Triumphantly Dirty (Non-Clean) Eaters

The_Enginerd

I do not eat clean. IIFYM, or even if it doesn't, haha.

Holy crap... what are you doing for your workouts?

1ConcreteGirl

I've been getting a lot of messages from this thread because of these pictures:



So I thought I would come back and give a more detailed explanation of how/what I do.

I eat TDEE-15% because I'm in my last 10 lbs to lose. For people with more to lose, TDEE-20% works just fine.

I eat IIFYM most of the time. Sometimes I eat a whole pizza and drink whiskey and have dessert, too, for dinner just because I feel like it and because this is my life. I don't feel guilty, I decide to let myself have it, and I do, and the next day it's back to business as usual. One day won't make you gain weight, just like one day of good eating won't make you lose weight.

Set macros as follows. First, find your Lean Body Mass (LBM) if you don't know it, you can google a LBM calculator.
Set your protein to be one gram of protein per pound of LBM at a minimum.
Set your fats to be 0.35 grams per pound of LBM at a minimum
Let the carbs fall where they may.

AND STRENGTH TRAIN. That's the magic here, not my diet.

Here are more results from lady heavy lifters here.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/979178-halp-heavy-lifting-made-me-supah-bulky

ChangingAmanda

Not a clean eater - I have texture issues with fruits and veggies. I eat ice cream and oreos and lunch meat. I've cut out soda and cut way back on eating out. I watch my portions and if I go over one day, I try to be under the next couple days so it all evens out. I do not feel guilty if on special occasions and gatherings I do not log/count everything I eat. This has been a life style change not a diet. I've lost 43# and 47 inches since Oct. 20th. I do cross fit type circuit training classes 5 days a week. I'm accomplishing what I set out to do and I'm damn proud of it. :glasses:

savemama

I have made it more than half way to my goal by calorie restriction alone. I don't know how to do "IIFYM". I don't know how to "eat clean". (Yes, I know I can google both, but I'm happy doing what I'm doing for now).

I burn calories and I limit my intake. I splurge for important occasions. NO food is off limits

That said, veggies make it easier to hit my calorie goals because they are filling and low cal. They also make me feel good. So I try to eat as many of them as I possibly can get into my diet. I try to drink insane amounts of water... get a lot of fiber. Again, because it feels good, and makes it easier to hit my goals and feel full.

It works for me. And I'll change it up if/when it stops working.

Honestly, the religious-sounding judgment from some folks on here is a big turn off. It makes it sounds like there's only one way to lose weight. There isn't. And quite frankly, all the people I know IRL who do things like "clean eating" are the ones whose weight yo yos year after year. They lose big, look great, judge others.... then next year.... yeah, the weight is back (and then some). Because it's extreme. And when people do things in extreme its harder to maintain. Just what I find IRL. For true "maintenance" of weight loss, I really believe its about finding a sustainable solution that lets you live your life.

Why can't people let that solution be different for others? Weird.

Oh, and while we're confessing things. I work out when I feel like it (which means, a kid isn't sick, I have time to do that AND shower before work, and I feel up to it).

Here are some "progress pics" although I weighed more to start and weigh less now.



eta- I found a more recent pic

crypticcalicocat

I love this thread. I try to eat generally healthy, mostly because I feel guilty and I feel like I won't make any progress if I don't. So when I do eat something slightly unhealthy, I feel awful about myself. These posts me feel so much better, because it's really hard for me not to indulge in dessert every day! I really love the fact that there's been so much success without completely clean eating.

k3rbear1013

Lost a couple pounds without eatting clean.

:flowerforyou: :drinker: cheers to you!

hemendelson

I don't really see it as clean or dirty. In fact, for some reason those terms set me up for making worse choices. I don't want anything to be off limits because ultimately I will fail, and probably fail pretty badly. Instead, I try to eat what I enjoy and make healthier choices along the way because that way I can eat more. It's a trade-off. If I really want chocolate, I'll have chocolate (or pizza or whatever). But in doing so, I also know that I won't have as much volume to eat. So, if the choice is fried chicken by itself or grilled chicken with a side of whatever, I'll probably pick the grilled if I want to eat more food, and the fried if that's just really what I want and I won't feel satisfied until I have it. Ultimately, I want to be satisfied, and so that's a balance of eating more healthy choices and more tasty ones. Tracking everything helps me keep so much more mindful. Also realizing that I don't have to finish what I put on my plate or in my cup helps. I did a road trip this past weekend, and we bought some higher-calorie coffee drinks along the way. Well, I drank half and was happy (wished I had gotten a smaller portion just for money's sake, but that's ok). We had some trail mix with nuts and chocolate in it, and I enjoyed that, too, just measured tablespoon portions to keep track. Pausing to enjoy what I'm eating really helps, too. On the way back, at Wendy's, I got a grilled chicken sandwich, no sauce, and that was it. No soda or fries, as I would have in the past. And guess what, I was happy and full. So that worked. But if I wanted the fries, you better believe I would have had them (or at least a few)!

stephanie40403

bump

Eatkansasbeef

Bump

austinmclark

I eat dirty. The only thing I've cut out is soda (I just don't see the point of it). As a college student I eat fast food regularly, microwavable meals, too. I have lost 48 pounds since late February by only counting my calories, doing a lot of cardio, and moderate weight lifting. It's possible to eat dirty and lose. But it certainly doesn't work for everyone. Listen to your body.

jzammetti

No photos for me - but over 70 pounds lost being a dirty girl! (Also weight lifting!)

I eat ice cream, pasta, bread, candy, whatever...as long as it fits my calorie and protein target.

kitka82

Oh, and while we're confessing things. I work out when I feel like it (which means, a kid isn't sick, I have time to do that AND shower before work, and I feel up to it).

I know that's right!

SoDamnHungry

I do not eat clean. I drink alcohol, eat ice cream and gelato regularly, and even (gasp) fast food sometimes.

Here's how I've changed eating dirty and lifting heavy:

10/10

SoDamnHungry

<---I eat crap. I'm trying to be a bit healthier lately, but this pic is a few weeks ago without cutting out anything I love.

omma_to_3

I certainly eat 'cleaner' but nowhere near 'clean'. I work out - a lot. Running, biking, walking, and strength training twice a week (that's a new addition since January and my weightloss has slowed to a half dead crawl since then - but my BF is dropping which is good). I still have about 18 lbs. I'd like to lose, and to drop another 6% in BF.



And please don't laugh at my 'guns' picture - I'm quite impressed with the changes.

twentyco

I eat whatever I want, but stay within my calorie goal. I have a lot to lose (140 total), but have not had trouble losing so far doing things this way. Portion control is what has worked for me --- I don't do deprivation well.

MochaMixAZ

Thank you for this thread, I love all you dirty boys 'n girls!!!

I kinda feel like many times the members from the "Clean Eating" Camp are sorta like the charismatic, evangelical zealots... not a lot of tolerance for people that don't think exactly the same. And they are usually really LOUD with their opinions. . . I think they believe the louder they scream, the less people actually LOOK at the details.

But anyway, thanks for the thread and the reminder success comes in many formats.

KaleidoscopeEyes1056

Thank you for this thread, I love all you dirty boys 'n girls!!!

I kinda feel like many times the members from the "Clean Eating" Camp are sorta like the charismatic, evangelical zealots... not a lot of tolerance for people that don't think exactly the same. And they are usually really LOUD with their opinions. . . I think they believe the louder they scream, the less people actually LOOK at the details.

But anyway, thanks for the thread and the reminder success comes in many formats.

Wow! congrats on your loss!

savemama

I certainly eat 'cleaner' but nowhere near 'clean'. I work out - a lot. Running, biking, walking, and strength training twice a week (that's a new addition since January and my weightloss has slowed to a half dead crawl since then - but my BF is dropping which is good). I still have about 18 lbs. I'd like to lose, and to drop another 6% in BF.



And please don't laugh at my 'guns' picture - I'm quite impressed with the changes.

Not laughin here. You SHOULD be proud of your guns

getrealforme

Lost a couple pounds without eatting clean.

Love this! He lost 115 lbs

Oishii

I lost 30lb eating nowhere near clean and I eat pretty damn dirty now.

HOWEVER I would not recommend eating dirty if you're eating way too little. I do wonder if dirty under-eating is one of the factors that lead me to become anaemic for the first time in my life... My solution? I plan to never eat under 2000kcal again (barring extreme changes in my lifestyle or metabolism).

Mcgrawhaha

im not a clean eater... AT ALL!!! i eat premade diet meals, klondike 100 cal ice creams, diet soda, and anything i can fit into my daily "low calorie" goal... ive lost almost 70 pounds since september 17 2012... so... eating "clean" is NOT THE ONLY OPTION!

Mcgrawhaha

p.s.

di giorno flat bread tuscan chicken pizza... the big huge one... 1/2 the entire pizza is only 435 calories, add some fresh sliced tomatoe and jalepeno, pop in the oven... its a dirty girls dream for dinner!!! yum!!!

LadyQueefsalot

I eat dirt. WINNING.

LadyQueefsalot

I also eat soap. To balance out the dirt. DOUBLE WIN.

Mcgrawhaha

I eat dirt. WINNING.

well, atleast your getting in a good amount of iron and minerals!

chunkydunk714

I eat dirt. WINNING.

:laugh:

love this thread...great stuff!

55in13

I mix it up. I generally keep well under my goal and don't worry about the few indiscretions as long as I am trending in the right direction, and I have been for several months...

sisa1965

I am 47 and I eat whatever does not eat me first and I am having success,,, I also exercise and try to make better choices and control my portions...

TracyJo93

I lost ten pounds and am starting to see baby abs forming! I don't do clean eating - not even close. I had McDonald's for lunch. Lol.