Article: Clean Eating vs IIFYM (If it Fits your Macros)

ryry_
ryry_ Posts: 4,966 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Probably the most unbiased article on the matter. I thought it was excellent. Discuss.

http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/clean-eating-vs-iifym/

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Replies

  • InForBacon
    InForBacon Posts: 1,508 Member
    tl;dr
  • _John_
    _John_ Posts: 8,646 Member
    Pretty much my experience as well. Personally I can control my calories and my diet (though my macros are a little outta whack) by "clean eating". I'm full and happy. However, I SUCK at incorporating any significant amount of junk food into this approach.

    IIFYM is nice in that it's flexible, but tracking stuff all the time is a PITA. It can be a burden when you're eating out a lot or are unfamiliar with the exact ingredients that went into something. Sometimes I hate being a slave to MFP in my diet.
  • IronCakes
    IronCakes Posts: 317 Member
    Some days I do IIFYM and other days I just eat clean. It all depends on what I want to eat.
  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
    tl;dr

    But I've come to the conclusion that it's virtually the same thing, since no one eats clean 100% of the time.

    ETA: Okay, I scanned the article, and I'm doubly satisfied that it says pretty much what I already wrote. :drinker:
  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
    When I prepare my own meals I use ingredients that make me look like a clean eating nazi. I'm really not, though. I do this so that I can afford to comfortably do whatever, and get whatever, when I eat out. I'm a firm believer in moderation. And if I prepare my own meals using a general "clean eating" philosophy as often as possible, then I can get away with things like twinkies or Doritos the rest of the time.
  • TheSlorax
    TheSlorax Posts: 2,401 Member
    I eat clean so I don't have to count calories. Sure it takes more time to prepare everything from scratch, but not having to log makes up for the difference IMO.
  • missADS1981
    missADS1981 Posts: 364 Member
    For me I prefer making my own food as clean as i can, this is something i can control. if i am eating out i know that i have no control over how "clean" the food is (is it loaded with salt, spices, oils, etc) so i do my best to try to make sure it fits my macros. As long as i am doing that i feel i am in a better positoin than simply calorie counting.

    i always aim for 45% protein
    30%carbs
    25% fat
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    "To someone else, a white potato is the devil and an army of sweet potatoes must descend from the heavens and murder it." This part made me almost choke.
  • KeViN_v2pt0
    KeViN_v2pt0 Posts: 375 Member
    "To someone else, a white potato is the devil and an army of sweet potatoes must descend from the heavens and murder it." This part made me almost choke.

    Why are they still called sweet potatoes if:

    A) They arent sweet when you bite into them &

    B) They commit all that murder

    Doesnt sound very sweet to me
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    bumping to read later.
  • dirty_dirty_eater
    dirty_dirty_eater Posts: 574 Member
    All posts related to "clean eating" are meaningless unless accompanied by the member's definition of "clean eating."

    If there is a generally accepted definition of clean eating that I'm not aware of, then I'll retract that statement.
  • ryry_
    ryry_ Posts: 4,966 Member
    All posts related to "clean eating" are meaningless unless accompanied by the member's definition of "clean eating."

    If there is a generally accepted definition of clean eating that I'm not aware of, then I'll retract that statement.

    Did you read it?
  • laele75
    laele75 Posts: 283 Member
    Good article. Nice to see sanity interjected into the weight loss world every once and awhile.
  • Phoenix_Warrior
    Phoenix_Warrior Posts: 1,633 Member
    Love it.

    Some days, I just eat foods that make me happy and fulfill my daily macronutrients. The end
  • kyleekay10
    kyleekay10 Posts: 1,812 Member
    I eat clean so I don't have to count calories. Sure it takes more time to prepare everything from scratch, but not having to log makes up for the difference IMO.

    Huh?

    Why does eating certain foods magically make calories irrelevant?
  • Phoenix_Warrior
    Phoenix_Warrior Posts: 1,633 Member
    I eat clean so I don't have to count calories. Sure it takes more time to prepare everything from scratch, but not having to log makes up for the difference IMO.

    Huh?

    Why does eating certain foods magically make calories irrelevant?

    ha. I was debating whether to touch this.
  • twixlepennie
    twixlepennie Posts: 1,074 Member
    When I prepare my own meals I use ingredients that make me look like a clean eating nazi. I'm really not, though. I do this so that I can afford to comfortably do whatever, and get whatever, when I eat out. I'm a firm believer in moderation. And if I prepare my own meals using a general "clean eating" philosophy as often as possible, then I can get away with things like twinkies or Doritos the rest of the time.

    This is me exactly-during the week I eat a pretty 'clean'/whole foods, plant based diet. Friday-Sunday its all about fast food, donuts and steak smothered in all kinds of yumminess :laugh: Eating this way has allowed me to maintain my goal weight pretty effortlessly, without having to be strict with counting calories (I don't count at all during the weekend).
  • TheSlorax
    TheSlorax Posts: 2,401 Member
    I eat clean so I don't have to count calories. Sure it takes more time to prepare everything from scratch, but not having to log makes up for the difference IMO.

    Huh?

    Why does eating certain foods magically make calories irrelevant?

    ha. I was debating whether to touch this.


    because clean eating is MAGIC!
  • laele75
    laele75 Posts: 283 Member
    I eat clean so I don't have to count calories. Sure it takes more time to prepare everything from scratch, but not having to log makes up for the difference IMO.

    Huh?

    Why does eating certain foods magically make calories irrelevant?

    ha. I was debating whether to touch this.


    because clean eating is MAGIC!

    Haha. I knew I spotted a troll. <3
  • RivenV
    RivenV Posts: 1,667 Member
    Interesting read!
  • dirty_dirty_eater
    dirty_dirty_eater Posts: 574 Member
    All posts related to "clean eating" are meaningless unless accompanied by the member's definition of "clean eating."

    If there is a generally accepted definition of clean eating that I'm not aware of, then I'll retract that statement.

    Did you read it?

    Seems to be saying pretty much what I'm saying. The way most people think of "clean eating" is meaningless.
  • Phoenix_Warrior
    Phoenix_Warrior Posts: 1,633 Member
    I eat clean so I don't have to count calories. Sure it takes more time to prepare everything from scratch, but not having to log makes up for the difference IMO.

    Huh?

    Why does eating certain foods magically make calories irrelevant?

    ha. I was debating whether to touch this.


    because clean eating is MAGIC!

    Haha. I knew I spotted a troll. <3

    If it is indeed magic, then are Lucky Charms clean? Clearly, they are magically delicious.
  • clambert1273
    clambert1273 Posts: 840 Member
    When I prepare my own meals I use ingredients that make me look like a clean eating nazi. I'm really not, though. I do this so that I can afford to comfortably do whatever, and get whatever, when I eat out. I'm a firm believer in moderation. And if I prepare my own meals using a general "clean eating" philosophy as often as possible, then I can get away with things like twinkies or Doritos the rest of the time.

    twinkies.... :love:
  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
    I eat clean so I don't have to count calories. Sure it takes more time to prepare everything from scratch, but not having to log makes up for the difference IMO.

    Huh?

    Why does eating certain foods magically make calories irrelevant?

    ha. I was debating whether to touch this.

    Me too. And how taking time to prepare everything from scratch is okay, but taking time to log foods isn't.
  • Confuzzled4ever
    Confuzzled4ever Posts: 2,860 Member
    I eat clean and I eat clean foods that fit my macros.

    Maybe i'm really a hybrid eater..

    :drinker:
  • kyleekay10
    kyleekay10 Posts: 1,812 Member
    I eat clean so I don't have to count calories. Sure it takes more time to prepare everything from scratch, but not having to log makes up for the difference IMO.

    Huh?

    Why does eating certain foods magically make calories irrelevant?

    ha. I was debating whether to touch this.


    because clean eating is MAGIC!

    Haha. I knew I spotted a troll. <3

    If it is indeed magic, then are Lucky Charms clean? Clearly, they are magically delicious.

    Now I want lucky charms. :angry:
  • laele75
    laele75 Posts: 283 Member
    When I prepare my own meals I use ingredients that make me look like a clean eating nazi. I'm really not, though. I do this so that I can afford to comfortably do whatever, and get whatever, when I eat out. I'm a firm believer in moderation. And if I prepare my own meals using a general "clean eating" philosophy as often as possible, then I can get away with things like twinkies or Doritos the rest of the time.

    This is me. I basically have to make everything from scratch for my low sodium diet for my high blood pressure. I don't do this because I think clean eating is better. I do it because processed food has way more sodium than I'm allowed. So I cook clean, and then I have all those calories and sodium for dessert. ;)
  • TheSlorax
    TheSlorax Posts: 2,401 Member
    I eat clean so I don't have to count calories. Sure it takes more time to prepare everything from scratch, but not having to log makes up for the difference IMO.

    Huh?

    Why does eating certain foods magically make calories irrelevant?

    ha. I was debating whether to touch this.


    because clean eating is MAGIC!

    Haha. I knew I spotted a troll. <3

    wow. I just expressed my opinion about clean eating and now I'm a troll. it's pretty sad how unsupportive people are on this site.
  • twixlepennie
    twixlepennie Posts: 1,074 Member
    I eat clean so I don't have to count calories. Sure it takes more time to prepare everything from scratch, but not having to log makes up for the difference IMO.

    Huh?

    Why does eating certain foods magically make calories irrelevant?

    Maybe she's referring to whole foods? I know for me, when I eat whole foods I feel fuller on less calories-a bowl of oats made with water, with a banana and some almonds added in will keep me feeling full for hours, as opposed to the same amount of calories in Doritos, which I could eat the whole bag and still want more lol. I made a stirfry yesterday with brown rice, mushrooms and veggies that filled a dinner plate-kept me full for hours and it was a little over 200 calories.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I didn't read it all, but I disagree with this early statement
    What I mean is, the main reason a person chooses to use this stricter “clean” style of eating is because they think that, with all else being equal, there is something superior about it in terms of its effects on body composition (fat loss, muscle growth, preventing fat gain, preventing muscle loss, etc.).

    I would guess that far more people who eat clean do it for health, rather than body composition. Some, no doubt, see it as a way to simply eat more volume while losing fat, but I would guess that's just a nice perk for most and not the driving force.

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