Clean eating- does it matter?

cassandrarodriguez89 wrote: »

Cancer meal means that ingredients in the food have been proven to cause cancer or cause death. When they make white bread and white rice in the process they get rid of good nutrition. This is in every single science article and all over the news almost every day in the past several decades.

Better stop eating then. Also breathing.

My personal take is that people focus on calorie deficit over substance because it's easier and requires less overall commitment to change. To pretend what is in the food you eat doesn't matter is ridiculous. Will you still lose weight eating packaged foods? Sure? But for me it slows my loss and leaves me feeling all the negative things associated with loss; hungry, tired, cranky, and bloated. Eating a sufficient number of calories from whole, actual natural food requires more food. It's easier to control macros. In my family, my mother and I both embarked on weight loss journies. She has a tendency to rely on convenience foods and substitutes for sweets and chips. She's on the fifth round of losing and gaining back. My process involved changing my palate and desire for sugar so I don't crave those things after the calorie deficit part is done. I've kept 100 pounds off for 5 years. This doesn't seem coincidental to me. This time around that I'm finally looking to lose the remaining 50, I've had a hard time fitting in enough protein and have resorted to protein bars without sugar because I am sugar sensitive, but the replacement for that natural sugar still has a noticeable effect on my body and I have to determine if the tradeoff is worth it. But there's a study to validate every opinion and a lot of people don't like feeling like their choices aren't as good as they could be. There's a reason other cultures can eat higher fat/higher carb diets without the health problems we see in this country and at the rates we see them. Garbage in, garbage out isn't just applicable to computer code. YMMV If what someone is doing works well enough for their purposes and they like the result, then shine on you crazy diamond.

I once tried to cut out everything I thought was 'bad.' I lost weight, but I couldn't stick to it. It was too confining for me. This time around, I don't have any food that's absolutely off limits. I just watch the calories. While I'm eating healthier, I still eat things that I want. It's working for me, and I feel fine.

RedheadedPrincess14 wrote: »

WinoGelato wrote: »

RedheadedPrincess14 wrote: »

diannethegeek wrote: »

It might help to clarify which version of clean eating we're talking about.

Calories matter for weight loss. Good nutrition matters for things like hunger and health. But those can both be achieved with or without a "clean" diet.

Your diary shows a really low fat intake. I just want to be sure you're being smart about that because I can't imagine keeping my fat that low (and I have to stay low fat without my gallbladder).

Best of luck with your goals! :flowerforyou:

I have to eat low fat because fat cause my skin to break out and give me breakouts but I make sure I get my omegas from my greens on chronometer and if I don't, I'll have a tbsp of seeds. All my blood work is perfect for the first time in my life. I think eating clean just helps you feel full. For example, I'm going to feel a lot more full on a giant salad then two Oreos so I feel like it would be harder to feel full without eating clean

Who makes a choice between a giant salad, or two oreos? What harm will I come to, if I eat a salad AND eat Oreos, when I have room in my calories for both?

Others have asked, but it might be helpful for you to define what "clean" eating means to you - there are dozens of definitions and interpretations of this term, I personally think that makes it an unhelpful term to use - but if you cared to define what it means to you, then it might be easier to continue the discussion.

Also, about your friend... is she using MFP? Did you want to invite her into this discussion, or just talk about her eating habits and weight loss approach behind her back?

Lol she is sitting right beside me. Nothing is behind her back. I don't really care how she eats. We were both wondering because she wants to not feel hungry all the time but she hates veggies and fruits lol.

Clean eating for me is just food from nature, veggies, fruits, whole grains, beans, legumes, squash, potatoes, lentils and that type of food. Homemade- mini meal processing and delicious healthy food but everyone can have their own version. All I'm asking is if people think that eating healthier can make weight loss easier. I think yes but I know everyone is different. I was just starting an open ended talk.. not claiming I know the answer for everyone.

For your friend, these are my really generic tips for hunger:

1. Make sure that your calorie goals are actually set appropriately. Don't skip this step. A lot of people set goals that are too aggressive and then wonder why they're having a hard time. http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/819055/setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

2. Look for foods higher in protein, fat, and fiber. These help us stay full and more satisfied longer. If you're using MFP's default settings, try to consider protein, fat, and fiber as minimums to reach every day rather than maximums to stay below.

3. Drink plenty of fluids. Some people really do confuse thirst and hunger.

4. Get plenty of rest. This includes sleeping enough and taking rest days from the exercise. Sometimes our bodies look for food when they're exhausted.

5. Play around with your meal timings. Some people do really well on 5-6 small meals a day and others feel like they want to gnaw their own arm off eating like that. Skipping breakfast, eating breakfast, 16:8 fasting, 6 small meals, 3 larger meals, snacks, no snacks, meal timing won't make a big difference to your weight loss, but it may help your hunger levels, mood, concentration, gym performance, etc. throughout the day. Don't be afraid to try a different way and see if it helps.

6. Wait it out. If you know you're eating enough and the other steps above aren't helping, you may just have to wait it out. Our bodies send out hunger signals partially out of habit. If you eat at a certain time every day your body will start to get hungry at that time. The good news is that these signals can be retrained to stop telling you to be hungry all the time. The bad news is that you may just have to be hungry for a little bit while that happens.

7. I also think it's important to remember that there's a habitual component to hunger. This goes along with point #6, but if you eat because you're bored or you're used to eating in front of the TV or in the car or whatever it is, then you can replace those habits with others that are better for you. Things like keeping water on hand to sip instead of snacking or picking up hobbies that keep your hands busy or that get you out of the house more can help out a little while you're retraining your hunger cues. You might need to pay attention to why you're eating/hungry or what you're feeling when you eat and try to replace food with other things, but it can be really beneficial over time.

fasterpssycat wrote: »

My personal take is that people focus on calorie deficit over substance because it's easier and requires less overall commitment to change. To pretend what is in the food you eat doesn't matter is ridiculous. Will you still lose weight eating packaged foods? Sure? But for me it slows my loss and leaves me feeling all the negative things associated with loss; hungry, tired, cranky, and bloated. Eating a sufficient number of calories from whole, actual natural food requires more food. It's easier to control macros. In my family, my mother and I both embarked on weight loss journies. She has a tendency to rely on convenience foods and substitutes for sweets and chips. She's on the fifth round of losing and gaining back. My process involved changing my palate and desire for sugar so I don't crave those things after the calorie deficit part is done. I've kept 100 pounds off for 5 years. This doesn't seem coincidental to me. This time around that I'm finally looking to lose the remaining 50, I've had a hard time fitting in enough protein and have resorted to protein bars without sugar because I am sugar sensitive, but the replacement for that natural sugar still has a noticeable effect on my body and I have to determine if the tradeoff is worth it. But there's a study to validate every opinion and a lot of people don't like feeling like their choices aren't as good as they could be. There's a reason other cultures can eat higher fat/higher carb diets without the health problems we see in this country and at the rates we see them. Garbage in, garbage out isn't just applicable to computer code. YMMV If what someone is doing works well enough for their purposes and they like the result, then shine on you crazy diamond.

Perhaps I'm reading this wrong but I think you are missing the middle ground. Eating an overall nutritious balanced diet can include occasional less nutritious higher calorie "processed foods" which some consider unclean.

No one is advocating an either or when they say you can have some foods in moderation. No one advocates horrible food choices in a deficit over nutrition. Can you still lose weight and improve your markers yes google the twinkie diet. But is anyone advocating that no but there is a middle ground in my opinion.

RedheadedPrincess14 wrote: »

diannethegeek wrote: »

Also, just because I can, here are the various definitions of clean eating I've seen: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10337480/what-is-clean-eating/p1

Wow, I can see how that can be confusing. This is why I left my diary open so you guys can see what I mean but I'm in no way saying that everyone's clean has to look the same. Still, we all know the difference between healthy whole foods and junk

And something I should have said above, a little "junk" doesn't negate everything else that's nutritious in a diet. My matcha ice cream tonight won't change the number of veggies I'm eating. And it will help my calcium goal. If it fits in your calorie and nutrition goals, what's so wrong with a bit of "junk"? We don't get extra credit for going over what our nutrition needs are.