Who Just Eats Normal VS Who Eats Healthy/Organic/Low Carb...

As stated already, you need to do what works for your mind and body. If you mentally can't live without pasta, then don't try to live without it...you'll just set yourself up to fail. But do everything in moderation. I don't really restrict anything, but over time I have found that the healthier I eat, the more I am losing interest in foods I used to crave.

A huge example is red meat. I maybe eat a burger once every couple months, and that is just because I am out with coworkers, and we end up going to places that have all organic beef (Elevation Burger is a cool place). Honestly, I find myself liking meat less and less. I find myself always wanting fish, and have been really enjoying vegetarian meals...all home cooked though...frozen and store-prepared stuff usually sucks IMO.

I have tried every diet and way of eating, and in the end I just eat healthy, watch my macro numbers, and just make sure I am mentally fine with what I eat. For me, that means like my pasta example...I am not completely denying myself something I love.

When I first started out, I just watched my calories...pretty much ate what I wanted as long as I was within my goal. Gradually I became more aware of my macronutrients and what foods made up those macros. As I started managing my macros, I also started making better overall decisions about my diet...I pretty much had to in order to meet my macro goals.

I actually don't think there's anything abnormal about the way I eat other than I probably get more servings of veg and fruit than the average American and my diet is far more balanced than it ever used to be...but I don't specifically cut anything out and haven't really changed how I cook too much. I just try to make sure I get my veg and a little fruit and hit my macro goals...all while eating very well.

I eat a combination of normal and organic. I try to avoid anything with corn syrup or too many artificial ingredients. I don't buy organic meat (too expensive) so I try to limit my intake. I eat a mix of organic/non organic fruit and veggies. I also try to track my potassium and sodium. I also don't limit my carbs. I love carbs! I think you should do whatever works for you.

I eat whatever I want, just slightly less of it. HOWEVER, being on the forums and reading up on nutrition I have tried to get in more veggies and sometimes I make half an attempt at fitting into my macros. I admire people who try to get all their calories in a healthy way! I am just young and don't care about it as much right now since my stats (good and bad cholesterol, blood pressure, etc.) are pretty phenomenal. If McDonalds fits in my calories, I'll eat it!

Honestly I do BOTH (shame on me huh for not choosing). I eat normal but I must admit that when I DO eat healthy/clean, I feel BEST (i.e. in my body)

I've always just gone the simple route:

1. Eat less in general - my portion control was awful, so buying scales was a big jump forward;

2. Bulk out with good stuff - with portions of things like pasta going down, veg went up. It's low cal, high fibre and makes meals "big" again;

3. Try to reduce refined foods - I'm not an absolutist, but eating less refined food makes me feel better. If it's placebo effect, I'll take it. Generally, refined foods contain worse things than something made from basic ingredients. Take a look at a "healthy" cereal like muesli - some of them can be depressing.

4. Use versions of food that are "better" - skimmed milk, wholewheat pasta, sweet potatoes. Try moving over to something that's healthier or has some benefit over what you love rather than ditching it completely. Getting down because you miss pasta will not help you.

5. Work around your life - I try to make eggs in the morning, but if I get up late or I'm doing an early morning gym run, I'll throw some oats, yoghurt, and banana in tupperware and head off. Don't create an eating plan that requires more time than you can commit or you'll get that "fallen off the wagon" low when you can't stick to it.

Generally I fall into the healthy eating camp. I don't aim for low carb. I do aim for low calorie, but it's pretty easy when you eat loads of veg instead of refined carbs.

I'm not following any certian diet. I watch my calories & probably the biggest thing is portion control. I have a scale so I've started weighing foods, especially when portion sizes are listed in weight, it makes a big difference. So I know I'm eating 1 once of chips if that' what the serving size is. I haven't completely eleminated soda but I have a 1 liter in the fridge that's been there for a month. I drink 8oz at a time & it's a treat for me. I try to make healthier choices, if we get fast food for lunch then I'm hitting Subway instead of McDonalds. We've been using whole wheat & whole grain pasta for years now so that's makes a difference when we do make home made mac-n-cheese or spagetti. I try to add veggies into things like squash in the mac-n-cheese. I love having fruit in the house, apples are practicaly a staple, & we might also have bananas, grapes, oranges, or fresh pineapple. We can, so I have homemade chicken noodle soup along with chicken & turkey stock so I know what went into them. We don't add salt to anything. The changes I make have to be gentle when it applies to the whole family, which I try for changes for everyone.

Hmmm, I didn't know that my way of eating (wholefoods, vegetables, organic and natural along with eating out once in awhile )was abnormal. I thought it was pretty normal. Just the same way I think a diet based on eating out is also normal. Abnormal in my opinion would be to follow crash diets, or the latest quick fix that is been advertised on TV.

^^ yep ^^

I am a huge believer in REAL food (nothing processed, organics, pastured meats, full organic fats, nothing Light or Fat free, no artificial sweeteners, no HFCS etc.) - it really works for me and I feel like million bucks when I eat like that. Our bodies are not built to deal with chemicals very well, hence all these diseases of western world we are plagued with, including obesity.

I buy mostly organic, not everything though, just the biggest culprits, definitely YES to grass fed meats and organic dairy though! And I go for portion control, that is one of the main reasons I am on MFP - tracking my portions!
We go out occasionally (maybe 1x month) and once in a while if I want to I will eat JUNK and ENJOY it - like Frosty from Wendy's :-) 1x year maximum, it's is not going to kill me :-)

But that is just my opinion and I am a huge fan of people eating what they think is right for them, and I hate people shoving their way of eating down other's throats, so I avoid doing that! To each its own!!! DO what works for you!

I find it kinda sad that "normal" and "healthy" are in opposing categories. I also find it sad that "healthy" and "insert decreased macronutrient of choice here diet" are in the same category.

I eat "normal". I eat mostly whole foods - meats, veggies, eggs, dairy, rice (not grains; coeliac) - and I also have a treat daily, like a piece of chocolate or some ice cream. Or a bar of chocolate and a carton of ice cream. Whatever.

I started a low crap diet about 12 years ago. I'm still on it. I intend to stay with it.
Yes, I use the word diet. :happy:

I try to eat reasonably clean.
I try to get plenty of protein and leafy greens
I try not to eat processed carbs.
I try to avoid deep fried foods.
I try to avoid sugar.
I think I succeed about 80% of the time

For me this is sustainable.
It makes me feel good.
It has allowed me to maintain weight loss without much deprivation.
To me eating food is normal.