Eating clean, please share...

loseweightIhope · March 2013

So for those who eat clean how long did it take for you to see in the mirror the changes your body was making?

Can you please share a list of your favorite clean eating foods....I need ideas...:). Please include your packaged convenience food that are clean if you know of any.

Is it really true that the only way to get lean and have flat well defined abs is by eating clean?

What tips or advice do you have with someone who is new to this?

Marianna05 · March 2013

bump because I'm curious as well

georgina1970 · March 2013

Eating clean has nutritional benefits. If won't improve muscle tone or what you look like. For this you will need a good weights programme, and a reduction in body fat. This doesn't always mean weight loss. Depends on how much you have to loose.

CrimeanGurl · March 2013

Eating clean does help to lose weight! I'll provide you with my own example. In 2006, I weighted 130lbs (my height is 5'8''). I was very slender on top but had pretty thick legs. Sometime in the Spring my friend mentioned a diet that included eating only fresh fruit (except for bananas), fresh vegetables (except for potatoes), oatmeal, rice, low fat dairy, cheese, fish, chicken breast, and chicken broth. I've never been on a diet before and didn't really need to lose weight, but I thought I'd still give it a shot hoping that it'll slim down my legs. Back then I did not have any issues with food (I ate only when I was hungry, rarely overate, and never went on binges), so making the above changes was pretty easy. Because I was already skinny, I didn't bother to weight myself or count calories. I also ate tons of cheese and honey (went through a small jar a week). In about a month I noticed that my pants were beginning to fall off me, and my friends kept commenting on my weight loss. I didn't really see that much difference, so when I finally weighted myself 3 months later and found out that I was 15lbs lighter, I was shocked. I swear that I have not skipped a single meal or tried to starve myself! My theory is that I kept eating the same, reasonably sized portions, which being much healthier just couldn't provide me with the same amount of calories as my pre-diet meals.

Here is the visual:

Before 130 lbs:

After 3 months of eating 100% clean @ 115lbs (way to skinny, I know that now):

nornyb · March 2013

If you want well defined muscles you have to use them. If you want to see those well defined muscles (particularly abs) you have to get the fat off of them. You could have the most defined abs possible and not be able to see them if they were covered in a layer of fat. Eating clean helps this happen because it is naturally low calorie if done reasonably. Lower calories lead to weight loss, simple.

loseweightIhope · March 2013

Eating clean does help to lose weight! I'll provide you with my own example. In 2006, I weighted 130lbs (my height is 5'8''). I was very slender on top but had pretty thick legs. Sometime in the Spring my friend mentioned a diet that included eating only fresh fruit (except for bananas), fresh vegetables (except for potatoes), oatmeal, rice, low fat dairy, cheese, fish, chicken breast, and chicken broth. I've never been on a diet before and didn't really need to lose weight, but I thought I'd still give it a shot hoping that it'll slim down my legs. Back then I did not have any issues with food (I ate only when I was hungry, rarely overate, and never went on binges), so making the above changes was pretty easy. Because I was already skinny, I didn't bother to weight myself or count calories. I also ate tons of cheese and honey (went through a small jar a week). In about a month I noticed that my pants were beginning to fall off me, and my friends kept commenting on my weight loss. I didn't really see that much difference, so when I finally weighted myself 3 months later and found out that I was 15lbs lighter, I was shocked. I swear that I have not skipped a single meal or tried to starve myself! My theory is that I kept eating the same, reasonably sized portions, which being much healthier just couldn't provide me with the same amount of calories as my pre-diet meals.

Here is the visual:

Before 130 lbs:

After 3 months of eating 100% clean @ 115lbs (way to skinny, I know that now):

Thank you for sharing your story. You look great in both pictures. It is amazing how someone who is already so tiny can change shape through clean eating. I hope that I see the benefits in my own life from eating clean. I am probably going o be 95% clean.

sozisfitnow · March 2013

Im a fan of eating clean. Organic fruit and veg, eggs. Fresh made veg/fruit juices. Unsalted nuts and seeds. wholegrains.
limited cheese, non dairy milks ( hazelnut milk), no meat for me.

Chris99mu · March 2013

Can SWIM please elaborate on 'clean eating'?

TY :-)

Chris99mu · March 2013

Or I could read the above poster :-)

dym123 · March 2013

I had already lost a significant amount of weight when I started clean eating, but what I have noticed is that I can eat more while staying within 1200-1500 calories, I'm hardly ever hungry and I have a lot more energy, no more 3 pm crash like I used to have. Which is good since I workout after work and I don't feel like I'm dragging when I get home, pluse many many more benefits. I know a lot of people like to say "a calorie is a calorie", but firmly believe that its about the quality of the calorie more than the quantity.

joleenl · March 2013

I don't eat entirely clean but I do the best that I can and constantly try to improve. The processed foods I do eat are thinks like organic pasta sauce, canned fish (like tuna and oysters), frozen fish (like salmon and cod), glutton free organic pasta, organic brown rice pasta, organic salsa, whole grain brown rice crackers (like rice cakes), peanut butter, and rotissere chickens from the deli. I shop a lot at costco. I don't eat dairy or wheat for personal choices. Most of my meat is wild game or boughten from farmers not chain supermarkets. I buy organic stuff as much as I can and afford too. My favorite things are pretty much any fruit or veggies, chia seeds, hemp seeds, coconut oil, olive oil, steel cut oats, and wild game meat.

It's been just over 60 days (you can add me or read my blog for more info on my journey - also my diary is open) for me, I have noticed stronger nails, and hair. My acne has disappeared, my skin looks way better, infact stretch marks and scars are fading. I almost have no mood swings, cravings, or cheat days. My PMS symtoms have reduced to the point of almost non-existance. I have not been sick and I feel stronger and have more energy. I can't wait to see what the future brings.

ElizabethKalmbach · March 2013

I eat mostly clean and also gluten free lately. When I took processed foods out of my diet without any exercise, I lost 23 lbs. Then I stopped losing. When I dropped gluten, I ended up naturally dropping my "cheat days" and noticed that all my cravings stopped. I've added workouts to re-start my weight loss again and even out my sleep cycle, but really the clean eating makes a pretty big difference.

I try not to buy any "packaged meals" and make everything from scratch in my own kitchen. I still eat pizza and hot pockets, but they're all things I made myself in my own kitchen. No preservatives, extra sugar, or sodium.

It's pretty impressive what a difference it can make.

KassLamb · March 2013

I began an elimination diet in January to try to find what foods (if any) were triggering my migraines. I eliminated so many things from my diet, including almost all processed foods (avoiding wheat, soy, corn, eggs, and dairy, which are abundant in many pre-packaged snacks and mixes). I had to eat lots of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and brown rice just to give me the energy to stay awake. I saw results the very first week. (lost 4 pounds without even working out).

I think results depend on a number of factors. I was classified as obese, and had quite a bit to lose. Also, because I had abandoned most of the convenience foods familiar to me, I didn't know what to eat and for some meals, I just opted out of eating. I wasn't tracking Calories at the time, but I'm guessing it was lower than what is healthy for weight loss. I have since gotten the hang of it, and now plan meals ahead of time. Obviously, 4 lbs/week is not sustainable over time, and it has since slowed down to a healthier rate. I now feel better than I ever have. Even if these foods aren't a trigger for my migraines, I think I will continue to avoid them (or at least limit my intake) because I feel so much healthier without them.

Eating clean, please share...

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