Clean Eating

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

Why is it every time someone talks about clean eating, the only options seem to be you are either eating clean or you're eating everything from a box? There are plenty of people who eat lots of whole foods but also include convenience foods. It's not an either/or situation.

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

That's actually because the macros are totally different.

Make the majority of your diet from whole unprocessed sources (whatever your definition of 'clean' is) and have some treats from time to time that fit into cal/macro goals. No need to cut out entire food groups UNLESS you can't control the portions you eat them in or you are legitimately allergic/intolerant to them.

Cuts out processed foods, but still has a protein shake. Cuts out all sugar but still eats fruit. Cuts out all gluten for no particular reason except Dr Oz said so. Cuts out dairy because other animals don't drink other animals milk. Stuff like this is ridiculous and in most cases pointless.

why must there be a clean eating thread every day

You always need to eat a deficit to loose weight. Not denying that by any means at all, which was not the point of my comment. I'm just saying that eating clean and healthy is good. Which it is. I could loose weight eating candy at a calorie deficit all day but I would be super super unhealthy. What's the point of loosing weight if you're unhealthy doing it? I just don't get it.

I'm not a "hater," I just like to work with facts.

In my teens and 20s (and even into my 30s) I couldn't care less about health, I only wanted to be skinny. Hence my diet of pickles, lettuce, black coffee, and cigarettes. And I wasn't special -- ALL the girls I knew did it.

Losing weight is calories in vs calories out; this is a science. But, that doesn't mean that you HAVE to count every single calorie that passes your lips. I've tried that before. I last 2 weeks, max, and then I just don't have the energy or the headspace to continue with it. With 'clean eating', some days I might not be at a deficit at all. Other days I may have a large or moderate deficit. I personally find that, as someone below mentioned, it's just easier to keep energy intake down that way.

Some people don't track calories, but if you don't then you don't know if you're in the required calorie deficit to lose weight.

Lots of people against clean eating and who take the 'everything in moderation' approach often cite the professor and his twinkie diet as evidence you can lose weight and eat junk food. And it's true. But weight loss is about so much more. In order to keep it up for the long haul, you need to be satisfied and nourished, and with lots of foods in your diet that contain a lot of calories and not a lot of nutrients, I believe it's much harder to keep up long-term.

It's the term "clean eating" that people balk at because it is often thrown around like it's the magic solution to getting rid of fat. My mother told us why we need to eat more meat, vegetables, and fruits and less chips, cookies, and cakes, but she never said we were eating clean. The term "clean eating" is newer, thus it will someday be replaced with an even newer term.

So, I don't think clean eating is a fad, and I think the more you include nutrient dense, whole foods in your diet, the better your results will be, especially long term

As for me, I love whole foods and nutrient dense foods, but sometimes I like something processed. You can have all the nutrient dense, whole foods in your diet you want but it does not necessarily mean better or long term results. The results are dependent upon individual motivation, will power, the need to succeed at weight loss and maintenance, and this can be done whether you eat ALL whole foods of ALL processed foods.

The way I see it, different strokes for different folks, and which way is better is up to the individual.

why must there be a clean eating thread every day

Because it's the only way to eat, and people need to hear about it non stop!


Still waiting for clean eating to be defined!

Definition of clean eating: washing your food prior to consumption. :bigsmile:

Works for me, since it's something you can do easily with whole fruits and veggies but you can only hope the food manufacturers did while the stuff was express laned down the factory conveyor belt. Never mind those sickos who deliberately put insects and insect excretions in our food. Disgusting people. I'm so grossed out since I discovered my multivitamin has carmine in it.

why must there be a clean eating thread every day

Because it's the only way to eat, and people need to hear about it non stop!


Still waiting for clean eating to be defined!

Definition of clean eating: washing your food prior to consumption. :bigsmile:

Works for me, since it's something you can do easily with whole fruits and veggies but you can only hope the food manufacturers did while the stuff was express laned down the factory conveyor belt. Never mind those sickos who deliberately put insects and insect excretions in our food. Disgusting people. I'm so grossed out since I discovered my multivitamin has carmine in it.

If insect excretions are what makes Reece Peanut Butter cups so damn delicious they can continue.

As for the above definition of clean eating....I guess I don't always eat clean, sometime i don't wash my fruits and veggies, pull them from the bag or garden and eat. I may even wipe the dirt off my garden veggies, but not always. :bigsmile:

As for the above definition of clean eating....I guess I don't always eat clean, sometime i don't wash my fruits and veggies, pull them from the bag or garden and eat. I may even wipe the dirt off my garden veggies, but not always. :bigsmile:

I picked some basil and parsley last night and used it for dinner. Totally didn't wash it.

I approve of your dirty eating!

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.

QTA:
If anyone *does* accept my challenge to eat slightly more than THREE POUNDS of brocolli, please post video of the event and document your experience during the 24 hours after.



I ate "clean" (aka strict paleo) for the entire calendar year 2012, felt great, and made good progress on my goals. I gained 20 pounds...intentionally, by eating more than I burned, as I was on a slow bulk. (I ate very "unclean" in 2013, felt great, and made good progress on my goals. I lost ~20 pounds...again, intentionally, by eating less than I burned.)

I almost want to do this just to see what will happen.

No you don't.

Works for me, since it's something you can do easily with whole fruits and veggies but you can only hope the food manufacturers did while the stuff was express laned down the factory conveyor belt. Never mind those sickos who deliberately put insects and insect excretions in our food. Disgusting people. I'm so grossed out since I discovered my multivitamin has carmine in it.

What's wrong with carmine?

(I'm sure I'll get no answer, but I like to torture myself)

Carmine (/ˈkɑrmɪn/ or /ˈkɑrmaɪn/), also called crimson lake, cochineal, natural red 4,[1] C.I. 75470,[1] or E120, is a pigment of a bright-red color obtained from the aluminium salt of carminic acid, which is produced by some scale insects, such as the cochineal scale and the Polish cochineal, and is used as a general term for a particularly deep-red color of the same name. Carmine is used in the manufacture of artificial flowers, paints, crimson ink, rouge, and other cosmetics, and is routinely added to food products such as yogurt and certain brands of juice, the most notable ones being those of the ruby-red variety.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmine

So? Are you allergic?

No, I just haven't thought eating bugs was cool since preschool.

But if I had to claim a religion to justify not doing so, I'd convert to something that doesn't allow such disgusting food practices. Surely one exists. If it doesn't, I might make one up.

Bugs are natural...wouldn't that be considered clean?

Not in my definition. Not on my planet. Foul. Foul disgusting, gross!

Edit: But since I did just switch to vegan for ethical reasons, I'm going to claim poor bugs! I will not eat you!

Gross.

While eating "clean" calories might be the same weight effect as eating the same number of calories in frozen waffles-- paying attention to what you eat and eating better foods will make you feel better.

There is more nutrition in a cup of broccoli than the same number of calories from Popsicle. If you feel better, you are likely to sleep better, move more, and pay attention to other aspects of your life.

There are people who can lose weight eating only DESSERTS.... but for many pf us, I find that when I pay attention to what goes in, I focus on other things too. Try it-- everyone has what works for them.

Just be sure that you don't UP your number of calories without adding movement. Even without a gym, walking would help.
Good luck with it!:happy: :happy: