Portion Control vs. Eating "Clean" ??

MellyMelx23o
MellyMelx23o Posts: 80
in Health and Weight Loss
Can portion control diets help one lose weight reguardless of what they are eating?? I have been doing the Weight Watchers method, by rationing & it has been working great. I don't necessarily eat "clean" but I do make a concious effort to choose grilled chicken over fried, apples over chips, stuff like that. Moderation has been working for me ( 8 lbs in about 2 weeks) , but I've been getting alot of hell about eating Healthy Choice / Weight Watcher foods, 100 Calorie packs, and candy. I rarely go over my calories, drink plenty of water, take a multi vitamin & exercise daily.
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Replies

  • Dave198lbs
    Dave198lbs Posts: 8,810 Member
    if you eat less calories than your body needs you will lose weight.

    if you are also concerned about your overall health, then your food choices will play a role.
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    Yes they can. WW is the best out there, IMO. It teaches you about choices and that you can eat anything, but there are consequences to making bad choices throughout the day.
  • lunagirl818
    lunagirl818 Posts: 9
    The only thing I would warn about the packaged food is to watch the sodium. Calorie wise it is fine, but the sodium could lead to to retain water at some point. As long as you are aware it is fine right?
  • delonda1
    delonda1 Posts: 525 Member
    Portion control does work and congrats to you for losing the 8lbs!!! Keep it up!

    It is your personal decision to eat clean if you want to or not. Over time it would probably help you more if you sometimes replaced some of your 100calorie packs with snacks of fruits or veggies... or if instead of buying healthy choice dinners/ lean cuisines make big batches of whatever it is you want and just freeze it or eat it that week because it will cut down on your sodium.

    Everyone has their own definition of eating clean on here and everyone is in the same boat of trying to be healthier than they were before so you do whats best for you
  • Dave198lbs
    Dave198lbs Posts: 8,810 Member
    p.s. I took a look at a few days of your diary. IMO, lean quisine is sodium filled chemical crap. once in a great while if in a rush these chemical cardboard dinners might be ok, ( I wont eat that stuff) but every day is not a good idea
  • _Mimi_
    _Mimi_ Posts: 233
    if you eat less calories than your body needs you will lose weight.

    if you are also concerned about your overall health, then your food choices will play a role.
    ^^This^^ I by no means eat 100% clean, but I am working on it! I think not only will you be healthier, you will look leaner and your skin, hair and nails will look much better too.

    Also, I see you are not tracking sodium. I'm guessing it's rather high. Things that may not matter now, but could make a huge difference down the road.

    You can still do Weight Watchers and choose more whole, clean foods.
  • Sharyn913
    Sharyn913 Posts: 777 Member
    if you eat less calories than your body needs you will lose weight.

    if you are also concerned about your overall health, then your food choices will play a role.

    This. Your body will feel much better getting the right things!!
  • mcpherson4
    mcpherson4 Posts: 287 Member
    If it ain't broke don't fix it. This is free Weight Watchers. Just saying.
  • ingalynn
    ingalynn Posts: 136 Member
    I think it's all about taking steps. If you stay in your calorie range you will lose weight. I have lost 30 lbs by staying most days within goal and exercising every day. I don't eat totally clean. I am eating better the longer I do this because it is becoming easier to do so. My outlook and food diary is changing as time passes. But I still have white bread, and taco bell, and dairy queen when I want it, and am still losing 1-2 lbs per week.
  • likeschocolate
    likeschocolate Posts: 368 Member
    Eating moderately is a great diet plan.
  • lesle1
    lesle1 Posts: 354 Member
    if you eat less calories than your body needs you will lose weight.

    if you are also concerned about your overall health, then your food choices will play a role.

    This. Your body will feel much better getting the right things!!

    Yep. This. Eating the right foods make a difference in health and performance. I eat junk my running, etc suffers. I eat healthier and my running improves. I can consume the same calories in healthier foods or not so healthy. Sure I'll lose weight.... but the difference is how I feel. Junk=don't feel as good, performance suffers. Healthy food= I feel great.
  • jcstanton
    jcstanton Posts: 1,849 Member
    Can portion control diets help one lose weight reguardless of what they are eating?? I have been doing the Weight Watchers method, by rationing & it has been working great. I don't necessarily eat "clean" but I do make a concious effort to choose grilled chicken over fried, apples over chips, stuff like that. Moderation has been working for me ( 8 lbs in about 2 weeks) , but I've been getting alot of hell about eating Healthy Choice / Weight Watcher foods, 100 Calorie packs, and candy. I rarely go over my calories, drink plenty of water, take a multi vitamin & exercise daily.

    If it's working for you, don't worry about what other people are saying. Personally, "clean" eating works better for me because I have high blood pressure and I'm insulin resistant, so low sodium/low sugar helps my body work more efficiently to lose the weight. One advantage to "clean" eating is, you are eating much less calorie dense food. Therefore, you are able to eat much larger quantities of it, thereby helping you feel more satisfied.
  • gemmalouise85
    gemmalouise85 Posts: 157 Member
    I did slimming world and lost 2 stone 2 years back
    and i ate limitless pasta and veg never counted calories
    so i do believe in if you eat certains foods with other certain foods you can have as much as u like
  • Longisland2NC
    Longisland2NC Posts: 60 Member
    I personally do not like the frozen-pre packaged foods because they are way too salty for me. But thats me. I have tried to stay away from most processed food - though I did put some laughing cow cheese in my egg omelette this morning.....I try and not eat any of the pre packaged foods (frozen or dry).....I find I eat much healthier that way, and I FEEL better!
  • MellyMelx23o
    MellyMelx23o Posts: 80
    if you eat less calories than your body needs you will lose weight.

    if you are also concerned about your overall health, then your food choices will play a role.
    ^^This^^ I by no means eat 100% clean, but I am working on it! I think not only will you be healthier, you will look leaner and your skin, hair and nails will look much better too.

    Also, I see you are not tracking sodium. I'm guessing it's rather high. Things that may not matter now, but could make a huge difference down the road.

    You can still do Weight Watchers and choose more whole, clean foods.


    I usually use my iphone app & it does track the sodium, I only went over my sodium once this week (Thursday).
  • harleygaljojo
    harleygaljojo Posts: 111 Member
    I watch my calories, fats and sodium but more or less eat what I'm in the mood for and it's been working for me.
  • lisalu2u
    lisalu2u Posts: 5 Member
    While it's true that if you eat less calories than your body needs you will lose weight, it is also true that sugar will make that process harder. I read the advice of others about the sodium and I agree. I also think if you ever get where eating less calories than your body needs and not losing weight then start taking the sugar calories out of your diet. Sugar is the Devil in disguise! This has really worked for me. Good Luck.
  • rileamoyer
    rileamoyer Posts: 2,412 Member
    I started with portion control. I know me and knew I would not change my diet. I have focused some on eating healthier, but I still eat what I want. Portion Control was my success story - combined with exercise of course.
  • MaraDiaz
    MaraDiaz Posts: 4,604 Member
    If I could eat processed garbage and not constantly crave and also lose weight at the rate I'm currently losing it, I'd cheerfully do it. I like processed garbage food. It doesn't work for me, unfortunately. I tried! But one pastry in my belly gets lonely.
  • marlopaterson
    marlopaterson Posts: 53
    For the most part, a calorie is a calorie. While it is possible to lose weight eating whatever you want if you stay under your calorie budget, your body won't feel as good as if you were eating clean, or making healthy choices all the time. I agree with the other posters about the sodium content in frozen dinners. I'd suggest eating less packaged/processed stuff. Save them for when you're in a rush and absolutely cannot make a meal from scratch. You already said that you were making healthier choices like apples versus chips, so just keep that up and keep going. Every little bit helps, AND 8 lbs in 2 weeks is fabulous! Congrats!

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  • 47Jacqueline
    47Jacqueline Posts: 6,993 Member
    if you eat less calories than your body needs you will lose weight.

    if you are also concerned about your overall health, then your food choices will play a role.

    This. Your body will feel much better getting the right things!!

    Yep. This. Eating the right foods make a difference in health and performance. I eat junk my running, etc suffers. I eat healthier and my running improves. I can consume the same calories in healthier foods or not so healthy. Sure I'll lose weight.... but the difference is how I feel. Junk=don't feel as good, performance suffers. Healthy food= I feel great.

    You're doing fine, but you can't live on pre packaged food forever unless you're rich ;-) it's pretty expensive to do that constantly, but it's good to have some frozen foods around for days you don't want to cook.
  • Cassaaaaandra
    Cassaaaaandra Posts: 184 Member
    Both methods work very well for me. My only observation with eating clean versus portion control is feeling lousy and bloating after eating meals heavy in processed carbs (pastas, bread even if it's "healthy whole wheat", rice, etc.) regardless of whether the meals falls in my alotted calories for the meal.
  • DIYmomma
    DIYmomma Posts: 74 Member
    I have been eating clean as everyone calls it. I am slowly trying to switch to all unprocessed, homemade foods. I have only recently started counting calories because I have been struggling to lose weight again, but in the past year I have lost 58lbs by eating less processed junk and drinking water. It will probably take me years to go completely "clean" but I have to say the process is completely worth it. These days if I have to resort to old habits, I feel terrible and bloated for days :(

    That being said, doing what works for you, isnt a bad thing. But there are many benefits to eating a all natural unprocessed diet.
  • Rockmyskinnyjeans
    Rockmyskinnyjeans Posts: 431 Member
    if you eat less calories than your body needs you will lose weight.

    if you are also concerned about your overall health, then your food choices will play a role.

    ^^ This

    I am not the cleanest eater, but portion control has saved my life, literally. I try to keep tabs on what goes in my mouth, though, that it fits in my daily macros (ie carbs, protein, sugars, sodium, etc). I want to stay under my calories that my body needs so that I continue to lose.
  • UpEarly
    UpEarly Posts: 2,555 Member
    I lost the 50 pounds I wanted to lose (plus 13 extra 'bonus' pounds) easily and painlessly by just cutting back on portion sizes and watching my overall calories. I figured out my TDEE and subtracted 250 calories a day from that. This meant I ate about 2000-2400 calories a day. I lost about a pound and a half a week (much faster than I expected with the small calorie cut I made) and hit my goal in less than a year.

    I ate lots of different foods - oatmeal, yogurt, pancakes, donuts, bacon, fruit, salads, pizza, lasagna, buffalo wings, cupcakes, ice cream, cookies, chicken breast, brown rice, steaks, baked potatoes, carrots, broccoli, fried chicken, spinach, cheeseburgers, air popped popcorn, french fries - you get the idea.

    That said, my days are typically filled more with healthy choices than indulgent ones. I also tend not to eat a lot of packaged and/or restaurant food, because I love to cook.

    I've been maintaining this way for over six months now. So far, the maintenance has been as trouble-free as the initial weight loss.
  • xxmzangel
    xxmzangel Posts: 119 Member
    Portion control, for sure. I was doing low carb for a couple months, then had a bit of a mishap and realized that moderation is going to be my key to success. I do love eating my fruit, but sometimes I just want that chocolate bar, or burger from McDonalds, so I work it in to my calories. The problem with a lot of processed foods however is typically the level of sodium in them, my general rule is that if the sodium is higher than the calories, I don't want it (though there are certain exceptions like cheese and such). When I do want something like that though, I drink a lot of extra water, just to be safe, as to avoid any water retention.

    I have not personally had anyone comment on this, though now that I think about it, I wouldn't give a *kitten*, because if you're truly happy and enjoying how you're eating, as well as losing weight, then that's great! :smile:
  • MellyMelx23o
    MellyMelx23o Posts: 80
    if you eat less calories than your body needs you will lose weight.

    if you are also concerned about your overall health, then your food choices will play a role.

    ^^ This

    I am not the cleanest eater, but portion control has saved my life, literally. I try to keep tabs on what goes in my mouth, though, that it fits in my daily macros (ie carbs, protein, sugars, sodium, etc). I want to stay under my calories that my body needs so that I continue to lose.

    That e-card is hysterical!
  • Tisworthit92
    Tisworthit92 Posts: 5 Member
    I do both. I've just switched out junk for healthy stuff that taste good or is low fat. I saw you mentioned chips. Try the Special K Cracker Chips. They're REALLY good and you can have 27 for only 110 calories. The ice cream. I love it lol. but I just get low fat and I only eat a serving size or two which would be 1/2 cup to 1 cup Once a day whenever I have it. So yea just find healthy but delicious substitute, and if you want to "cheat" don't just eat one serving size and you won't feel bad. you'd be surprised and you won't even miss your old stuff.
  • Lozze
    Lozze Posts: 1,917 Member
    Do what is working for you. It's better to lose weight not eating clean then to remain at your heaviest weight. It won't hurt you to start subbing but it won't harm you.
  • MellyMelx23o
    MellyMelx23o Posts: 80
    I lost the 50 pounds I wanted to lose (plus 13 extra 'bonus' pounds) easily and painlessly by just cutting back on portion sizes and watching my overall calories. I figured out my TDEE and subtracted 250 calories a day from that. This meant I ate about 2000-2400 calories a day. I lost about a pound and a half a week (much faster than I expected with the small calorie cut I made) and hit my goal in less than a year.

    I ate lots of different foods - oatmeal, yogurt, pancakes, donuts, bacon, fruit, salads, pizza, lasagna, buffalo wings, cupcakes, ice cream, cookies, chicken breast, brown rice, steaks, baked potatoes, carrots, broccoli, fried chicken, spinach, cheeseburgers, air popped popcorn, french fries - you get the idea.

    That said, my days are typically filled more with healthy choices than indulgent ones. I also tend not to eat a lot of packaged and/or restaurant food, because I love to cook.

    I've been maintaining this way for over six months now. So far, the maintenance has been as trouble-free as the initial weight loss.


    AWESOME!!! :bigsmile:

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