CLEAN Eating!

Who is healthier, someone who eats total junk food and is at a healthy weight, or someone who is severely obese who eats "healthy"?

If you can show me one person who eats "total junk food" all the time AND is at a healthy weight, I'll post a pic of myself nekkid! There is no such thing!

Who is healthier, someone who eats total junk food and is at a healthy weight, or someone who is severely obese who eats "healthy"?

If you can show me one person who eats "total junk food" all the time AND is at a healthy weight, I'll post a pic of myself nekkid! There is no such thing!

Anyone on MFP follow the Eat Clean or Real Food diet? I'd love to add some friends that are on a similar path! My particular path to health is dairy-free, soy-free, low sugar, only whole grains, and whole, real foods. Please add me if you follow a similar healthy plan that isn't just about restricting your calories!

Health and weight loss are directly proportional for the most part. Assuming you’re not dying of some type of immune disease. What are some of the greatest indicators of health? Blood pressure, triglycerides, cholesterol levels, insulin sensitivity, the ratio of LDL to HDL. You know what affects all these health indicators the most? WEIGHT. Lose weight and these health indicators will improve. What does weight loss have to do with the type of food you eat? NOTHING. Weight loss is about calories.

Then people try to argue the “you need your vitamins and minerals.” Go read a label on “Lucky Charms” cereal then tell me about vitamins and minerals. 11% vitamin A, 12% calcium, 12% vitamin C, 31% iron, 122 calories, 1.1g fat, 25g carbs, 1.5g fiber, 2.1g protein. Eat 10 servings, that’s 1,220 calories. Add some lean protein, and you’re set. How many of you track your vitamins and minerals and make sure you get the right amounts? If you don’t and preach “you won’t get your vitamins and minerals eating junk” then my friend, you’re a hypocrite. You’re probably not getting them either. Many authorities agree, you probably will get all your vitamins and minerals if you eat a well-balanced diet. Truth is, they also agree that no one eats a well-balanced diet all the time. They recommend vitamin and mineral supplements.

People also say “You won’t get enough protein.” Protein is also highly over rated. People don’t “BUILD” muscle. The muscles hold fluid called sarcoplasm. Most of the fluid is water. I know some pretty well built vegans. The more carbs you eat, the more carbs you burn, the more protein you eat, the more protein you burn. You think you will lose muscle if you don’t eat enough protein? You will just burn more carbs, they spare muscle. I did a self-experiment for a month. I ate noting but junk food to make a point to my friends. It’s all about calories. I lost 12lbs of fat in a month.

It’s healthier to be at a healthy weight and eat crap than it is to eat “healthy” and be overweight. There is a few caveats to what I am saying. Calorie dense foods don’t fill you up as much. A candy bar is like 200-300 calories. Try eating that much salad or broccoli. You’re probably wondering what I am ultimately trying to say. If you’re thinking I am saying “go eat junk food 24/7.” You’re missing the point. My point is junk food isn’t as bad as people think, if you eat a little, or a lot. It won’t prevent weight loss. It won’t deteriorate your health. I do agree if you do eat junk food all day it’s not “optimal.” Nothing what most of us do is “optimal.” This topic is mostly for people who think they can’t eat certain foods, if eating "bad foods" help you stick to your weight loss goals, then do it. Remember it’s healthier to be at a healthy weight and eat junk food than it is to be overweight and eat healthy food.

Please don't take this as an attack, but how is it a successful loss if you gained it back? In my eyes, actually losing the weight is only step one, and the other 99 steps are maintaining the loss. The problem with overly restrictive diets is that they are difficult to maintain long-term, and most people that do them eventually "fall off the wagon" and regain weight. The way I see a more moderate approach, there is no wagon to fall off of. It's not that difficult. You eat the foods you like, use a moderate calorie deficit to lose the weight, and then continue to do the exact same thing, with a bit more calories to maintain your weight loss. If you have an indulgent day, whatever, you go back to your plan the next day. My approach is to get adequate protein and fats, try to eat some vegetables and fruit every day, and once my nutritional goals are met, fill the remaining calories with whatever I like. It's very comfortable. If you focus on meeting your goals first, there really isn't enough room leftover to have "too much" junk- it just doesn't fit. But you have enough room to never feel deprived. Counting calories isn't really difficult- it becomes very much second nature eventually. I'm not telling you this is "the only" way to do it, but it's an option you might consider if you have long term maintenance of your weight loss as an ultimate goal. I think people are making a huge mistake by not considering the long term from day 1.

The reason I gained the weight back was mostly financial. Eating the way I prefer to eat is expensive and I've gone through some severe money troubles in the past. I have counted calories, it doesn't work well for me unless I reduce the carbs (NOT to a "low carb" diet), one of the annoying things about having PCOS.

Who is healthier, someone who eats total junk food and is at a healthy weight, or someone who is severely obese who eats "healthy"?

If you can show me one person who eats "total junk food" all the time AND is at a healthy weight, I'll post a pic of myself nekkid! There is no such thing!