Clean Eating

Sorry,I don't agree with your last sentence.If you are eating foods filled with man made chemicals,added sugars,sodium etc.. you are not going to be very healthy for very long.

Could you back this viewpoint up with any type of proof or evidence? And is this the kind of questioning you find "unsupportive"?

I personally think this kind of claim should NOT be supported on MFP because it is not true, for a certain part of the population it can be potentially dangerous (precursor to Orthorexia Nervosa) and it can needlessly sabotage diet adherence.

One thing I have learned is this place isn't for support at all. It's a good source of information and even some entertainment. But support,no. I don't know why some people here act like there is no difference between eating processed garbage and whole foods. Sure lower calories of either will make you lose weight,but how healthy are you going to be in the end?Everyone should strive to eat for better health,not be ridiculed for trying.

No one is being ridiculed for trying to "eat for better health".

I can't speak for others but what does concern me is when someone gives the following advice...

"Eat clean...that is the way to go...leave off processed junk/garbage."

Then there are statements such as...

"I eat clean and lose 1/2 lbs a day."

Or...

"I lost 30lbs eating clean."

These kind of statements to someone just starting out could possibly set someone up for failure...

To be fair...

I do agree that people should strive to include a "cleaner way of eating" in to their life. Whatever their definition of "clean eating" is...after all...it is a personal journey.

There are times that I feel as if the "everything in moderation" group goes to the extreme...even though that it the way I eat. I haven't eliminated any one food group but within each group...I have CHOSEN not to eat some food items. Items that I seem not to be able to "moderate"...such as Peanut Butter M&Ms. I haven't had one in 9 months! I can't eat just one...well...I could eat just one bag...party size...

No one way fits EVERYBODY...at every moment of the day. Some days I might fall in to the "clean eater" club...other days the "moderation" group...then there are my "down and dirty" days.

As far as the "support" on MFP...really???

Did you expect that thousands of people could come together and everyone "tiptoe through the tulips"...holding hands and singing "We Are The World"??? We each have our different needs out of this place...some for support...knowledge...snarkiness...etc...etc...

We have to pick and choose how we get those needs met. You can't however...control the masses. Nor can you control the "I'm right and you're wrong" mentality either.

Take what you want from a site such as this...and leave the rest behind...

Hi everyone!
I just heard about this amazing site and am starting my weight loss journey tomorrow. I have just thrown away all of my terrible packaged preservative filled foods, and have done research on clean eating. I was wondering if anyone has any tips or suggestions for me? Thank you!
Can't wait for the healthy new me!

I eat clean and always have. Unfortunately, on the main forums clean eating ends up in a nasty debate full of haters. If you truly are interested in learning more about clean eating and getting tips, join one of the MFP groups dedicated to clean eating. There you will find supportive, helpful folks. Good luck on your journey.

Sorry if there are members here who are offended by the term "clean eating". I obviously did not coin this term. Nor do I think anyone eats "dirty".

Some are offended because they are hangry or feeling guilty knowing they should make healthier food choices but aren't. Don't let it get to you. There is nothing wrong with making the best food choices for your body. Ignore the haters :flowerforyou:

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My 2 cents on the "negativity" in this thread.

What people are telling you here is that (1) a lot of people fail on restriction diets, and (2) you don't HAVE TO restrict foods in order to lose weight. Imagine a world where you can eat ice cream AND lose weight. Yep, that's right here.

Also, if someone is giving you advice, look at their ticker if it's visible. Have they successfully lost weight? Yes? Then they might have some experience in what it takes to lose weight so, you know, they know a thing or two. Of course not everyone will agree because there are 1000 different "right ways" to lose weight, but all people are saying is don't buy into the hype that there's only one "right way."

Who said there is only 1 right way?? I didn't see that anywhere.. at least not by those who eat the way the OP is wanting too.

If someone has looked into diets and decide this was the way they want to eat (which by the way I reject calling clean eating a diet, much less a restrictive diet) , then asks for support from others who eat that way. it's not helpful to try to talk them out of it and into your way of eating. If it's not right for them, the only way to know that is trial and error. Just like the majority of people have to do. If I had listened to everyone putting my choice to eat this way down.. I'd have never lost my weight. That's truth, since every time I "derail" i put it back on. Because ya know.. moderation *also* does not work for everyone (shocking right?)

There are plenty of instances where "clean eating" is preached as One-Wayism. OP said she researched "clean eating" so she has been exposed to more than just this thread.

I did say there were 1000 "right ways." Of course moderation does not work for everyone. The point is that restriction diets are pushed more often than moderation, and while some people do just fine with restriction diets, many others either fail on them completely or do something like 80/20 - which is the same thing as moderation.

Does she really want to eat this way, or does she feel she HAS to eat this way in order to lose weight? You're assuming she wants to. If she does, then she will regardless of what anyone says, and if it works out for her then wonderful. But what if she does not know about the magical world where you can eat ice cream and lose weight? I didn't know that existed until I started reading the boards here and saw people with 30, 50, 100+ pound losses on their tickers talking about ice cream and cookies.

Lost 75 eating clean.(put 10 back on though, due to crappy food choices) Tickers mean very little, food choices and sticking to your plans and goals mean everything. And yes I'm assuming she wants to because shes said "I've researched different diets and decided this is the way I want to go". oh and some of us "have to eat this way in order to lose weight" because moderation does not happen. period. It's great that it works for you. You're assuming it will work for everyone. Clean eating is *not* a restriction diet. Not in the sense that a restriction diet is usually applied. I don't feel deprived at all. I don't feel restricted at all. I feel great. the only way to know if it's for you, is to try it. I have been way off track and felt like crapola and been preforming like crapola. 3 days back on track and I feel amazing again. And I cant' wait to get to the gym. It is not pushed any more or less then those preaching moderation.

^^^^^THIS!

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It is related to the absurd claim by many "clean eaters" that eating clean is more significant than calories or essential to losing weight or that Americans are fat because we all eat hidden sugar in Lunchables or the like. Nonsense. People are fat because they eat more than they burn. They should know what they are eating and if they don't that's on them, but eating clean is not some magic pill that prevents obesity. Yet the way a lot of clean eaters talk you'd think that Lean Cuisines (which I don't like, but work for some) are enormously fattening, while a homemade roasted chicken with potatoes can't make you fat.

Well, except for all the clean eaters who hate "white foods" and would blame the potatoes despite the fact that they are much more fattening when cooked in chicken fat from the supposedly clean (maybe? depends who you ask) chicken. Or perhaps the answer is to eschew the whole chicken and eat the much more processed skinless, boneless breasts! (Certainly not my answer, for the record, some things are worth additional calories.)

(Someone upthread said that clean eaters use herbs and spices--nice to know that's been co-opted and is no longer simply normal cooking--unlike processed foods that use salt and fat. I'm pretty sure gourmet cooking involves plenty of salt and butter in the cooking process too, but somehow that's now just icky processed stuff.)

Wow - those clean eaters sure sound like an uptight, overly-judgmental group of folks. They probably just need to learn to relax, and not take everything so personally...

pot meet kettle

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Recent pages of this thread are a perfect example of why clean eating is such a hot button topic here.

People who don't believe in clean eating are apparently:

"haters"
"feeling guilty knowing they should make better food choices"
"half of what we eat is disgusting"
"not going to be healthy for very long"

And then on the flip side you have the anti-clean eating fear mongering:

I personally think this kind of claim should NOT be supported on MFP because it is not true, for a certain part of the population it can be potentially dangerous (precursor to Orthorexia Nervosa) and it can needlessly sabotage diet adherence.

Is offering another viewpoint "fear mongering" now?

I'd say telling people they "wont be healthy for long (from eating added sugars and sodium)" (which is what I was responding too) is far more "fear mongering" (and outright false) than me listing a couple (real) potential pitfalls of clean eating (and clearly saying "potentially")

EDIT: Add "a-holes" to the list of things clean eaters call people who don't agree with them

Good luck. It is a great program. If you are doing CLEAN EATING and calorie counting that is a lot of change at once. If you decide to buy some pre-packaged food - be kind to yourself.

I read another MFP who said, "IF YOU BITE IT, WRITE IT". That is great advise. Be diligent about logging everything and get a really good idea of what goes into your mouth.

But I also do not assume that someone wishing to eat healthier foods will lead to the proposed condition of Orthorexia Nervosa.

IMO someone inclined to suffer from ON is inclined to suffer from some other compulsive disorder if not ON.

Clean eating doesn't cause mental health issue - it may turn into a crutch for people with pre-excising mental health issue, but it is not the cause.

I don't assume clean eating will lead to ON either.

But considering that ON specifically revolves around an extreme or excessive preoccupation with avoiding foods perceived to be unhealthy, I think it is quite apropos to mention in a thread about clean eating. Especially considering some of the extreme views I have been responding too (not your views btw but others)

IMO, a rigid focus on calorie counting can also lead to an eating disorder but you don't see many here bringing that up only that clean eating will lead to ON. I would hazard a guess that there are a high number of members on MFP and similar sites abusing the calorie tracking tool to support an ED.

Yes it can and I am sure you are right. Not sure what that has to do with the current conversation, or how it conflicts anything I have said.

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Recent pages of this thread are a perfect example of why clean eating is such a hot button topic here.

People who don't believe in clean eating are apparently:

"haters"
"feeling guilty knowing they should make better food choices"
"half of what we eat is disgusting"
"not going to be healthy for very long"

And then on the flip side you have the anti-clean eating fear mongering:

I personally think this kind of claim should NOT be supported on MFP because it is not true, for a certain part of the population it can be potentially dangerous (precursor to Orthorexia Nervosa) and it can needlessly sabotage diet adherence.

Is offering another viewpoint "fear mongering" now?

I'd say telling people they "wont be healthy for long (from eating added sugars and sodium)" (which is what I was responding too) is far more "fear mongering" than me listing a couple potential pitfalls of clean eating (and clearly saying "potentially")

I agree, which is why I do not tell people they will not be healthy for long, if they eat junk food. But I also do not assume that someone wishing to eat healthier foods will lead to the proposed condition of Orthorexia Nervosa.

IMO someone inclined to suffer from ON is inclined to suffer from some other compulsive disorder if not ON.

Clean eating doesn't cause mental health issue - it may turn into a crutch for people with pre-excising mental health issue, but it is not the cause.

IMO, a rigid focus on calorie counting can also lead to an eating disorder but you don't see many here bringing that up only that clean eating will lead to ON. I would hazard a guess that there are a high number of members on MFP and similar sites abusing the calorie tracking tool to support an ED.

I would agree with you. I have recently seen threads about taking food scales to a restaurant.

Mentally if you are that way inclined, then that's how you are.

Food scales in the restaurant?

At one point you should be getting pretty close to eyeballing it.

I can easily grab 27-29 grams of Kraft Finely Shredded Cheese straight from the bag.