Lets all calm down now....

Very true Focus on what you are eating, not everyone else, and you will find happiness!

if everyone followed what u said there would be no forums, no mfp. where is the joy in that? lol

The only time anyone really cares...

1) when someone says they're "eating clean" or veggie or vegan or whatever and claiming they're not losing any weight People will chime in and tell the poster that clean/dirty/whatever has nothing to do with it. There's no magic to "eating clean"...it's sill the laws of thermodynamics. But it gets pretty heated because often the poster ignores good, sound advice and just insists they're doing everything right because they're simply eating a certain way

2) when someone asks for advice in RE to "should I eat ______way?" Again, you're going to have a lot of different opinions and a whole lot of people essentially saying that it doesn't matter....again, laws of thermodynamics.

3) when people are being so restrictive with their diets that trying to conform to "clean eating" or whatever it may be that they're miserable. You're again going to get a lot of IIFYM folks and others saying, "it doesn't matter"...stay within your calorie goal and hit your macros.

4) self righteous proclamations.

It's stuff like this that gets the debates going...otherwise nobody cares.

I am not really a proponent of either clean eating or IFFYM ...but I probably do more IFFYM but that is just how it works out..

However, I believe what some are taking issue with is when the clean eating types say that is the ONLY way to lose weight, be shredded, get to your goals, etc....

On the flip side, the clean eaters take issue with some who say you can pretty much eat pop tarts and ice cream all day and still get to your goals..but then the IFFYM folks come in and say that is not IFFYM....

thus, the never ending circular firing squad perpetuates itself...

I say do what works for you ..

but the threads are for debating, so why does it bother you that they debate it?????

If I may ask a noob question I guess, what is IFFYM please?

I am not really a proponent of either clean eating or IFFYM ...but I probably do more IFFYM but that is just how it works out..

However, I believe what some are taking issue with is when the clean eating types say that is the ONLY way to lose weight, be shredded, get to your goals, etc....

On the flip side, the clean eaters take issue with some who say you can pretty much eat pop tarts and ice cream all day and still get to your goals..but then the IFFYM folks come in and say that is not IFFYM....

thus, the never ending circular firing squad perpetuates itself...

I say do what works for you ..

but the threads are for debating, so why does it bother you that they debate it?????

Also, I find these differing opinions to be very educational. When I first started on MFP, I thought "clean" eating was the only way I could successfully lose weight. Learning that weight loss is pretty much ALL about calorie deficit, was a revelation and it saved me from falling off the diet wagon from deprivation. It's all a learning process and the more debating... the better!

Couldn't have put it better myself

To the op, very well put and thank you for your post.

but the threads are for debating, so why does it bother you that they debate it?????

:noway:

Herein lies the problem. Some of us DO NOT think these threads are for debating. Rather, that they are for SUPPORT. Thus, they are a support forum, and not a debate forum. People are looking to receive support for what they need. And what is right and works for one person, may not be right for another. Doesn't make either way right or wrong as long as it's working for the individual.

If someone is actually looking for a debate forum, I suggest they go back to college. Or in some cases, elementary school.

To the op, very well put and thank you for your post.

but the threads are for debating, so why does it bother you that they debate it?????

:noway:

Herein lies the problem. Some of us DO NOT think these threads are for debating. Rather, that they are for SUPPORT. Thus, they are a support forum, and not a debate forum. People are looking to receive support for what they need. And what is right and works for one person, may not be right for another. Doesn't make either way right or wrong as long as it's working for the individual.

If someone is actually looking for a debate forum, I suggest they go back to college. Or in some cases, elementary school.

thanks for offering your opinion, but that did some seem very supportive...

So college is the only place where we should ever debate anything, really?

And if someone offers "support" that is dead wrong..we should all just nod our head and say "great advice, good luck with your journey" ...

I just saw a thread today where someone took advice from a thread poster and gained 5 pounds....maybe if someone had called BS on that advice they would not have one it and gained 5 pounds...hmmmmmm

No, it's the way it is done that makes the difference. Someone can say, "I've found this works for me...". Without adding, "and the person above me is an idiot that doesn't know what they are talking about".

Edit: or at least simply politely say, "I do disagree with this poster for the following reason..."

I do eat what I want to eat but I try to do the very best in my power to eat better than what I used to.
Everything has a balance. Everything needs moderation. And variety, too.
Certain foods really ought to be avoided entirely though. Fast food for example. I mean, if you really HAVE to have it, go for it but ... nothing about fast food is good for your body. Respect your body because it's the only one you've got.