Clean Eating....... Does it work?
cemckay
Posts: 9
I've heard a lot of hype about "Clean Eating" aiding natural weight lose, i.e. no diet to follow and wondered if anyone has either adapted their diet or has in the past tried this and how successful they felt it was in reducing weight?
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Replies
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Clean eating works, assuming you're in a caloric deficit.
The reason being is "clean" food tends to be low in calories in comparison. You feel fuller while eating less calories.
In the end it's all about caloric deficit, though. Do what ever you think you can realistically stay with for years. For most people that's flexible dieting, not clean eating.
I ate clean for 8 months a couple years ago, I lost about 20lbs doing so. However, it was bland and I couldn't stick with it for the long term. The weight didn't bounce back, but it did slowly creep up after I went back to regular eating.0 -
All diets work. The key though is a diet that can be maintained indefinitely, thrive on and without stress. Find one that works for you. My particular diet is designed by me and is based mostly on whole foods, minimally processed, with no food group or particular food exempt unless, it's something I don't particularly like and there isn't too many foods that I don't.0
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Eating clean whole foods works.
I don't "diet" because I believe the word "diet" sets people up to fail. Instead, I made the choice to stop buying pre-made frozen foods, cook more, and eat out far less. I've almost completely cut out fast food from my life, indulging maybe twice a year. I chose this route because I wanted something sustainable and I knew that if I approached it with the "diet mentality" (eating clean till I got results and then reverting back to my old ways) I would fail. I don't try to be too strict with myself, but 90% of the time I am eating healthy and well.
Like the previous poster said, "In the end it's all about caloric deficit". Maintain your calorie deficit, fuel your body with good foods, and you will see the weight come off.0 -
Being at a caloric deficit will = weight loss.0
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Being at a caloric deficit will = weight loss.
This^^^^^0 -
I am not 100% sure what it does for "diet" but i noticed when i made the switch a few months back, I feel fuller much quicker and I also have way more energy.0
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yup.Being at a caloric deficit will = weight loss.
This^^^^^0 -
I agree with the majority that being in a caloric deficit is what actually leads to weight loss. For the past couple months, I have been working on clean eating and yes, the weight will come off for all the reasons already shared, but what I do it for is the boundless energy I have when I eat clean, healthy food. It's not that I never fit a piece of pizza or something unhealthy in to my calorie goals, but I have started to crave those things less when I eat healthy food, because what I have been craving is the energy & mental clarity I get by eating whole, natural foods. Choose a diet you'll stick with, but make sure what you choose makes you feel good!
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Eating clean whole foods works.
I don't "diet" because I believe the word "diet" sets people up to fail. Instead, I made the choice to stop buying pre-made frozen foods, cook more, and eat out far less. I've almost completely cut out fast food from my life, indulging maybe twice a year. I chose this route because I wanted something sustainable and I knew that if I approached it with the "diet mentality" (eating clean till I got results and then reverting back to my old ways) I would fail. I don't try to be too strict with myself, but 90% of the time I am eating healthy and well.
Like the previous poster said, "In the end it's all about caloric deficit". Maintain your calorie deficit, fuel your body with good foods, and you will see the weight come off.
This. It's not a diet it's about eating food that is not processed with filler's, chemical's, just really unhealthy ingredients. I have learned for myself that cooking, preparing, buying grass fed protein and organic fruits and veggies is worth it to me. There are ways around this. Some people say well I don't have time to cook, blah, blah. You can prepare your meals and have them set up in frig. Instead of eating at fast food place, then drink a meal replacement shake. Make sure it's a good protein, and enough protein to keep you full.0 -
I agree with the majority that being in a caloric deficit is what actually leads to weight loss. For the past couple months, I have been working on clean eating and yes, the weight will come off for all the reasons already shared, but what I do it for is the boundless energy I have when I eat clean, healthy food. It's not that I never fit a piece of pizza or something unhealthy in to my calorie goals, but I have started to crave those things less when I eat healthy food, because what I have been craving is the energy & mental clarity I get by eating whole, natural foods. Choose a diet you'll stick with, but make sure what you choose makes you feel good!
SO true! Since I have been Clean Eating..I have noticed a huge energy increase plus my Shakeology meal replacement protein drink helps me get that energy! I love feeling this way and I don't want to eat that candy, white sugar, fast food, and so on.0 -
Shakeology is the exact opposite of eating "clean".0
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nevermind0
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Being at a caloric deficit will = weight loss.
Most definitely. However, filling up on "whole" foods - meats, fruits, veggies works best for me. For me, eating starchy foods leaves me hungry again in very short order. Clean eating tends make me focus on filling up with nutrient-dense foods, so I don't get so darn hungry all the time and can stay within my macros.0 -
I don't really eat clean, I eat what fits my calories and is cheap, usually that's raw fruits and veggies mixed with with proteins and cheese - not really a carb eater, personally.
Sometimes is canned for frozen fruits and veggies if they are on sale and I want to stock up, plus their usually pre-cut which is oh-so-convenient.
Sometimes I grill chicken breast, sometimes I use (heaven-forbid!) processed lunch meat.
Sometimes I go for the fat-free processed cheese and sometimes I need more fat to meet my macros so I use the full fat version... heck I've been known to add a random tablespoon of butter to things to up my fats for the day.
Basically, I keep a variety of raw/fresh, frozen, and canned options available to make my "lifestyle change" manageable - and tasty!
PS.. If I have 200 calories left over and I want a treat, there is no way in hell I'm reaching for a bowl of mixed berries and organic yogurt over a blueberry poptart. Eat what makes you happy!!0 -
PS.. If I have 200 calories left over and I want a treat, there is no way in hell I'm reaching for a bowl of mixed berries and organic yogurt over a blueberry poptart. Eat what makes you happy!!
Ice cream is the correct answer.0 -
PS.. If I have 200 calories left over and I want a treat, there is no way in hell I'm reaching for a bowl of mixed berries and organic yogurt over a blueberry poptart. Eat what makes you happy!!
Ice cream is the correct answer.
Your ability to only eat 200 calories of ice cream is beyond-human! That's a 300-400 calorie excess for me 0 -
Shakeology is the exact opposite of eating "clean".
Not true, Im on Vegan Tropical Strawberry Flavor shakeology and it is working for me. I have looked at the ingredients and find nothing wrong with it. Thanks for your concern though. I have been eating clean and doing really good at staying away from the fast food, frozen meals, bakery type items, white bread, anything white, and so on..and so on.0 -
http://www.myshakeology. com/tke870
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It does for me. It's about energy and feeling good...but it is so personal! I cook, I am good at it and I love it. If you don't at least want to learn to cook, then choosing this type of lifestyle may get a little boring and predictable. There are certainly enough web sites out there with AWESOME recipes - give it a shot for a few weeks or a month - you will never know if it is right for YOU until you try and what do you have to loose??
PS - I still have to count calories and stay below my goal to actually LOOSE weight...clean eating without having to count is what I aspire to for maintenance...0 -
PS.. If I have 200 calories left over and I want a treat, there is no way in hell I'm reaching for a bowl of mixed berries and organic yogurt over a blueberry poptart. Eat what makes you happy!!
Ice cream is the correct answer.
Your ability to only eat 200 calories of ice cream is beyond-human! That's a 300-400 calorie excess for me
Not if your weighing and/or measuring your food then it becomes relatively easy to do..... :drinker:0 -
A very good blog post:
http://www.jcdfitness.com/2010/09/clean-eating-is-a-scam-and-why-you-should-abandon-it/
I suspect that if your lifestyle is generally unhealthy, that 'clean eating' may make a fair bit bigger difference than when your body is in ok shape from general fitness.0 -
I emphasize low calorie foods that are natural and minimally processed, high in protein albeit lower in fat than clean eating recommendations, so I'm there 90% of the time.
I think it works because you will have an easier time keeping your calories under by eating high volume foods, and can eat more often. I don't really consider it a diet. It's just "eat healthy" and "eat whenever hungry."
When I eat standard American food I'm always amazed by the people who naturally maintain a healthy weight on that diet. They must be very careful about their portion sizes. A lot of "normal" comfort food is overloaded in butter, oil and / or sugar. I get a small plate with a few items and it's upwards of 800 calories minimum. A lot of that comes from junk, so I don't think it's worth it from a nutritional stand point. A brownie or two will set me back 200 or 300 calories. That's another meal!
By avoiding most of it I find it a lot easier to maintain or lose weight.0 -
From what I have read clean eating can work.
The hard part is trying to find as many foods in as natural of a state as possible.0 -
I've heard a lot of hype about "Clean Eating" aiding natural weight lose, i.e. no diet to follow and wondered if anyone has either adapted their diet or has in the past tried this and how successful they felt it was in reducing weight?
Weight loss is about calories. However, a diet with a focus on whole foods (I really dislike the term 'clean'), tends to be more filling with less calories just by the nature of the foods you eat (a candy bar vs a serving of brown rice and veggies for around the same calories, for example), so that's why some find that they lose weight when switching.
As I transitioned into maintenance I became interested in this way of eating and have since changed my diet to a mostly whole foods, plant based diet. I'm no longer trying to lose weight, but I've found that I'm able to maintain without counting/tracking anything, just by eating this way. So for me it's working great for maintenance and I now stay within a three pound window without any counting or measuring (besides foods that need measuring for cooking purposes like oats). I did not eat this way for weight loss though and lost over 50lbs with a diet of fast food, frozen diet dinners etc. Again, weight loss really is about the calories 0 -
I don't really eat clean, I eat what fits my calories and is cheap, usually that's raw fruits and veggies mixed with with proteins and cheese - not really a carb eater, personally.
Sometimes is canned for frozen fruits and veggies if they are on sale and I want to stock up, plus their usually pre-cut which is oh-so-convenient.
Sometimes I grill chicken breast, sometimes I use (heaven-forbid!) processed lunch meat.
Sometimes I go for the fat-free processed cheese and sometimes I need more fat to meet my macros so I use the full fat version... heck I've been known to add a random tablespoon of butter to things to up my fats for the day.
Basically, I keep a variety of raw/fresh, frozen, and canned options available to make my "lifestyle change" manageable - and tasty!
PS.. If I have 200 calories left over and I want a treat, there is no way in hell I'm reaching for a bowl of mixed berries and organic yogurt over a blueberry poptart. Eat what makes you happy!!
I still cannot believe people like poptarts, my kids won't even eat them
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Shakeology is the exact opposite of eating "clean".
Not true, Im on Vegan Tropical Strawberry Flavor shakeology and it is working for me. I have looked at the ingredients and find nothing wrong with it. Thanks for your concern though. I have been eating clean and doing really good at staying away from the fast food, frozen meals, bakery type items, white bread, anything white, and so on..and so on.
Whether it works for you/you like it is besides the point-it's something that was created in a lab. There's several definitions of clean eating floating around (just do a google search), and shakeology/meal replacement shakes do not fit under any of these.0 -
Do what works for you0
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Do what works for you
Exactly this. This is the answer to at least 90% of the questions posted here.0 -
As with what other posts say, it is all about caloric reduction. Some people can lose while eating fast food and junk food, while others do it eating food that is more nutrient dense. It depends what works with your lifestyle. I switched to a mostly clean diet about 5 months ago. I have lost 26 pounds in those 5 months, but I lost because I lowered my calories and started working out like crazy. I switched to the cleaner lifestyle because it made me feel better. I had less stomach issues with the whole, natural foods. It does get boring though.
Also research it first to see if it will work for you. I have been able to stick to it (for the most part) while some of my friends were not able to continue. It is not a hard thing to do, you just eat food as close to nature as possible. The hard part of it is you have to prepare. You can't wait to the last minute to plan your food out. I work 12 hour shifts and it sometimes takes me an hour and a half to prepare food for the next couple of days.0 -
From what I've seen "clean eating" means "feeling smug about whatever I'm eating being better than that which other's eat".Whether it works for you/you like it is besides the point-it's something that was created in a lab. There's several definitions of clean eating floating around (just do a google search), and shakeology/meal replacement shakes do not fit under any of these.
Seems that can fit the definition fine!
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