Who has lost weight NOT eating clean?

norahwynn · July 2013

me! I'm a pretty dirty eater....but losing weight none the less!

Mingo424 · July 2013

I was told 14 months ago when I started this journey that it was all about exercise and eating clean. I called bull**** on the clean eating. I cut down portion sizes, but still - generally - ate pretty crappy. I dropped about 15lbs, then yo-yo'd back and forth for MONTHS w/ 10lbs. (Mind you I am at the gym 2-3 hrs/day/6 days/week). So I finally gave in and joined Weight Watchers, for me it offered me the discipline to eat whatever I wanted within reason (as in, I can have a Big Mac if I want one, but you bet your *kitten* for the rest of the day I'm going to be eating SUPER healthy, as in no fries w/ that Big Mac). WW has helped me drop an additional 22lbs and keep it off. I'm not starving when I go to bed at night and I've also started to put food in priority. For instance, "Do I want to spent 3 pts on creamer in my coffee?" No, because I've learned that I like to use those 3 points elsewhere and drink my coffee black

Good luck on your journey.

H_Factor · July 2013

You can lose weight without eating clean. I did for the first few months of my journey...and then at various times throughout my journey, I've eaten less clean. I also don't think I've eaten "perfectly clean", but I do think eating cleaner helps me. The reason is that cleaner foods are generally more nutrient dense and they have a tendency to keep you fuller longer. Using a specific example, I can get more nutrients and feel fuller eating chicken with grilled green peppers than by eating a Lean Cuisine for lunch (similar calories, but one keeps me fuller longer). The reason cleaner foods tend to keep you fuller longer is because they tend to digest slower than processed foods.

So, yes, in my experience, I have both lost weight by eating mostly processed foods.....and I have lost weight by eating mostly clean. But I find that eating mostly clean makes things easier for me because I stay fuller longer.

oldandhealthier · July 2013

The only clean eating I do is washing my hands before I eat and I eat what I want to. Except pasta that is my trigger food.

jobean12 · July 2013

What does SID have to do with fruits and veggies?

jobean12 · July 2013

LOL. awesome!

tyrantduck · July 2013

i definitely have lost weight without completely clean eating. it's all about portion control, calorie count, and physical activity.

TracyJo93 · July 2013

I don't eat "clean" at all. Ice cream, pizza, fast food... I just maintain calories and work out. I lost ten pounds, and gained it all back in muscle. I feel healthy and strong, even without eating clean. Most people don't agree with that, but it works for me. I'm only 20 and you're only young once. If I want a burger, I'm eating a burger dammit.

jstika · July 2013

I certainly wouldn't say I eat clean. I drink a lot of beer and like to eat Chinese food, pizza, and Mexican food. I have a lot of cheat days and cheat meals. But I ride my bike like crazy, when it's not hotter than crap out. I've kind of plateaued the last month or two though. Still about 10 pounds to lose...
But I try to eat less meat (I find I have to get more creative with vegetables with out meat), more wholesome foods these days. Figure if I don't stuff myself all the time or drink too much beer, I'll be fine. And I've found that to be true the last 5 or so years.

carriej82 · July 2013

ME! I lost 60+ lbs before getting pregnant with my baby and I just counted calories and watched what I ate. this time I have lost 34lbs just working out and watching what I eat and portions. I still have fast food, dessert, and crap. I just eat it in moderation with lots of good foods. I don't think you have to give everything up to lose weight. it isn't realistic to never eat anything bad for you again.

stumblinthrulife · July 2013

I live by the following 'rules', in order of importance.

1. Eat within my calorific needs, be it a deficit, surplus or maintenance.
2. Hit my macros (>135g protein, >56g fat, balance in carbs).
3. Eat a few portions of fruit and veg every day.
4. Where I have the option, choose whole grains.

Beyond that, I just eat foods I enjoy.

Works for me.

bcattoes · July 2013

The only clean eating I do is washing my hands before I eat and I eat what I want to. Except pasta that is my trigger food.

I looked at your diary. You eat clean food. Not all, but there is clean food in there.

LiftAllThePizzas · July 2013

I suspect more lose by not eating clean than those who do. I wouldn't be surprised if the success rate of keeping it off was higher among people who continue to eat all the foods they like.

alyssa92982 · July 2013

Me!!!!!!!!!

Naywifey07 · July 2013

:laugh: I believe thats why my journey to loose weight has lasted this long.... Before that was my mentality of you cant eat this and that. But if its something I crave for I eat it... I log in everyday and excercise. Yes, my weightloss process is slow but I havent given up like I have all the other times because I thought I had to eat only salad and baked fish all the time. I mix my foods up but I would say that my healthy foods most def outweighs the bad

omgitsgarry · July 2013

Ha, I had a coworker go completely slack jawed when she suggested I eat clean like her and I told her I lost 100 pounds eating whatever I wanted within a calorie goal. It's all about the moderation.

crayonbreakywillow · July 2013

I've lost 91 pounds, and I'm just about at my goal weight now. I've done it by eating whatever I wanted...in moderation. I do make a lot of healthier choices now, which I started to do mainly because you can typically get a larger quantity of food when you are eating healthier. But, I have grown to love and even crave fruits and vegetables! That being said, I just had a Peanut Butter Poptart for breakfast. Not the most nutritious, but I saw them at the store, and had to try them! For me, I knew depriving myself of any certain foods would not work for me long term. I wanted to learn to eat the proper amount of food for my body, because I knew that was something I could continue for life.

I also tend to save a good portion of my daily calories for evening snacking. ;-)

janatarnhem · July 2013

The only clean eating I do is washing my hands before I eat and I eat what I want to. Except pasta that is my trigger food.

^^^definately my kind of clean eating!

Alex_is_Hawks · July 2013

ME

crayonbreakywillow · July 2013

Also, the Peanut Butter Poptart was pretty tasty! (I also tried the Chocolate Peanut Butter iced Poptart recently and found them too sweet!)

Mainebikerchick · July 2013

ME

AND me!

xeno8604 · July 2013

I do not really know the term "eating clean" nor have I heard of it really till I got on this site, but I have decreased my calorie count and started to work out regularly and have dropped alot of weight. Looking into the eating clean thing and I can say that I have not eaten clean through my weight lose process.

conniemaxwell5 · July 2013

I try to eat a good amount of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and healthy fats but I can't call my diet 'clean.'

trogalicious · July 2013

I do not really know the term "eating clean" nor have I heard of it really till I got on this site, but I have decreased my calorie count and started to work out regularly and have dropped alot of weight. Looking into the eating clean thing and I can say that I have not eaten clean through my weight lose process.

you've already lost 62 lbs, why change now?

misspiggy408 · July 2013

You dont NEED to eat clean to lose weight, although it IS healthier for you. My doctor recently told me if I wanted to lose weight, use portion control. He said the size of your 2 fists is the amount you should be eating each meal. It is the right size for your stomach and wont stretch it out. GOOD LUCK!

supermaninprogress · July 2013

Same here. I've just restarted my efforts again and I'm only watching calories right now. Maybe later will pay more attention to the other stuff. So far it's working. I opened my food diary and I am def not eating clean.