Eating Clean

If you want to eat clean and you feel better then go for it. But that isn't why you are losing weight, that's a calorie deficit.

I believe eating clean is eating fresh fruits and veggies as well as lean meats. No processed foods.

I eat clean, I eat garbage, I keep calories reasonably low, I exercise 6 days a week, I lose weight!

I always thought clean eating was a necessary part of losing weight. Then realized the reason why I kept yo-yo dieting was because clean eating is too rough for me to sustain long-term. I still eat my vegetables and all that healthy stuff, but probably about half my calories are from less nutritious sources. For me, it's all about staying in a moderate calorie deficit and satisfying my taste buds every chance I can.

keep it simple eating clean means dont eat ****ty food like fast food, candy and limit deserts

Eating clean eliminated the cravings for crap processed food for me.

THIS.

I eat at a deficit to lose weight. I eat clean because I feel that garbage in = garbage out. I haven't craved processed foods in a long time.

agree with OP: eating clean is where it's at.

sure, one *may* be able to lose weight simply by cutting cals, even if eating candy and junk all day.

HOWEVER, to me, eating clean (ie: avoiding processed and junk foods) yields the following results that eating garbage just cannot:

--easier to maintain weight loss
--feel full and satisfied
--good health: skin, hair, organs, whole body
--avoid diseases
--maintain muscle mass

to me, people will sometimes do ANY weird diet just to avoid what is common sense:
--eat real food, mostly plants. not too much. the end.

agree with OP: eating clean is where it's at.

sure, one *may* be able to lose weight simply by cutting cals, even if eating candy and junk all day.

HOWEVER, to me, eating clean (ie: avoiding processed and junk foods) yields the following results that eating garbage just cannot:

--easier to maintain weight loss
--feel full and satisfied
--good health: skin, hair, organs, whole body
--avoid diseases
--maintain muscle mass

to me, people will sometimes do ANY weird diet just to avoid what is common sense:
--eat real food, mostly plants. not too much. the end.

Nonsense

Actually, I'm reading "Fat Chance" by Dr. Robert Lustic. It dispels the notion that "a calorie is a calorie". His argument is that a calorie worth of refined sugar will hit the liver differently than a calorie of balanced food. So eating 800 calories of Whoppers or sweets will get metabolized differently (mostly turned straight into fat) then calories from fruits and vegetables.

It's a compelling argument.

Here is the New York Times article about Lustig:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/magazine/mag-17Sugar-t.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Here is Lustig's 90 minute lecture:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM

And here is a more entertaining version of the lecture material:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?annotation_id=annotation_286965&feature=iv&list=PL39F782316B425249&src_vid=h0zD1gj0pXk

Definitely worth a read for anyone interested in eating healthier and avoiding refined sugar and heavily processed foods.

Nothing will turn into fat on a caloric deficit.

My opinions about it in general can be seen here:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/822501-halp-my-sandwich-isn-t-clean

(Since most people won't click: I think the concept is silly and flawed. I think it's irrelevant for weight loss. But all that being said, I think it's important to select mostly whole and nutrient dense foods to comprise the majority of your diet).


Something you may want to consider as you're reading Lustig:

http://www.alanaragonblog.com/2010/01/29/the-bitter-truth-about-fructose-alarmism/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMc0_s-M08I

Thanks for the information. I will watch the Youtube video on the treadmill tomorrow. I'll read the article. I don't agree with everything Lustig argues. I think lifestyle changes can and do work for people. A lot of people here have had success through healthier living. Lustig makes it sound like less than 1% of people can lose weight and keep it off. I know that I've managed to lose about 100 pounds since 2006 and keep off around 90 since then.

I find that eating my own personal version of clean GREATLY reduces my appetite. I feel great on fewer calories. I eat and can stop. For me, that's the advantage: calories in, calories out seems plausible (thought not necessarily right?) but I know that if I am eating processed foods, dairy (other than yoghurt), wheat in any form, salt, sugar, and heavier meats I CRAVE more of THOSE foods and more FOOD in general. So I'm having great luck hitting my targets on the following in whatever amounts I want:

-vegetables
-fruits
-nuts (satisfies salt cravings even with unsalted versions)
-legumes
-eggs (satisfies salt and dairy cravings even with no added salt
-lean poultry
-fish
-non-wheat whole grains: oats, quinoa, barley, rice, and occasionally gluten-free breads and pasta as a treat (I claim no gluten sensitivity/allergy in terms of how I feel when I am eating it, BUT it affects my appetite hugely. I treat gluten free ones as a treat because they are so expensive and kind of invoke cravings for wheat-based bread and pasta)
-yoghurt for a dairy fix (other dairy makes me want other dairy. My body's response to lactose is the same as to wheat gluten: no physiological negative response except CRAVING more cheese/milk/ice cream and feeling hungrier generally)
-red wine for an alcohol fix (other alcohol makes me crave food and more alcohol - and I LOVE beer, this is the hardest kick for me)
-dark chocolate for a sweet fix (other sweets make me crave more sugar and food)

-I am still having (black) coffee and unsweetened teas (green) on this - I realize that is not truly "clean"...but I know it is way cleaner than average and I believe the antioxidants and positive caffeine effects outweigh the negative caffeine effects.

agree with OP: eating clean is where it's at.

sure, one *may* be able to lose weight simply by cutting cals, even if eating candy and junk all day.

HOWEVER, to me, eating clean (ie: avoiding processed and junk foods) yields the following results that eating garbage just cannot:

--easier to maintain weight loss
--feel full and satisfied
--good health: skin, hair, organs, whole body
--avoid diseases
--maintain muscle mass

to me, people will sometimes do ANY weird diet just to avoid what is common sense:
--eat real food, mostly plants. not too much. the end.

No offence, but if you think the following don't count as processed foods, you are deluding yourself.

Vegan Mozzarella Style Shreds
Trader Joe's - Almond Milk, Vanilla Unsweeteed
Moore's - Buffalo Wing Sauce
Trader Joe's - Goddess Dressing