whatnot. They can't point to any actual data indicating a difference between healthy, active people eating "processed" food versus "whole" food.
Read the scientific literature. Look at causitive factors. Look at the relationships between disease and body fat and sedentary lifestyles.
Body fat and lifestyle are the evils here, not ground beef. Control your body fat and lead an active lifestyle and you will be about as healthy as you can be.
What are you talking about, now? I was with you all the time you were talking about how you can't make a strong claim that junk food is measurably worse than eating clean.
Now you are claiming you will be as healthy eating junk food as eating a clean, whole food diet? Sources?
Because the reason I don't eat junk food is that it hasn't been demonstrated to be safe. Not to my satisfaction. When we are talking about foods that are full of chemicals who exists only to prolong shelf life or alter "mouthfeel", my stance is, "Unsafe until proven safe." It isn't, "Safe until proven unsafe."
I actually feel this way about a lot of things. I would have to be dying and/or completely desperate to take a drug that hasn't been on the market for years.0 -
Eating a diet based on 'junk' food while limiting my calories just didn't work for me. 'Junk' food is too high in calories, fat, carbs, salt and lack nutrition. I would lose weight but oh so slowly. Eating more 'natural' food words a lot better for me. The pounds have been melting off since I eat better. I do, however, fall off the wagon occasionally. And...the key words in the post are 'for me'. This is what works for me, doesn't mean everyone has to do it this way.
Also, multivitamins are supposed to be supplements...not the main source of nutrition.
Exactly. There are many many "co-factors" that they DO NOT include in vitamin tablets. For those, you would need to eat real food. So much of the standard diet is fake food, devoid of all but the macronutrients, protein, fat and carbohydrates. Our minds don't miss those nutrients because the taste has been engineered to appeal from the neck up. But our bodies certainly miss those nutrients. Much of food science today is investigating how the micronutrients keep us healthy. There is a whole field of "nutritional medicine" that is healing people with food.
There is a reason why eating hot dogs is associated with the incidence of leukemia. http://www.preventcancer.com/patients/children/hotdogs.htm0 -
I just had ice cream and hot chocolate for breakfast. It's not the first time I've done this and certainly won't be the last.
Losing weight is all about the number of calories you eat, it doesn't matter if those calories are from healthy foods or from "junk" foods. As long as you stay under your calorie goal, you'll lose weight.
Most people don't JUST want to lose weight though. You probably also want a nice toned look. For body composition, you need to make sure you're getting enough protein as well.
Stay under your calorie goal, "eat back exercise calories," and try your best to hit you fat and protein numbers.0 -
At age 59 my dad lost 80+ pounds eating a package of Oreos a day in addition to about four cups of potato chips, a package of Pop Tarts, salted cashews, and Five Guys or Taco Bell for dinner. The guy has never seen a fruit or vegetable he liked except maybe oranges. He takes no vitamins or supplements. He got a jump start getting sick and spending a couple weeks in the hospital, but that didn't learn him none, obviously.
calories in - calories out ... he created his deficit by exercising like a madman ... 2-3 hours every day of the week. He started with walking and moved on to jogging and swimming.0 -
I see so many people going on about not getting nutrients - do they not sell multivitamins everywhere?
That is not how it works.
That's not how *what* works? You seem to be implying that vitamins don't contain nutrients.
The idea is that a multivitamin can't reproduce all the beneficial nutrients contained within a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
But that doesn't mean people shouldn't take them. I take one when I remember. I often forget though. I think most MDs would reccomend a multi-vitamin.
This falls under "better safe than sorry" imo.0 -
[quote
Because the reason I don't eat junk food is that it hasn't been demonstrated to be safe. Not to my satisfaction. When we are talking about foods that are full of chemicals who exists only to prolong shelf life or alter "mouthfeel", my stance is, "Unsafe until proven safe." It isn't, "Safe until proven unsafe."
I actually feel this way about a lot of things. I would have to be dying and/or completely desperate to take a drug that hasn't been on the market for years.
[/quote]
Have the foods you've been eaten been 'proven' to be safe?
I suspect no more than the 'junk foods' you're thinking about.
Plenty of nasty stuff in nature too, though it's certainly easier to find it stuff that has been more heavily processed by humans.0 -
I see SO many people on here who have their diaries open and eat more than half of their calories from what's considered "junk" food. What's the deal with this?! I realize I'm the one with 150 pounds left to lose, but wouldn't these people be losing more if they would eat fruits and vegetables at every meal? I'm striving for 75% fresh food. Is that maybe unrealistic? And there are people losing .5 pounds per week but eating candy, chips, etc. Would it not make a difference if they'd eat real food instead? Maybe I'm just confused!
Im very sorry but I do not understand how what other people are eating while succeeding or not is affecting your progress toward your own goals. You are doing well just focusing on what works for you!0 -
Reiterating for those that didn't care to read previous posts.Let's hear what the America College of Cardiology states:
Practice moderation. Don't have too much or too little of one thing. All foods, if eaten in moderation, can be part of healthy eating. Even sweets can be okay.
https://www.cardiosmart.org/healthwise/nutr/i/nutri
END THREAD
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
I see so many people going on about not getting nutrients - do they not sell multivitamins everywhere?
That is not how it works.
That's not how *what* works? You seem to be implying that vitamins don't contain nutrients.
The idea is that a multivitamin can't reproduce all the beneficial nutrients contained within a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
But that doesn't mean people shouldn't take them. I take one when I remember. I often forget though. I think most MDs would reccomend a multi-vitamin.
This falls under "better safe than sorry" imo.
Here is what I meant read myth #1
http://www.rd.com/health/wellness/5-vitamin-truths-and-lies/0 -
My rule is to eat as healthy as I can at least 80% of the week. I give myself more leway on weekends usually. I never really go too far off track - maybe a big pizza day like I had yesterday or such. But I also keep up the exercise. Fact is though, if you burn more calories that you take in - crap calories or not - then you will lose weight. Doesn't help in overall health.
Meh.0 -
Does anyone have any actual scientific evidence that eating "junk" food, in the context of an active lifestyle with healthy body composition, is actually worse in any measurable way than eating "healthy" food?
The answer to this question will never come...
Seriously? Yes, there are hundreds upon thousands of studies on this.
ou will have to narrow the field rather than say "junk food" let's take one of the biggest offenders "Partially Hydrogenated Oils" (trans fat) named because they add hydrogen back into the oil which is a pretty way of saying it turns unsaturated fatty acids into saturated ones. Basically it makes foods last for ever on shelves, because that is what food is supposed to do right? Be loaded with chemicals to last forever?
Don't take my word for it National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine said that trans fats shouldn't be consumed at all. The Food and Drug Administration says that intake should be as low as possible. (source http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/06/02/08/what-exactly-does-it-mean-when-foods-are-hydrogenated-and-what-risks-can-it-pose.htm) Need more reason not to consume very much? Trans fats raise your bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and lower your good (HDL) cholesterol levels. Eating trans fats increases your risk of developing heart disease and stroke. It’s also associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
There is one "junk food" which other would you like to know about?0 -
There is weightloss and there is fit and healthy. You can eat 'junk' food and lose weight. But you can't follow that path if your goal is to get fit and improve your health. Your journey is yours...decide what your goals are and go for it.
for me i eat what i want when i feel like it and sometimes i go over my calories on that extra piece of fried chicken, so what........... ill just burn it off tomorrow and ill stay under my daily calorie goal
yeah really need to work o this quote thing0 -
i agree and is there any Ice cream left to share?I just had ice cream and hot chocolate for breakfast. It's not the first time I've done this and certainly won't be the last.
Losing weight is all about the number of calories you eat, it doesn't matter if those calories are from healthy foods or from "junk" foods. As long as you stay under your calorie goal, you'll lose weight.
Most people don't JUST want to lose weight though. You probably also want a nice toned look. For body composition, you need to make sure you're getting enough protein as well.
Stay under your calorie goal, "eat back exercise calories," and try your best to hit you fat and protein numbers.0 -
My rule is to eat as healthy as I can at least 80% of the week. I give myself more leway on weekends usually. I never really go too far off track - maybe a big pizza day like I had yesterday or such. But I also keep up the exercise. Fact is though, if you burn more calories that you take in - crap calories or not - then you will lose weight. Doesn't help in overall health.
Meh.
I think this is good advice, sure everyone eats things they shouldn't from time to time.. If your only concern is weight loss than you can probably pull it off.
I am no different, I have Splenda from time to time which i know is a chemical s*** storm, but I am not going to say "hey there is nothing wrong with it" that would not be a good strategy.0 -
Have the foods you've been eaten been 'proven' to be safe?
I suspect no more than the 'junk foods' you're thinking about.
Plenty of nasty stuff in nature too, though it's certainly easier to find it stuff that has been more heavily processed by humans.
The sorts of foods I eat are constantly being scientifically demonstrated to improve your health. Yes. There is just a constant stream of such studies.
There is simply no recorded correlation between my diet and huge markers of ill health like coronary disease. We don't see whole societies of people getting fatter and sicker as they eat more whole, unprocessed foods.
The correlation with junk food and ill health exists. It doesn't mean there is causation neither does it mean there isn't.0 -
I eat well 80% of the time, 20% treat. Tonight is a magnum ice cream, but it fits in with my macros perfectly so its all good! Find that method works for me. I just make sure i pre plan to make sure it all fits! X0
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I'm not willing to cut out anything that I won't cut out for the rest of my life. It's not sustainable. I eat my fair share of fruit & veg and other healthy foods, but I eat junk too.
Ditto.0 -
Does anyone have any actual scientific evidence that eating "junk" food, in the context of an active lifestyle with healthy body composition, is actually worse in any measurable way than eating "healthy" food?
The answer to this question will never come...
Seriously? Yes, there are hundreds upon thousands of studies on this.
ou will have to narrow the field rather than say "junk food" let's take one of the biggest offenders "Partially Hydrogenated Oils" (trans fat) named because they add hydrogen back into the oil which is a pretty way of saying it turns unsaturated fatty acids into saturated ones. Basically it makes foods last for ever on shelves, because that is what food is supposed to do right? Be loaded with chemicals to last forever?
Don't take my word for it National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine said that trans fats shouldn't be consumed at all. The Food and Drug Administration says that intake should be as low as possible. (source http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/06/02/08/what-exactly-does-it-mean-when-foods-are-hydrogenated-and-what-risks-can-it-pose.htm) Need more reason not to consume very much? Trans fats raise your bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and lower your good (HDL) cholesterol levels. Eating trans fats increases your risk of developing heart disease and stroke. It’s also associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
There is one "junk food" which other would you like to know about?
Trans fat is trans fat no matter what food it's in.
Trans fat is a macronutrient.
Macronutrient control is the issue.0 -
You can certainly lose weight eating junk if you stay under your calorie budget, but you will feel like crap and never really satisfied IMO0
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Does anyone have any actual scientific evidence that eating "junk" food, in the context of an active lifestyle with healthy body composition, is actually worse in any measurable way than eating "healthy" food?
The answer to this question will never come...
Seriously? Yes, there are hundreds upon thousands of studies on this.
ou will have to narrow the field rather than say "junk food" let's take one of the biggest offenders "Partially Hydrogenated Oils" (trans fat) named because they add hydrogen back into the oil which is a pretty way of saying it turns unsaturated fatty acids into saturated ones. Basically it makes foods last for ever on shelves, because that is what food is supposed to do right? Be loaded with chemicals to last forever?
Don't take my word for it National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine said that trans fats shouldn't be consumed at all. The Food and Drug Administration says that intake should be as low as possible. (source http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/06/02/08/what-exactly-does-it-mean-when-foods-are-hydrogenated-and-what-risks-can-it-pose.htm) Need more reason not to consume very much? Trans fats raise your bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and lower your good (HDL) cholesterol levels. Eating trans fats increases your risk of developing heart disease and stroke. It’s also associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
There is one "junk food" which other would you like to know about?
Trans fat is trans fat no matter what food it's in.
Trans fat is a macronutrient.
Macronutrient control is the issue.
uhhhh nooo Fat is a macro, and no one said fat was bad for you.
Sorry this thread is becoming frustrating, after all my nutrition schooling, fitness certifications, and degrees it pains me to see some of this mis information being tossed around as fact.0 -
Does anyone have any actual scientific evidence that eating "junk" food, in the context of an active lifestyle with healthy body composition, is actually worse in any measurable way than eating "healthy" food?
The answer to this question will never come...
Seriously? Yes, there are hundreds upon thousands of studies on this.
ou will have to narrow the field rather than say "junk food" let's take one of the biggest offenders "Partially Hydrogenated Oils" (trans fat) named because they add hydrogen back into the oil which is a pretty way of saying it turns unsaturated fatty acids into saturated ones. Basically it makes foods last for ever on shelves, because that is what food is supposed to do right? Be loaded with chemicals to last forever?
Don't take my word for it National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine said that trans fats shouldn't be consumed at all. The Food and Drug Administration says that intake should be as low as possible. (source http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/06/02/08/what-exactly-does-it-mean-when-foods-are-hydrogenated-and-what-risks-can-it-pose.htm) Need more reason not to consume very much? Trans fats raise your bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and lower your good (HDL) cholesterol levels. Eating trans fats increases your risk of developing heart disease and stroke. It’s also associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
There is one "junk food" which other would you like to know about?
Trans fat is trans fat no matter what food it's in.
Trans fat is a macronutrient.
Macronutrient control is the issue.
uhhhh nooo Fat is a macro, and no one said fat was bad for you.
..... Yes. Trans fat is a macronutrient.0 -
Then it's subjective because there are many that can fit junk in and feel fine. Heck even Olympic swimmers eat junk food because of the calorie density and eating "clean" food every hour on the hour to fulfill that caloric need would never allow them to train for hours or would hamper their training.You can certainly lose weight eating junk if you stay under your calorie budget, but you will feel like crap and never really satisfied IMO
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
Does anyone have any actual scientific evidence that eating "junk" food, in the context of an active lifestyle with healthy body composition, is actually worse in any measurable way than eating "healthy" food?
The answer to this question will never come...
Seriously? Yes, there are hundreds upon thousands of studies on this.
ou will have to narrow the field rather than say "junk food" let's take one of the biggest offenders "Partially Hydrogenated Oils" (trans fat) named because they add hydrogen back into the oil which is a pretty way of saying it turns unsaturated fatty acids into saturated ones. Basically it makes foods last for ever on shelves, because that is what food is supposed to do right? Be loaded with chemicals to last forever?
Don't take my word for it National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine said that trans fats shouldn't be consumed at all. The Food and Drug Administration says that intake should be as low as possible. (source http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/06/02/08/what-exactly-does-it-mean-when-foods-are-hydrogenated-and-what-risks-can-it-pose.htm) Need more reason not to consume very much? Trans fats raise your bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and lower your good (HDL) cholesterol levels. Eating trans fats increases your risk of developing heart disease and stroke. It’s also associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
There is one "junk food" which other would you like to know about?
Trans fat is trans fat no matter what food it's in.
Trans fat is a macronutrient.
Macronutrient control is the issue.
uhhhh nooo Fat is a macro, and no one said fat was bad for you.
..... Yes. Trans fat is a macronutrient.
While trans fat "technically" has fat in it.. Most are man made and not a beneficial fat, nor is it a good way to get fat in your diet. So no, no one in their right mind will say be sure to get your TRANS FAT macro nutrient.0 -
..... Yes. Trans fat is a macronutrient.
Am I the only one cringing?0 -
Have to agree here. Like saturated fat, it's need to be limited so it doesn't impact health...... Yes. Trans fat is a macronutrient.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
Here, here's what Taco Bell and Subway and McDonald's and Lean Cuisine and Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sandwiches do to your body:
During that time, total cholesterol went from 240 to 204; HDL went from 40 to 59, and triglycerides from 92 to 72. My blood pressure was borderline high then, and now it's normally around 115/65.
So if all that sounds terrible to you, then by all means deny yourself foods you like because someone on the internet said they were "unhealthy."
Very niiice!
I eat what I want. Of course as I am finding myself further into that journey the things I 'want' are slowly getting healthier. I can no longer eat too many sweets because they make me rather ill physically. It's not something I 'planned' I just find that I'm drifting away from certain things and more towards others. Does not stop me from eating 'crap' occasionally but it is a lot less often than it used to be.0 -
Does anyone have any actual scientific evidence that eating "junk" food, in the context of an active lifestyle with healthy body composition, is actually worse in any measurable way than eating "healthy" food?
The answer to this question will never come...
Seriously? Yes, there are hundreds upon thousands of studies on this.
ou will have to narrow the field rather than say "junk food" let's take one of the biggest offenders "Partially Hydrogenated Oils" (trans fat) named because they add hydrogen back into the oil which is a pretty way of saying it turns unsaturated fatty acids into saturated ones. Basically it makes foods last for ever on shelves, because that is what food is supposed to do right? Be loaded with chemicals to last forever?
Don't take my word for it National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine said that trans fats shouldn't be consumed at all. The Food and Drug Administration says that intake should be as low as possible. (source http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/06/02/08/what-exactly-does-it-mean-when-foods-are-hydrogenated-and-what-risks-can-it-pose.htm) Need more reason not to consume very much? Trans fats raise your bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and lower your good (HDL) cholesterol levels. Eating trans fats increases your risk of developing heart disease and stroke. It’s also associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
There is one "junk food" which other would you like to know about?
Trans fat is trans fat no matter what food it's in.
Trans fat is a macronutrient.
Macronutrient control is the issue.
uhhhh nooo Fat is a macro, and no one said fat was bad for you.
..... Yes. Trans fat is a macronutrient.
While trans fat "technically" has fat in it.. Most are man made and not a beneficial fat, nor is it a good way to get fat in your diet. So no, no one in their right mind will say be sure to get your TRANS FAT macro nutrient.
A molecule that contains calories is, by definition, a macronutrient. Trans fat is a type of fat. Glucose is a type of carbohydrate. Glucose and trans fats are macronutrients.
Fat is a category of macronutrient hat includes saturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, trans fat, etc. Look at this nice big list of macronutrients which includes all of the ones mentioned above:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_macronutrients0 -
Does anyone have any actual scientific evidence that eating "junk" food, in the context of an active lifestyle with healthy body composition, is actually worse in any measurable way than eating "healthy" food?
The answer to this question will never come...
Seriously? Yes, there are hundreds upon thousands of studies on this.
ou will have to narrow the field rather than say "junk food" let's take one of the biggest offenders "Partially Hydrogenated Oils" (trans fat) named because they add hydrogen back into the oil which is a pretty way of saying it turns unsaturated fatty acids into saturated ones. Basically it makes foods last for ever on shelves, because that is what food is supposed to do right? Be loaded with chemicals to last forever?
Don't take my word for it National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine said that trans fats shouldn't be consumed at all. The Food and Drug Administration says that intake should be as low as possible. (source http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/06/02/08/what-exactly-does-it-mean-when-foods-are-hydrogenated-and-what-risks-can-it-pose.htm) Need more reason not to consume very much? Trans fats raise your bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and lower your good (HDL) cholesterol levels. Eating trans fats increases your risk of developing heart disease and stroke. It’s also associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
There is one "junk food" which other would you like to know about?
Trans fat is trans fat no matter what food it's in.
Trans fat is a macronutrient.
Macronutrient control is the issue.
uhhhh nooo Fat is a macro, and no one said fat was bad for you.
..... Yes. Trans fat is a macronutrient.
While trans fat "technically" has fat in it.. Most are man made and not a beneficial fat, nor is it a good way to get fat in your diet. So no, no one in their right mind will say be sure to get your TRANS FAT macro nutrient.
A molecule that contains calories is, by definition, a macronutrient. Trans fat is a type of fat. Glucose is a type of carbohydrate. Glucose and trans fats are macronutrients.
Fat is a category of macronutrient hat includes saturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, trans fat, etc. Look at this nice big list of macronutrients which includes all of the ones mentioned above:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_macronutrients
Yeah I don't need to read Wikipedia I already said it falls under the FAT umbrella, that is not really the point.. Point is there far superior fat macros to choose from, you do NOT need trans fat in your diet.. I am honestly quite shocked that people are saying you NEED it .. Especially someone who post there whole resume in their signature should know better.
I can drink a cup of high fructose corn syrup and say I got my carbs for the day, but it is ignorance to say that is the best option to meet that macro need in your diet, But hell do whatever you want.0
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