I don't eat clean. I won't eat clean. It's a stupid concept.

so much LOL in this thread :laugh:

I eat clean as much as possible because the amount of sodium and other crap in processed foods is so high., not gonna go strictly organic - too much $$$

i worry about calories and macros (and micros) and don't worry what any self-appointed food shamers have to say about anything... ever.

i see lots of people on this site wear "how clean their diet is" as a badge of honor. it's not. it just means you've been hoodwinked into thinking that your success/failure is fully tied up in your food choices. it's not.

if i want rice, i eat rice. if i want an apple, i eat an apple. if i want a piece of pumpkin pie, i eat a piece of pumpkin pie. i don't eat the whole pie. this is how you lose weight and get fit. you don't do it by adhering to lists of "approved" and "unapproved" foods.

maybe i'm too easily irritated this morning, but i'm just sick of seeing people get sucked up into this fad (and related ones) and lose sight of the big picture in the process.

If it was only about losing weight, you could eat nothing but Twinkies (or Pop-Tarts--for the peanut gallery) and, if you stayed within your calorie limit, you would lose weight. But whether or not you would be healthy is another matter. To me, good health is a LOT a part of the equation and that is why I am here to lose weight safely and effectively. I tried crazy crash diets for years, but after I lost the weight, I would always gain it back (plus more) because I was malnourished by the time I was done with the diet.

I think most men here advocate eating 80% "clean" and then 20% whatever appeals to them. But men don't have the same problems losing weight as women do for a lot of reasons which are hormonal in nature. Most women on MFP don't have the luxury of eating whatever they want to.

That last part is untrue.

What specifically are you in disagreement with, Wheird?

The part saying that moat women on MFP do not have the luxury of eating whatever they want.

Most of the women on my FL are IIFYM followers and have been successful with their weightloss. While it is admittedly a small sample set, I do think it is fairly telling.

I suspect that most of those ladies have not had a serious problem with obesity. The vast bulk of women that I meet here are typical of me and I cannot eat junk food (for a great many health-related reasons that are too boring to go into).

I have at least two that have lost 100+lbs doing IIFYM.

It's a choice and I don't think anyone should be "slammed" for eating clean or not eating clean, that's your choice. Do I worry about my friends that do eat clean? Sure. But, at the end of the day, if that's what they want, then I'm happy for them, just like I would want them to be happy for me.

not gonna go strictly organic - too much $$$

...plus it's just a marketing ploy

...If people stick to this "Eating 100% clean" fad they will eventually get tired of it. What are they going to do when they honestly just want a fricken hella good hot pocket? They're gonna eat the whole damn box because they feel the need to binge. EVERYONE has those moments...

Well I don't eat anywhere near "100% clean" and have no intention to, but ~ I take issue with you speaking for EVERYONE. I've never, not once in all my life, had any desire to eat even one fricken hella good hot pocket, let alone a whole damn box. Oh and I've never considered myself prone to bingeing either (though I sure can overeat ).

And I believe people sure *can* change their eating habits and adjust ~ actually I've found my tastes have changed greatly as I've matured and I honest to goodness have zero cravings for stuff I did when younger (like hot pockets I'd suppose ).

Why insist those who choose a healthier diet are "miserable" and don't "enjoy ourselves"?

I say it's best we speak for ourselves and not make blanket statements for "EVERYONE". Just sayin'.

i worry about calories and macros (and micros) and don't worry what any self-appointed food shamers have to say about anything... ever.

i see lots of people on this site wear "how clean their diet is" as a badge of honor. it's not. it just means you've been hoodwinked into thinking that your success/failure is fully tied up in your food choices. it's not.

if i want rice, i eat rice. if i want an apple, i eat an apple. if i want a piece of pumpkin pie, i eat a piece of pumpkin pie. i don't eat the whole pie. this is how you lose weight and get fit. you don't do it by adhering to lists of "approved" and "unapproved" foods.

maybe i'm too easily irritated this morning, but i'm just sick of seeing people get sucked up into this fad (and related ones) and lose sight of the big picture in the process.

If it was only about losing weight, you could eat nothing but Twinkies (or Pop-Tarts--for the peanut gallery) and, if you stayed within your calorie limit, you would lose weight. But whether or not you would be healthy is another matter. To me, good health is a LOT a part of the equation and that is why I am here to lose weight safely and effectively. I tried crazy crash diets for years, but after I lost the weight, I would always gain it back (plus more) because I was malnourished by the time I was done with the diet.

I think most men here advocate eating 80% "clean" and then 20% whatever appeals to them. But men don't have the same problems losing weight as women do for a lot of reasons which are hormonal in nature. Most women on MFP don't have the luxury of eating whatever they want to.

That last part is untrue.

What specifically are you in disagreement with, Wheird?

The part saying that moat women on MFP do not have the luxury of eating whatever they want.

Most of the women on my FL are IIFYM followers and have been successful with their weightloss. While it is admittedly a small sample set, I do think it is fairly telling.

I suspect that most of those ladies have not had a serious problem with obesity. The vast bulk of women that I meet here are typical of me and I cannot eat junk food (for a great many health-related reasons that are too boring to go into).

Why does everything come down to gender with you? There are minor, minor, differences. Nothing that makes women not human or subject to the laws of thermodynamics.

I feel you, but isn't cancer related to poor diet? And don't you feel physically and mentally terrible if you just eat a bunch of crap all the time? I allow myself to eat high-calorie, processed food, but I know it's not that great for me, and I do try to limit it. Like you said, don't eat the whole pie. But isn't there real science behind how good food (i.e. raw veggies, lean protein, whole grain....) is beneficial and can prevent a whole lot of diseases? Maybe people aren't trying to elevate themselves when they eat this way. Maybe they are trying to be good examples and help others try to take better care of themselves. Maybe they aren't self-appointed. Maybe they have real merit that you haven't seen yet. I have worked in two natural food stores / health food stores and in a vitamin store and have spent a lot of time getting to know customers. I have met several who have cured their own cancer by changing their diet and not eating nasty processed foods. I have met someone who cured their cancer by going alkaline, and I have a close friend who halted the growth of a tumor by cutting out sugar. So while I am very much like you in that I do better at weight loss and stress management by allowing myself to eat what I want sometimes, I do respect, admire, and try to be like these people in many respects. I mean, there is nothing wrong with changing yourself a little bit at a time for something that in reality only has benefits. Further, I eat a lot "cleaner" than I used to. Because of the little changes I have made over a long period of time, I don't even like some of the stuff I used to love (e.g., ramen noodles, they make me sick when I am trying to enjoy them...).

I totally get your mood. I know the type you are speaking to. Some people find the perfect plan for them and think it is perfect for everyone else. But there are many different body types. Pay attention to your body. If something makes you feel good and refreshed and energized, I say eat more of it. If something seems to slow you down, I say eat less. And don't forget to stay active. Isn't that the essence of successful fitness?

You night people are weird

I don't eat clean. Mmmmmm... pop tarts

I eat what I want.

In 2006 I was on year 15 of an auto-immune disease that was eating me alive...At the advice of a doctor I began to eat "clean" about 90% of the time, as well as getting rid of many chemicals in my environment....shampoo, make-up, cleaning supplies, laundry soap...etc etc...and replacing them with chemical free alternatives....after all our skin is our bodies largest organ...within 3 months of doing this all my blood labs were closer to normal than they had ever been...Prior to doing this I was getting 3 IV's a week, 2 injections etc etc...the meds I was on just to keep things cleaned up and semi -functional was astounding....on month 4, (march 2007) I had my last injection.....listening to all that "HYPE" saved my life.
As for why I am here...cause I know it will be brought up.....it don't mater how clean you eat, if it's 3 or 4 thousand calories a day...you get fat!

an auto-immune problem is an entirely different issue than what i posted about. if you had become sensitive to foods or products that you were coming into contact with, then that's a different thread and different subject matter. for example, i would tell anyone listening that they shouldn't be afraid to eat peanut butter because it's not bad for them. if somebody then jumped in and said, "NO! i am allergic to peanuts and might die!", then obviously they have a special issue and are the exception to the rule. the rule is still valid, but it's obviously left unstated that some specific foods may not be appropriate for some people for entirely unrelated medical reasons.

Not to mention the 90% part of her comment. That gets right to the root of the issue. None of us are living on chips and Oreos. We just don't parade our "clean" diets around and tell everyone else they're going to be stricken with cancer. And, for the record, a couple of cancers are diet related but for most there is no evidence of such a connection. What we are saying is pay attention to your diet, but a little ice cream and a pop tart aren't going to sabotage your efforts if they fit into a well thought out plan.

...and what i would add is that if anyone has a little ice cream or a pop tart, that is nothing to feel shame or guilt about. in fact, having a little ice cream or a pop tart when you want it is a good way to avoid obsessing about ice cream and pop tarts and binging on a whole carton or box of them a week later.

What about ice cream ON a poptart? That sounds heavenly.


P.S. I'm not a clean eater. I am a eat whatever I want within reason eater.