Processed "Gunk" vs "Clean" Eating
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Mandi98U
Posts: 115 Member
I understand that weight loss comes down to CICO, but I was wondering what positive effects come from cutting out processes foods. I am a college student so I eat alot of processes foods like canned soup and microwavable dinners that are under 300 calories. This is my second time using MFP since I have regained about 90 lbs in a year (after maintaining for about a year and a half) and this time I am struggling a lot harder to lose the weight. I was wondering if eating cleaner helps people drop more weight initially as well as the other positive effects, it can have on the body compared to eating foods like soup. Also what do you consider eating clean (with examples please)? Im also looking for some more healthy convenient foods I can make/keep in my dorm. I currently have carrots and Greek yogurts, cheese sticks, soups, baggies of almonds, hard boiled eggs, cheerios, strawberries,and 100 calorie bags of popcorn.
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Assuming everything else remains the same, then no... clean eating won't increase weight loss compared to other forms of eating.
Anecdotally, some people report feeling better, improved energy, etc when on a cleaner diet, but I suspect that will be very individualized.
Similarly, some people report increased cravings and problems with adherence due to the elimination of certain foods they enjoy... but again, this will vary person to person.
Ultimately, it comes down to this. Weight loss will remain the same. Everything else will fall under the YMMV umbrella, so the only way to know is to try it.
Lastly... what is clean eating? Different people use that term differently. So I guess it comes down to this: what does it mean to you?14 -
Food is food. Doesn't matter as far as weight loss goes.
For nutrition and satiety sure it can matter.
For example "processed" foods can have lots of sodium and make you retain fluid...but that can be countered by drinking lots of water.
or it can be high calorie and low satiety so you get hungry quicker.
eating a varied diet of nutritional dense foods is healthy but it doesn't guarantee weight loss...on CI being less than CO matters for that.
Healthy convenient foods I have in my house are typically fruit, cheese, mini pitas with dip like hummas, healthy steamers (microwave dinner), lean cuisines (chicken in wine sauce) greek yogurt, cottage cheese etc.
But notice most of those are high in protein...I do that for a reason...helps keep you feeling fuller longer.11 -
I consider eating clean a diet where approximately 80% of my calories come from micro-rich foods.
That said, I think any time you try and avoid things by demonizing/labeling them as bad/good clean/unclean you really set yourself up to have a poor relationship with food. You gained 90lbs in a year. It's going to take you a couple to take that off. Over time your sodium fluctuation from processed or unprocessed food isn't going to make a big difference. You need to choose a caloric deficit you can stick to. Don't completely disregard nutrition but the concept of clean and unclean is different for everyone. To a vegetarian or low-carber my diet is most certainly not "clean" but to me, I think I eat "clean" It has no definition. Don't focus on things that don't matter.8 -
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I do think 'clean' (as clean as I can get it) helps me to lose weight. I still eat 'processed' foods though such as yogurt, cheese, chicory beverage, butter, olive oil.
Its just that many so called 'dirty foods' can be quite high in calories, so I get more miles with vegetables I prepare and cook myself, and fruit is relatively low cal per serving too. I still eat cocoa powder.
idk, it works for some, but bottom line is keeping your calories below what your body needs to function day after day. That leads to weight loss.
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Chef_Barbell wrote: »
Well, he's eating it out of a bucket and not off the floor... So, I vote "yes."
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90 pounds in one year sounds like a lot. I'd assume something more than typical overeating is at play there?
Eating healthier foods (I refuse to say cleaner, and healthier isn't much better) might make you feel better, but you certainly don't have to limit yourself to only those foods deemed worthy of being called healthy to lose weight. Fruits like mandarin oranges, bananas, and apples will be easy to keep in your dorm. I'm a big fan of peanut butter, but you do have to watch the portions. I'd recommend a food scale if you don't already have one.9 -
What's a gunk?3
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A highly processed diet is not good for your health (can be low in vitamins, high in sugar, very high in salt, could contain transfat etc). Plus most convenience processed food is usually calorie dense, so to really feel full, you have to eat a lot.
But if calories are equal, you lose weight no matter what you eat.3 -
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I make sure to drop all my food on the floor before eating it. Gotta make those sickness gains.4
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I understand that weight loss comes down to CICO, but I was wondering what positive effects come from cutting out processes foods. I am a college student so I eat alot of processes foods like canned soup and microwavable dinners that are under 300 calories. This is my second time using MFP since I have regained about 90 lbs in a year (after maintaining for about a year and a half) and this time I am struggling a lot harder to lose the weight. I was wondering if eating cleaner helps people drop more weight initially as well as the other positive effects, it can have on the body compared to eating foods like soup. Also what do you consider eating clean (with examples please)? Im also looking for some more healthy convenient foods I can make/keep in my dorm. I currently have carrots and Greek yogurts, cheese sticks, soups, baggies of almonds, hard boiled eggs, cheerios, strawberries,and 100 calorie bags of popcorn.
The main difference I have found between purchased convenience foods and home made is the amount of salt. If you don't have an issue with sodium, there is no reason why you should not buy already prepared foods over making them your self.5 -
I understand that weight loss comes down to CICO, but I was wondering what positive effects come from cutting out processes foods. I am a college student so I eat alot of processes foods like canned soup and microwavable dinners that are under 300 calories. This is my second time using MFP since I have regained about 90 lbs in a year (after maintaining for about a year and a half) and this time I am struggling a lot harder to lose the weight. I was wondering if eating cleaner helps people drop more weight initially as well as the other positive effects, it can have on the body compared to eating foods like soup. Also what do you consider eating clean (with examples please)? Im also looking for some more healthy convenient foods I can make/keep in my dorm. I currently have carrots and Greek yogurts, cheese sticks, soups, baggies of almonds, hard boiled eggs, cheerios, strawberries,and 100 calorie bags of popcorn.
To me 'clean eating' means limiting processed foods and trying to select foods as close to their natural state as possible. When I started my journey I would eat takeaways 4-5 times per week as well as crisps, chocolate and lots of alcohol.
I think eating a larger selection of whole foods does help you lose weight. For example, eating more fruit and vegetables gives you extra fibre, maintaining gut health and ensuring food is processed well. Eating lean protein (animal or not) helps to keep you fuller and maintain muscle mass (essential, as more muscle = more passive calorie burn). These kinds of food are generally much more micro-nutrient dense as well contributing to better health alongside the weight loss.
For me, it started with cutting out added sugars. Yes it was hard and I got the cravings mentioned by others but after a few weeks that subsides. I still eat chocolate, icecream, crisps and takeaways but these are a treat and I don't often crave them.
TLDR: Foods as close to their natural state are more nutrient rich, less calorie dense, which keeps you fuller for longer making sticking to a diet easier.4 -
I try to eat foods with as few ingredients as possible, most of the time, which is easier for me to do with low carb. However, I've been known to use the Atkins shakes and bars when life gets hectic and I've not seen any adverse effects. That's the only brand of that sort of thing I can use, though, the rest give me stomach pain. In my carb-eating days I often made things like hamburger helper, though, because it was fast and everyone would eat it but I veered away from that mainly because I've found its cheaper to buy the ingredients separately. Plus, making it myself allowed for extras for lunch. No one had any problems with it other than me and the carbs, obviously My kids eat those oatmeal packets in the winter and ramen for lunch in the summer. I say, try it, if you like it and it works for you, use it and ignore the doubters.1
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Chef_Barbell wrote: »
No after he stuck his hand back in it, lol.6 -
quiksylver296 wrote: »Chef_Barbell wrote: »
Well, he's eating it out of a bucket and not off the floor... So, I vote "yes."
But it's in a package so probably not. 2 -
I ate all sorts of 'processed gunk' during my weight loss phase and not only did I lose 50lbs, but I improved every health marker my doctor uses-including normalizing a prediabetic glucose number.
Now 4 years into maintenance I've just started switching to a more whole foods, plant based diet but nothing magical is happening-I still feel and look the same and I'm doubtful that my next blood panel will show any surprises, (they were already excellent, so kind hard to improve on that
). I'm switching things up because frankly, I'm bored and it gives me something new to focus on. But, what I eat has absolutely nothing to do with my weight management plan-that's completely about CICO. I also have 5ish years of data that show that my glucose number is directly connected to how much I weigh and nothing to do with what I'm eating. 15 -
This thread will likely turn into a disaster, but my personal experience from shifting to a whole foods based diet and reducing or nearly eliminating processed foods was
1 An improved digestive system
2. More overall and more consistent energy levels.
The improved digestive system was amazing for me.8
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