Does clean eating really make a difference for you?

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Replies

  • MrsBully4
    MrsBully4 Posts: 304 Member
    Yes, yes, yes, yes, and a big fat YES! Weight loss in particular no, you could lose weight eating the crap, but my health and well being has improved drastically since I started eating cleaner. Headaches are a prime example. I got chronic migraines constantly, as did my son. Since we started eating clean, neither of us has had a single one.

    Quoting to agree on the chronic migraines!
  • lmr9
    lmr9 Posts: 628 Member
    YES! Like others have said, it is possible to lose weight not eating clean. But there are so many other benefits of eating clean. For me personally, I feel so much more satisfied - no sugar crashes. I have fewer cravings for sweets. I sleep so much better. But, hands down, the biggest difference for me was in my stomach. Before I ate clean, I would go out to eat, and literally be running to the bathroom with terrible cramps and pain within 30-60 minutes of eating. I was on the verge of going to the doctor - I'm was convinced that I had IBS. But no, it was just poison in my body!

    No doubt someone will post on here that eating clean is a total waste and it's all about calories in vs calories out - you could lose weight by only eating twinkies if you were under your calorie goal. In my humble opinion, that is total crap. Our bodies were made to eat real, whole foods. Yes, our bodies can handle processed foods because our bodies are amazing machines, but they will not run optimally on a diet of all processed foods.

    Work your way into it. Cut out all the obvious crap - sodas (especially diet sodas), unnecessary sugar, and don't eat anything that you can read the ingredient list. You don't have to throw away all the food that's in your fridge and pantry now - just start from here and only buy fresh foods.

    Hope my thoughts were helpful for you! :flowerforyou:
  • lmr9
    lmr9 Posts: 628 Member
    Oh, forgot to mention - I'm NEVER constipated anymore! :laugh:
  • knk1553
    knk1553 Posts: 438 Member
    Yes, yes, yes, yes, and a big fat YES! Weight loss in particular no, you could lose weight eating the crap, but my health and well being has improved drastically since I started eating cleaner. Headaches are a prime example. I got chronic migraines constantly, as did my son. Since we started eating clean, neither of us has had a single one.

    You know whats really funny, until you said this I didn't even realize I've gone 2 months without a migraine and my headaches have gone down by almost 2/3rds...never thought about it in that sense, glad I'm doing something else good for my body!
  • Mporterm
    Mporterm Posts: 4
    The saying is true, "Abs are made in the kitchen" eating clean for me makes a huge difference. My energy levels are up, my endurance is stronger, and my skin feels healthier. Best wishes to you!
  • cddonald22
    cddonald22 Posts: 39 Member
    I don't know if what I'm doing is called clean eating, but cutting out processed stuff, sugar and white flour has all but cured my reflux. I haven't taken meds in two months.
  • cmeade20
    cmeade20 Posts: 1,238 Member
    I wouldn't say I lose a significant amount of weight but I feel better. I am less bloated. And I lose weight just a bit faster.

    This. It seems to speed up the process a bit, cuts don the boating and I notice I have less gastrointestinal issues like indigestion.

    I also havent had a zit in months which I used to have issues with on my chin.
  • gramacanada
    gramacanada Posts: 557 Member
    No difference in weight loss. But.... Feel better, look better. Skin clearer, no fatigue. more energy. eyes brighter. and generally in a better mood. Besides being healthier. Body functions better. And maybe odd maybe not. no bad breath.
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    Do you guys really see a difference when you eat clean vs. not eating clean (but still sticking to your daily calorie restriction)? I hear a lot of people say that they can eat unhealthy and lose weight as long as they have a calorie deficit, and eating clean doesn't make a difference. Does it make a difference for you? Do you lose significantly more weight while eating clean?

    Nope

    If you were to hold cals and macros constant but one diet contained whatever it is you call unclean foods and another diet only contained "clean" foods, weight loss will be the same or not significantly different
  • thedancingleper
    thedancingleper Posts: 158 Member
    I have significantly more energy and I feel much more stable mentally when I eat clean. I'm a moody, exhausted mess when I don't.
  • kristinacottle
    kristinacottle Posts: 52
    Yes... If I eat 1800 calories of junk I will gain weight. If I eat 2000 calories of clean food I will lose weight. Hmm.
  • smsgreaves
    smsgreaves Posts: 57 Member
    I'm finding it really hard to make the change so this thread is very interesting for me too. Processed is so much quicker and easier.... however I'm working my *kitten* off and not losing so it must be the logical next step.
  • taylor5877
    taylor5877 Posts: 1,792 Member
    When I'm on the macros I'm at now, and eating what I am, there's almost no amount that I can make myself eat to put on body fat.

    I do gain slowly at around 3500-4000, but it's not much fat if I'm eating what I'm eating and the ratio.

    I say "what I'm eating" because "clean" is so subjective.
  • capriciousmoon
    capriciousmoon Posts: 1,263 Member
    When I first attempted weight loss I just cut calories and didn't change what I ate. I didn't lose any weight. Weight loss didn't happen until I switched to mainly healthy foods. Though to be honest I'm not sure if it's because I have better food or because the less healthy stuff is easier to underestimate (though I have always used measuring cups and a food scale).
  • BarbACona
    BarbACona Posts: 76
    So eating clean is simply eliminating all sugar, processed food and unhealthy fats? Could you lay out what a typical clean eating menu for a day should look like. I am trying to learn more about this and make it my new normal. Any info you could pass on to me would be greatly appreciated.
  • cbevan1229
    cbevan1229 Posts: 326 Member
    I don't know if I would say I eat "clean" - I guess it depends on how you define it. I buy and eat boxed pasta and bread and granola bars and marinades and salad dressings, so there are definitely processed foods in my diet. But the bulk of my diet is made up of fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean meat, and dairy products, in fresh (or sometimes frozen) form.

    Here's how I have approached my weight loss - if I am going to restrict my calories, I'm going to try to make sure that the calories I am consuming are really serving to nourish my body. I want most of my food to have clear nutritional value, so I avoid things (that I like) such as cheese doodles and candy bars.

    I do eat some things that are just treats - eaten just for the taste - but I try to really limit how much of my calorie budget I spend on these things. For example, where I used to eat a hostess cupcake for a treat, now I'll make a 321 cake. I'll choose a 1/2 cup of a simple Breyer's Chocolate or Chocolate Chip Mint over the same amount of Ben and Jerry's Half Baked, because I'll still get the enjoyment, but for fewer calories. That leaves more room in my calorie budget for the foods that are contributing to my health.
  • BarbACona
    BarbACona Posts: 76
    Thanks for explaining this more for me as well. This is a tall order for me as I am the ultimate junk food junky, with a horrible sweet tooth to boot. I don't allow myself to bake anymore, I just can't have it in my house (sorry kids), I know I will eat it!
  • Silverkittycat
    Silverkittycat Posts: 1,997 Member
    please define "clean" ?

    reposted, because I'm lazy -
    I guess it depends on how you define clean. Many define it as food that is not processed or altered from it's original form, in any way. Right now I'm finding it hard to get raw milk instead of pasteurized and homogenized, so I usually use organic, not ideal but what can you do. I buy packaged and deli meats and chicken and such because I won't go to a butcher. I don't want to grind my own meat or flour. Cows and chickens running around my backyard are something my city frowns upon.

    Same with things in cans - I like tuna from a can or pouch, I know it's processed but I'm okay with that. It's hard to find almonds unprocessed, let alone corn or soybeans that aren't genetically modified. I drink processed coconut water. I eat pasta that comes in a box or bag. Luckily in Florida we've got plenty of fruit and even a few veggies I can get unaltered. I do try to avoid preservatives, additives, pesticides and fungicides and I take part in my local organic food delivery program and our community garden, but I still buy and eat processed food. I guess I really don't want to put the time in to make things like yogurt or spaghetti sauce from scratch.

    I respect and admire people that put in the effort to eat clean, it's much more time consuming than most realize.


    * I've heard this used a lot to define "clean eating" - If you can shoot it, catch it, or grow it - eat it!
  • volume77
    volume77 Posts: 670 Member
    What do you mean by clean?
    Yes I definately lost more by no processed stuff.
    I also do low carb so that's another story
    but absolutely the quality of calories is just as important as the quanitity. At least in my experience.
  • volume77
    volume77 Posts: 670 Member
    I suggest" wheat belly" by William Davis very interesting.
    Also YouTube " sugar the bitter truth"
    Not tryin to turn anyone low carb but honestly both interesting bits of info
    Xoxo
  • cheshirechic
    cheshirechic Posts: 489 Member
    YES!

    I've been eating the cleanest I ever have in my life, and it's reduced any bloat and seems to have tightened things up, too. I'm getting married on Saturday, so the idea that eating clean has such a positive effect on my appearance (and really, my mood, too) is important. <3

    In terms of definitions, by clean I mean that everything I eat is as close to its natural state as possible, and any "processed foods" are just combinations of whole foods. For example, the hot sauce I usually eat is made from carrots, habaneros, onions, and vinegar. I try to be as close to Primal as possible.
  • MtnKat
    MtnKat Posts: 714
    Before I started eating clean 80% of the time
    9zyk9u.jpg


    After I started eating clean 80% of the time
    jqnrdl.jpg


    This was over the course of about 1.5-2 months, I changed nothing about my workout and simply just changed my diet. I didn't believe it until I saw the results in pictures

    Thank you for that. You look great!

    I'm sold.

    I don't think that it makes much of a difference in terms of weight loss....it is still all about the calorie deficit.

    However the benefits of all those nutrients from good, healthy foods are more important than the number of pounds you lose. And if you think a man made pill/supplement can replace nature's nutrients, you might want to rethink your views.

    I am amazed at how my body is changing and how much better I feel when I am giving my body the nutrients it needs.
  • Silverkittycat
    Silverkittycat Posts: 1,997 Member
    I suggest" wheat belly" by William Davis very interesting.
    Also YouTube " sugar the bitter truth"
    Not tryin to turn anyone low carb but honestly both interesting bits of info
    Xoxo

    Interesting, but debunked. I do agree somewhat - you do what what works for you. :)
  • Lift_hard_eat_big
    Lift_hard_eat_big Posts: 2,278 Member
    Not really. But then again, eating so called "dirty" doesn't really cause me to gain weight either :-)
  • wackyfunster
    wackyfunster Posts: 944 Member
    Do you guys really see a difference when you eat clean vs. not eating clean (but still sticking to your daily calorie restriction)? I hear a lot of people say that they can eat unhealthy and lose weight as long as they have a calorie deficit, and eating clean doesn't make a difference. Does it make a difference for you? Do you lose significantly more weight while eating clean?
    Legit answer:
    Whole foods typically have a higher Thermic Effect of Food than processed foods (TEF is the amount of energy required to convert food to usable form, in simple terms). The exact difference have not been well quantified by science yet (to the best of my knowledge). The one solid study I've seen showed approximately a 10% difference between whole vs. processed carbs. Fat is basically 0 TEF, regardless of source, and protein is high enough that a couple % difference won't be very significant (on average 1g of protein provides 3.2 calories of usable energy).

    In short: "eating clean" can make up to a 10% difference in net usable caloric intake, depending on what your carb intake looks like.
    Higher protein intake provides a HUGE advantage due to its massive 20+% TEF, and this has been confirmed by numerous studies.

    In my experience, eating clean is not necessary to get into great shape, or be in great health (check out my diary for proof). OTOH, I don't eat fast food or TOTAL crap (twinkies and suchlike), so I can't speak for that.

    Edit: Addendum: A lot of "non-clean" foods do not have accurate calorie info. E.g. in tests of fast food, actual caloric content has been shown to be 40-50% greater than published nutritional info. This is true for a variety of foods (e.g. baking splenda contains 200 calories per cup, but is listed as 0 due to FDA labeling regulations allowing for a serving, 1 tsp in this case, having less than 5 calories to be labelled as 0 calorie). Also a lot of "bad" foods on here have terribly wrong info (e.g. Freebird's brownie shows 190 calories, site shows 600+, found an entry for cake the other day that showed "1 large slice" as 90 calories... lol). What I posted assumes you are able to weigh and/or accurately determine caloric intake, which is much easier to do with food you make yourself (probably a big factor in why people who switch to "clean" eating tend to start dropping more weight).
  • SEishen
    SEishen Posts: 35 Member
    When I'm on the macros I'm at now, and eating what I am, there's almost no amount that I can make myself eat to put on body fat.

    I do gain slowly at around 3500-4000, but it's not much fat if I'm eating what I'm eating and the ratio.

    I say "what I'm eating" because "clean" is so subjective.
    "clean" = whole foods, plant based. Not subjective. Science. :)
  • jogglesngoggles
    jogglesngoggles Posts: 362 Member
    For me clean eating makes ALL the difference. I can eat fewer calories but crap food and I won't lose, I eat clean and I lose consistently. My body also "punishes" me when I don't eat clean. It's gotten used to being treated right, so if I treat it wrong it totally lets me know. I also have more energy to work out and get more out of my workouts when I eat clean. It may not be for everyone, but for me, I'm sold!!

    *my definition of clean: not processed, grass fed, cage free proteins and fresh vegetables!!!
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    When I'm on the macros I'm at now, and eating what I am, there's almost no amount that I can make myself eat to put on body fat.

    I do gain slowly at around 3500-4000, but it's not much fat if I'm eating what I'm eating and the ratio.

    I say "what I'm eating" because "clean" is so subjective.
    "clean" = whole foods, plant based. Not subjective. Science. :)

    you're saying that "plant based" foods = "clean" ...i call bullsh!t. just sayin. that is SUBJECTIVE if I've ever heard it.

    I believe Tosca Reno coined the term "cleaned eating" and according to her website...

    "Eating Clean is treating your body right. It is eating the way nature intended. You eat the foods our bodies evolved to function best on, and that makes you feel – and look – fantastic. When you Eat Clean you eat more often. You will eat lean protein, complex carbs, and healthy fats. These practices keep your blood-sugar levels stable and keep you satisfied. The best part is that if you need to lose weight it will happen almost without you having to try. And yes, you can have a treat now and again."

    So...that doesn't sound like "plant based" to me. It is subjective..wholly and completely. Even if you disagree that she's the originator of the term--"clean eating" by many people simply means minimally processed, no/low preservatives, natural foods.
  • blondie60613
    blondie60613 Posts: 12
    You will lose weight no matter what you eat, losing weight is a simple equation of calories in - calories out.

    Eating clean will make you be more alert, have more energy, sleep better, wake better, be more healthy overall, have better skin, better digestion, and basically make you LOOK and FEEL AMAZING.
  • channa007
    channa007 Posts: 419 Member
    You will lose weight no matter what you eat, losing weight is a simple equation of calories in - calories out.

    Eating clean will make you be more alert, have more energy, sleep better, wake better, be more healthy overall, have better skin, better digestion, and basically make you LOOK and FEEL AMAZING.

    Agreed. Cals in cals out with a deficit. Repeat.
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