Clean Eating

Hi guys. I'm new here and just need some encouragement. I'm clean eating and I'm trying really hard. The hardest part of this is that I have no idea if I'm doing this right. This is my second week and I don't feel any different. I don't drink diet soda anymore and that was a big step by itself. I love diet soda and all of its chemically goodness. I only drink water and coffee. Can't give up my coffee. I guess I'm just wondering when I'm going to start feeling a difference.
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Replies

  • TrailNurse
    TrailNurse Posts: 359 Member
    It may take months to start seeing and feeling a difference in your health and appearance. Two weeks in no where near enough time to see improvements. You might want to open your diary and let us see what you are eating since you are just starting out. Do you have any goals?
  • dekadai
    dekadai Posts: 47 Member
    Give it at least 2 months to see a difference. Your body needs time to adjust.
  • ewaters11
    ewaters11 Posts: 4
    Right now I'm 5'6 and 167lbs. To give you an idea of my body type, I'm pretty bottom heavy. Always have been. I was on weight watchers for about 6 months but then I kind of realized that it doesn't matter what you eat as long as you're eating within your given points and that doesn't seem healthy to me. I'd like to be at least 150.
  • itsbasschick
    itsbasschick Posts: 1,584 Member
    i ate clean for years - still do - and i didn't feel any different at all.
  • SonicDeathMonkey80
    SonicDeathMonkey80 Posts: 4,489 Member
    Calories are calories are calories. It's all in your head.
  • inertiastrength
    inertiastrength Posts: 2,343 Member
    Calories are calories are calories. It's all in your head.

    this
  • J72FIT
    J72FIT Posts: 6,002 Member
    Calories are calories are calories. It's all in your head.

    ^^^This... end thread.
  • ewaters11
    ewaters11 Posts: 4
    What does that mean, it's all in my head?
  • SonicDeathMonkey80
    SonicDeathMonkey80 Posts: 4,489 Member
    What does that mean, it's all in my head?

    You've decided clean eating (or shakes, pills, etc) will make you feel better, and believing that makes it "true."
  • h9dlb
    h9dlb Posts: 243 Member
    whats wrong with diet soda ? zero cals
  • SunofaBeach14
    SunofaBeach14 Posts: 4,899 Member
    Well, this looks new and interesting. What could possibly go wrong with this thread?
  • Derp_Diggler
    Derp_Diggler Posts: 1,456 Member
    Well, this looks new and interesting. What could possibly go wrong with this thread?

    Nothing. Nothing at all.

    Whatcouldpossiblygowrong-6561_zps91ef39c1.gif
  • ewaters11
    ewaters11 Posts: 4
    I'd appreciate any advice that you guys could give me. I'm looking for encouragement. Thank you
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    Since you are new here, I will give you some pointers.

    1) "clean eating" is a meaningless phrase and does not describe what you are actually eating

    2) MFP is just like Weight Watchers in that you eat within your calorie and macro limits (instead of points) and it doesn't matter what you eat, as long as it fits

    3) Every day there is a thread about "clean eating"

    4) MFP's system works as long as you weigh, measure, and log everything that you eat

    5) It doesn't matter what you drink as long as you count any calories it may contain (this includes diet soda. If you want it, drink it)

    6) Ultimate success is determined by learning to eat at a calorie deficit and doing it in a way that you can continue for the rest of your life.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    I'd appreciate any advice that you guys could give me. I'm looking for encouragement. Thank you

    What specific questions do you have?
  • 7elizamae
    7elizamae Posts: 758 Member
    Hi guys. I'm new here and just need some encouragement. I'm clean eating and I'm trying really hard. The hardest part of this is that I have no idea if I'm doing this right. This is my second week and I don't feel any different. I don't drink diet soda anymore and that was a big step by itself. I love diet soda and all of its chemically goodness. I only drink water and coffee. Can't give up my coffee. I guess I'm just wondering when I'm going to start feeling a difference.
    In terms of quick results, I have a suggestion. Try some new exercise. Maybe try some interval training (like Jillian Michaels). You will likely notice new strength and endurance within a couple of weeks. Combine that with your new healthier eating habits and I bet you'd be encouraged!
  • BrainyBurro
    BrainyBurro Posts: 6,129 Member
    What does that mean, it's all in my head?

    they just mean that feeling a difference in your body between eating clean and not eating clean is mostly just going to be in your head... the placebo effect, if you will.
  • Kaitou
    Kaitou Posts: 50 Member
    What does that mean, it's all in my head?

    Don't listen to them, they've drank the Kool-aid. "a calorie is a calorie is a calorie" is bull**** that's used to justify eating unhealthily, with the justification that "it's inside my calorie limit". Food is not all the same.
  • SonicDeathMonkey80
    SonicDeathMonkey80 Posts: 4,489 Member
    What does that mean, it's all in my head?

    Don't listen to them, they've drank the Kool-aid. "a calorie is a calorie is a calorie" is bull**** that's used to justify eating unhealthily, with the justification that "it's inside my calorie limit". Food is not all the same.

    Nutrients are different, yes, but calories are the same.

    And Kool-Aid is not "clean."
  • the_kat42
    the_kat42 Posts: 23
    I've always understood clean eating to mean avoiding pre-processed, packaged, additive laden foods - synonymous to the "one-ingredient" theory. It seems reasonable to me on a common-sense level that this can only be better for you. Or have I gotten something wrong here?
  • SonicDeathMonkey80
    SonicDeathMonkey80 Posts: 4,489 Member
    I've always understood clean eating to mean avoiding pre-processed, packaged, additive laden foods - synonymous to the "one-ingredient" theory. It seems reasonable to me on a common-sense level that this can only be better for you. Or have I gotten something wrong here?

    Unless you're going to grow your own garden/farm and eat exclusively what you raise under your sole control, clean eating is a myth. And even then, you're still consuming the chemicals used to treat your weeds/seeds, along with the "unclean" feed that your animals eat.

    But hey, whatever makes people feel better, right?
  • alisonmarie85
    alisonmarie85 Posts: 55 Member
    Oh boy... "I need encouragement" is clearly what a lot of people missed. I say keep on truckin'!!! You won't notice a difference within two weeks... but let me tell you... if you keep on eating clean/healthier, and then you go for the biggest juiciest burger... you will notice the difference!!! I am not eating "clean" but I'm trying to eat healthier... and when I go back and eat something REALLY bad for me, my body is not impressed and I pay for it big time. That's how I know it is working. I do agree though that maybe try out a new exercise, and just give it time, patience.
  • asdowe13
    asdowe13 Posts: 1,951 Member
    What does that mean, it's all in my head?

    Don't listen to them, they've drank the Kool-aid. "a calorie is a calorie is a calorie" is bull**** that's used to justify eating unhealthily, with the justification that "it's inside my calorie limit". Food is not all the same.

    That's crazy talk - you are talking crazy
  • J72FIT
    J72FIT Posts: 6,002 Member
    Since you are new here, I will give you some pointers.

    1) "clean eating" is a meaningless phrase and does not describe what you are actually eating

    2) MFP is just like Weight Watchers in that you eat within your calorie and macro limits (instead of points) and it doesn't matter what you eat, as long as it fits

    3) Every day there is a thread about "clean eating"

    4) MFP's system works as long as you weigh, measure, and log everything that you eat

    5) It doesn't matter what you drink as long as you count any calories it may contain (this includes diet soda. If you want it, drink it)

    6) Ultimate success is determined by learning to eat at a calorie deficit and doing it in a way that you can continue for the rest of your life.

    That about wraps it up. I'll add the bow by saying EXERCISE!
  • the_kat42
    the_kat42 Posts: 23
    I've always understood clean eating to mean avoiding pre-processed, packaged, additive laden foods - synonymous to the "one-ingredient" theory. It seems reasonable to me on a common-sense level that this can only be better for you. Or have I gotten something wrong here?

    Unless you're going to grow your own garden/farm and eat exclusively what you raise under your sole control, clean eating is a myth. And even then, you're still consuming the chemicals used to treat your weeds/seeds, along with the "unclean" feed that your animals eat.

    But you can't deny that eating an organically grown apple is better for your body than a McDonald's apple pie, can you?
    But hey, whatever makes people feel better, right?
  • lollyhackett
    lollyhackett Posts: 79 Member
    I'd appreciate any advice that you guys could give me. I'm looking for encouragement. Thank you

    You should be proud of yourself - you've broken some bad habits for the past 2 weeks - so keep it up!

    It may take some time to notice a difference, but I definitely recommend the following for general wellbeing; try and exercise, get your 10,000 steps in a day whether it be walking or running. Also get a good nights sleep - perhaps if you can't cut out the caffiene it may be worth considering decaf, especially if you drink coffee past 5pm. It will definitely hinder you.

    And once again! Well done you!! Small changes here and there and you'll start to feel amazing. :-)

    Good luck!

    Lauren.
  • ChriJMitch
    ChriJMitch Posts: 70 Member
    Calories are indeed calories. You can eat a bag of M&M's for every meal and it would probably fit your calorie goal for the day. You will lose weight, absolutely. There is a physical reason that doctors tell you to eat your veggies though.

    Clean eating is not going to help you lose weight besides just pointing you to foods that are less-calorie dense and more filling. It might make you feel more alert, might keep your complexion cleaner (cutting fried foods out has shown to help with things like acne), maybe help you recover a bit faster from a workout. But there isn't going to be a big noticeable change. Not right now.

    The real benefit comes many, many years down the road when you are older and your body still works about as good as it did in your 20's, while everybody else might be feeling the effects of age a lot more.
  • kriste1234
    kriste1234 Posts: 3 Member
    Good for you to start being more healthy! I have been eating healthy, exercising for about 8 weeks and losing weight steadily. Then I fell in a bit of a slump and then I read that caffeine does your rate of weight loss. So I decreased my coffee by one half! I love my coffee and so it took a bit of self-control, but I did see weight loss continue after lowering my caffeine intake. Best wishes to you and hang in there- it will be worth the struggle! and...Keep on truckin'!
  • SonicDeathMonkey80
    SonicDeathMonkey80 Posts: 4,489 Member
    I've always understood clean eating to mean avoiding pre-processed, packaged, additive laden foods - synonymous to the "one-ingredient" theory. It seems reasonable to me on a common-sense level that this can only be better for you. Or have I gotten something wrong here?

    Unless you're going to grow your own garden/farm and eat exclusively what you raise under your sole control, clean eating is a myth. And even then, you're still consuming the chemicals used to treat your weeds/seeds, along with the "unclean" feed that your animals eat.

    But you can't deny that eating an organically grown apple is better for your body than a McDonald's apple pie, can you?
    But hey, whatever makes people feel better, right?

    Depends on what I'm in the mood for. I eat an apple every day (my diary is open and fair game), AND I eat something "equivalent" to a McDonald's apple pie (I find them a little on the small and molten side). Yesterday I ran for 12 miles and had a Kit Kat and a chocolate Easter bunny, and my skin is **still** glowing and radiant, and all that other feelgood nonsense clean eaters profess. I don't deny myself what I want due to irrational food dogma.
  • Uba31
    Uba31 Posts: 14 Member
    Just eat like you normally would within your calories, but instead of pre-packed food, try to use as much fresh as you can and cook meals. Go to the library and pick up a couple cookbooks to help you with ideas within your calorie range.

    I started to do this a few months ago, and I felt a lot better and had a lot more energy. I didn't drop a drastic amount of weight from it, but it's slowly coming off and easier than when I eat "quick" foods. I hardly go down the isles of the grocery store anymore and stick to the produce, meats and dairy sections.