Clean Eating

"Clean" eating is fine but you won't lose weight from it. You only lose weight by eating fewer calories than you burn. That's the ONLY way. Calories in < calories out = weight loss. That's it.

^That.

Eat "clean" if you enjoy it. But if weight loss is your goal, you still have to eat at a calorie deficit.

"Clean" eating is fine but you won't lose weight from it. You only lose weight by eating fewer calories than you burn. That's the ONLY way. Calories in < calories out = weight loss. That's it.

^That.

Eat "clean" if you enjoy it. But if weight loss is your goal, you still have to eat at a calorie deficit.

+1

There have been studies coming out recently on how the changing construction of food/medicine is adding to the obesity epidemic. Antibiotics and fattening chemicals in our meats, chemicals in our processed foods, etc. So, in my mind yes, calories in vs. calories out is important but eating 500 calories of broccoli is better than 500 calories of frozen (processed and chock full of chemicals) waffles.

All these fads crop up because of calories in vs. calories out doesn't work for everyone. If you want to try something new to see if works, go for it. Don't let the haters hate.

My 2Cents: When you eat healthy food and get the processed and high carb/sugar stuff out of your system food starts to taste different and you crave healthy things. There are foods that will taste good which you normally wouldnt enjoy eating and you will crave these healthy items once you have some time put into eating this way. I think you can eat more when you eat a lot of veggies and fruit. In the end you just want to try different options until you land on something that you can see integrating into your lifestyle for the long run. It is about changing habits and building new ways to look at food and experience it. Dont be afraid to try new things, I have found I like so many things that I never would have thought to eat just by giving things a shot. It is a numbers game for sure when you count the calories you can do it eating anything you want but I see it as being healthy and feeling good which means balance and good for you food. I know myself and if I eat carbs and sweets it just makes me want more. Make it fun and you will feel good once you have a plan and are actually doing something and trying... I wish you all the best and You can reach your goals.... dont give up

I am sick of "dieting". I've done low calorie and low carb diets, and while they helped me lose weight, I haven't been able to stick to them long term. I want to change how I eat to feel better and hopefully lose weight , and cut out the processed yucky foods, and eat clean. I've been doing a lot of research on the foods we can eat, and about meal prepping. At this time I don't belong to a gym, and don't have cardio equipment at home. I am wanting to join a gym this summer, but first I want to get started eating clean, and going on walks with my baby for some light exercise.

My question is will I start to see any weight loss results from eating clean, and watching caloric intake, even if I haven't begun working out regularly? I notice most of the people I see talking about eating clean are also very active in the gym. This is a goal for me, but not yet.

If the way you eat ends up leading to you eating in a deficit, you will lose weight, so it might work. Depending on what you define as "clean" (which is widely varying and usually not particularly consistent or logical), it very well might, but also likely includes plenty of high calorie foods. For example, I buy my meat from a small local farm for my own reasons, and that means I probably eat a lot more calories from the cuts of meat I get than someone who mostly buys boneless chicken breast or the leanest ground beef or ground turkey.

I personally find the term "clean eating" kind of vague and silly and am not sure why it's now some kind of special thing--just try to eat food you think is healthy if that's your inclination, but I think focusing on fresh whole foods and cooking is a great thing to do. Some other things that go by the name "clean eating" not so much, the idea that frozen veggies or my homemade apple pie are unclean, also not so much.

I do wonder why you have to actively stop eating certain foods you find yucky. I just don't eat foods I think are yucky (some of which happen to be processed), because I have no inclination to. Who needs to cut foods they dislike out of their diet?

Also--and this is a pet peeve of mine--what's the need for special research on foods you "can" eat or meal prepping? Isn't the deal to just focus on cooking whole foods you consider healthy? I think that bit of it is a good thing, if too restrictive for me--I like grabbing a yogurt for protein or being able to eat a little cheese--but then I always get confused when people talk about special lists of permitted foods and special "clean" recipes, as if your basic cookbook somehow relied on Cheetos.

Ah, well. In all sincerity, good luck--I do think focusing on and discovering the joys of cooking whole foods is a good thing if you aren't already and may appeal to many, even if I'm not a fan of the whole "clean eating" label or eliminating foods that are fine and delicious in moderation.

Clean eating is what I consider fresh (non-processed) foods. You certainly get a bigger nutrition, without chemicals, bang for your calorie.

As many have pointed out...weight loss is calories in vs. calories expended.

Good luck!

I try to have a 'clean' diet. ie i make all my own food or buy basic stuff like vegetables in packet if i really have to. If a food has an ingredient list with more than about 4-5 things i tend to avoid.

I keep saying it but Green Vegetables are your friend! Low calorie and filling. Fibre helps in lots of ways for weight loss.
Beans / legumes for carbs are great. Lentils are my current fav.
i personally go full fat mayo with tuna as its cleaner but i use less
unsweetend almond milk is a great substitute. check out the difference in sugar with skimmed milk!

I believe that if you eat nutritious food it is easier to keep energy intake down, and walking is brilliant exercise. I'm trying to add exercise into my day, and for me that means walking a bit faster to the train, a walk at lunch, and trying to walk the dogs each day. I don't think you need to go to a gym, and if you are exercising with your baby you are spending time together and setting an example that moving doesn't have to be formal.

I happen to belong to a rowing club so I use the equipment, but on the other five days I'm trying to work exercise in where I can.

I roughly follow the CSIRO plan which lines up with dietary guidelines like plenty of vegetables, fruit, grains, dairy, fats, and water. I have logged honestly for about 100 days now and I'm feeling in control of my weight now. I have a long way to go, so losing 3 kg each month is ok for me.

I use a heart rate monitor and sometimes apps like Runtastic to log my energy burned. I also do measure out food because I think it is difficult to judge amounts.

I have had some days that blew out, but I'm learning to accept the odd "bad" day and get on track for the next meal.

I hope this helps

EDIT: I also eat meat, fish and eggs.

There have been studies coming out recently on how the changing construction of food/medicine is adding to the obesity epidemic. Antibiotics and fattening chemicals in our meats, chemicals in our processed foods, etc. So, in my mind yes, calories in vs. calories out is important but eating 500 calories of broccoli is better than 500 calories of frozen (processed and chock full of chemicals) waffles.

All these fads crop up because of calories in vs. calories out doesn't work for everyone. If you want to try something new to see if works, go for it. Don't let the haters hate.

I dare anyone to eat 500 calories of broccoli in one meal.

I'd also like someone to explain how eating 500 calories of broccoli in one meal is in any way healthy.

And CICO works for everyone...the problem is that many simply don't understand it.

I think everyone has hit the clean points dead on. I try to eat cleaner foods as it allows me to eat a meal at 400 calories rather than a side equaling that amount. But I am hardly a "Clean eater" or restricting myself to clean foods.
The key is weigh everything and record everything notonly does this help eat at a deficit it helps make decisions moving forward. I love Pizza, but at 500 calories a slice I know i can be far more satisfied with salmon or chicken without sacrificing my goals.

Think 1 cup potato flakes with preservatives with 2 TBS processed margarine and 1 cup milk for over 500 calories vs chicken thigh, 2 cups steamed broccoli, grilled ear of corn and 2 cups fresh strawberries for under 500 calories. The second option has less calories, more nutrients and fills me up more. I feel better physically eating les preservatives and random chemicals... That is why I try to eat clean more

Exactly!

Think 1 cup potato flakes with preservatives with 2 TBS processed margarine and 1 cup milk for over 500 calories vs chicken thigh, 2 cups steamed broccoli, grilled ear of corn and 2 cups fresh strawberries for under 500 calories. The second option has less calories, more nutrients and fills me up more. I feel better physically eating les preservatives and random chemicals... That is why I try to eat clean more

Exactly!

So by this example a produce section potato is not clean? Also, what are "random" chemicals?

That's what I was wondering. I personally don't get why anyone would use potato flakes just for straight up taste reasons, but my guess is that equivalent amounts of mashed potatoes made with butter and milk from grass fed cows would have similar calories. Margarine is not something I eat, but it's not higher cal than natural butter.

Also you hardly need to add bunches of butter OR margarine or milk, especially not whole, to have good mashed potatoes if you are eating it as an accompaniment to meat with juices. I usually add a bit of milk and more often have roasted potatoes, but you can have potatoes with your chicken and broccoli and stay under 500 if you don't eat huge amounts. Also, you can switch the chicken with other cuts of meat or larger cuts and bust through 500 with it being no more or less clean.

Also eating mostly whole, nutrient dense foods with some other stuff is moderation, not eating clean. Some of the comments make me think that some assume "clean" means just not eating "junk food" all day, which it logically cannot.

I hate the term 'clean eating', but it is true that many people.find it easier to stick to a calorie deficit by eating more whole, unprocessed foods. They simply fill you up more.

I never recommend going overboard with restrictions, but I personally do much better with losing weight and staying happy about it when I make a conscious effort to eat less processed and packaged foods. We still eat 'crap' foods at my house, but it's just a smaller percent of our overall diet now.

While it might be harder to get fat on certain diets than others, there are some people who will just find a way. Don't assume you won't be one of them. Count calories, at least at first. The other day, a google search turned up a raw food MFPer who said she gained weight. I was sad. Knowing me, I'd probably gain weight on anything if I didn't watch myself like a hawk. I could probably go fruitarian and only eat what falls to the ground in front of me and still gain weight. If there's a will, there's a weight.