Looking for new friends who quit sugar/eat clean :)
Replies
-
Wildflowers70 wrote: »You know. See the above response to the others. There are all sorts of threads here at MFP. If you aren't interested in eating clean, then spare us. The posters query was for people who WANT to eat clean. Maybe you are assuming that everyone on this site is here to lose weight. It is called My FITNESS Pal and some of us are here to find a path to a fitter healthier self rather than just lose weight. Honey has antioxidants and both honey (58) and maple syrup (54) have a lower glycemic index than table sugar (65). I am not advocating eating any of them by the spoonfuls. I clearly stated that overall I am trying to reduce my sugar intake. Unlike you, I have a credible site to support my information on honey. https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/news/20040618/honey-has-variety-of-health-benefits-news#1 I consider Web MD to be a pretty balanced source of information.
[post edited by mods]
Thank you.
I do agree that eating clean is subjective, but I think it's good in theory. I don't really need to lose much weight. My goal for the new year is to simply tone up, maybe lose 5lbs in the process and be overall healthier.
Sure CICO works to drop pounds, but what you eat makes a big difference in overall health and nutrution. I feel much better if I eat healthier foods. If I eat a lot of processed foods and/or fast food I tend to feel very sluggish and tired.
Last year I did no added sugar for 1 month. I didn't log calories before doing this and I didn't log during this...I just ate when I was hungry. After 1 month I lost about 5 lbs just from eliminating added sugars. By eliminating added sugars you're forced to change the way you eat. Most pre packaged foods have sugar so those get eliminated.
Maybe we can use this discussion to throw some recipes around and whatnot. Many peoples definition of clean eating may differ, but eliminating added sugar is pretty straight forward.
I also don't agree that all sugar is created equal by the body. Some sugars get metabolized differently than others (HFCS for example). I try to avoid hfcs if at all possible (won't buy anything with it listed), and I never touch artificial sweetners. If I'm going to have sugar, give me the real stuff.19 -
I also don't agree that all sugar is created equal by the body. Some sugars get metabolized differently than others (HFCS for example). I try to avoid hfcs if at all possible (won't buy anything with it listed), and I never touch artificial sweetners. If I'm going to have sugar, give me the real stuff.
Not sure where you get your information from, but here's the actual scientific research regarding HFCS: https://www.bodyrecomposition.com/research-review/straight-talk-about-high-fructose-corn-syrup-what-it-is-and-what-it-aint-research-review.html/
HFCS is virtually identical to both sucrose (table sugar) and honey, and is not metabolized any differently in the body.22 -
@megpie41 You lost 5lbs because you consumed less calories. Roughly 17500 calories less.
It doesn't matter what foods you eliminated, eliminating the calories is what did it.
Clean eating is what a lot of new posters think you have to do to lose weight or be healthy.
Then the first time they fancy a chocolate bar they think they have failed and give in. Even when they are within their calories. They didn't fail anything, they just ate some yummy food.
We need to stop labelling the way we eat so that people realise that they get to choose what they eat within their calories. Being a normal weight is the main indicator to good health.
And having a different view point is not trolling.25 -
RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »-
Being a normal weight is the main indicator to good health.
-
I'm sorry but I will have to question this part. The only thing being normal weight means is that you eat the right amount of calories. I am normal weight and I've mainly eaten potato crisps for the past years. Even if this doesn't cause me to gain weight, do you think I'm healthy?
Of course everyone choose what they want to eat, but completely denying that some foods are not healthy is not right.21 -
MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »-
Being a normal weight is the main indicator to good health.
-
I'm sorry but I will have to question this part. The only thing being normal weight means is that you eat the right amount of calories. I am normal weight and I've mainly eaten potato crisps for the past years. Even if this doesn't cause me to gain weight, do you think I'm healthy?
Of course everyone choose what they want to eat, but completely denying that some foods are not healthy is not right.
You have to consider context within the overall diet and dosage rather than blindly/dogmatically categorizing a food as "healthy" or "unhealthy". Eating potato crisps once in a while within an overall balanced diet is perfectly fine. Eating potato crisps all day every day is not perfectly fine.14 -
MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »-
Being a normal weight is the main indicator to good health.
-
I'm sorry but I will have to question this part. The only thing being normal weight means is that you eat the right amount of calories. I am normal weight and I've mainly eaten potato crisps for the past years. Even if this doesn't cause me to gain weight, do you think I'm healthy?
Of course everyone choose what they want to eat, but completely denying that some foods are not healthy is not right.
As I said, main indicator.
Eating too much of anything isn't healthy. Eating a little bit of potato chips as part of a balanced diet is fine.
I'm not scared of eating some"unclean" potato chips or a chocolate bar.
6 -
MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »-
Being a normal weight is the main indicator to good health.
-
I'm sorry but I will have to question this part. The only thing being normal weight means is that you eat the right amount of calories. I am normal weight and I've mainly eaten potato crisps for the past years. Even if this doesn't cause me to gain weight, do you think I'm healthy?
Of course everyone choose what they want to eat, but completely denying that some foods are not healthy is not right.
You have to consider context within the overall diet and dosage rather than blindly/dogmatically categorizing a food as "healthy" or "unhealthy". Eating potato crisps once in a while within an overall balanced diet is perfectly fine. Eating potato crisps all day every day is not perfectly fine.
I'm not really sure how to respond to you. I wrote that as a reply to someone who stated that being normal weight is the main indicator of good health, as if it doesn't matter if you eat well or terrible, as long as it has the right amount of calories.15 -
RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »-
Being a normal weight is the main indicator to good health.
-
I'm sorry but I will have to question this part. The only thing being normal weight means is that you eat the right amount of calories. I am normal weight and I've mainly eaten potato crisps for the past years. Even if this doesn't cause me to gain weight, do you think I'm healthy?
Of course everyone choose what they want to eat, but completely denying that some foods are not healthy is not right.
As I said, main indicator.
Eating too much of anything isn't healthy. Eating a little bit of potato chips as part of a balanced diet is fine.
I'm not scared of eating some"unclean" potato chips or a chocolate bar.
I doubt anyone is scared to do so, but is it so terrible if people want to steer away from eating those things? Why bash them?12 -
MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »-
Being a normal weight is the main indicator to good health.
-
I'm sorry but I will have to question this part. The only thing being normal weight means is that you eat the right amount of calories. I am normal weight and I've mainly eaten potato crisps for the past years. Even if this doesn't cause me to gain weight, do you think I'm healthy?
Of course everyone choose what they want to eat, but completely denying that some foods are not healthy is not right.
As I said, main indicator.
Eating too much of anything isn't healthy. Eating a little bit of potato chips as part of a balanced diet is fine.
I'm not scared of eating some"unclean" potato chips or a chocolate bar.
I doubt anyone is scared to do so, but is it so terrible if people want to steer away from eating those things? Why bash them?
Where is anyone bashing them?
9 -
RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »-
Being a normal weight is the main indicator to good health.
-
I'm sorry but I will have to question this part. The only thing being normal weight means is that you eat the right amount of calories. I am normal weight and I've mainly eaten potato crisps for the past years. Even if this doesn't cause me to gain weight, do you think I'm healthy?
Of course everyone choose what they want to eat, but completely denying that some foods are not healthy is not right.
As I said, main indicator.
Eating too much of anything isn't healthy. Eating a little bit of potato chips as part of a balanced diet is fine.
I'm not scared of eating some"unclean" potato chips or a chocolate bar.
I doubt anyone is scared to do so, but is it so terrible if people want to steer away from eating those things? Why bash them?
Where is anyone bashing them?
Maybe I've misunderstood something, but this thread quickly got filled up with people trying to tear down (with lack of a better word) that this was something worth doing. As if we're being silly even wanting to try this out. It's not nice.16 -
MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »-
Being a normal weight is the main indicator to good health.
-
I'm sorry but I will have to question this part. The only thing being normal weight means is that you eat the right amount of calories. I am normal weight and I've mainly eaten potato crisps for the past years. Even if this doesn't cause me to gain weight, do you think I'm healthy?
Of course everyone choose what they want to eat, but completely denying that some foods are not healthy is not right.
As I said, main indicator.
Eating too much of anything isn't healthy. Eating a little bit of potato chips as part of a balanced diet is fine.
I'm not scared of eating some"unclean" potato chips or a chocolate bar.
I doubt anyone is scared to do so, but is it so terrible if people want to steer away from eating those things? Why bash them?
Where is anyone bashing them?
Maybe I've misunderstood something, but this thread quickly got filled up with people trying to tear down (with lack of a better word) that this was something worth doing. As if we're being silly even wanting to try this out. It's not nice.
I didn't read that at all.
I read people pointing out that no one knows what Clean eating means.
And also pointing out that you don't need to cut out any type of food, that you just have to watch the dose.
About the clean eating. Some people say it is something with three ingredients or less, others say nothing in a box, others say it's raw vegan, others say it's, insert what ever here.
It has no definition.12 -
RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »-
Being a normal weight is the main indicator to good health.
-
I'm sorry but I will have to question this part. The only thing being normal weight means is that you eat the right amount of calories. I am normal weight and I've mainly eaten potato crisps for the past years. Even if this doesn't cause me to gain weight, do you think I'm healthy?
Of course everyone choose what they want to eat, but completely denying that some foods are not healthy is not right.
As I said, main indicator.
Eating too much of anything isn't healthy. Eating a little bit of potato chips as part of a balanced diet is fine.
I'm not scared of eating some"unclean" potato chips or a chocolate bar.
I doubt anyone is scared to do so, but is it so terrible if people want to steer away from eating those things? Why bash them?
Where is anyone bashing them?
Maybe I've misunderstood something, but this thread quickly got filled up with people trying to tear down (with lack of a better word) that this was something worth doing. As if we're being silly even wanting to try this out. It's not nice.
I didn't read that at all.
I read people pointing out that no one knows what Clean eating means.
And also pointing out that you don't need to cut out any type of food, that you just have to watch the dose.
About the clean eating. Some people say it is something with three ingredients or less, others say nothing in a box, others say it's raw vegan, others say it's, insert what ever here.
It has no definition.
I didn't know it had so many definitions on here, I've always heard it was whole foods, unprocessed foods or minimally processed foods. I guess I misunderstood the conversation going on because of that, it came across as hostile and belittling to me, but if you say that it is not, I will drop it.
I am cutting out a lot after today because I will binge on whatever I have around me that is salty. It is terrible. Even if I've had a long break from it I will just start again when I allow myself to eat it again.
The only time I've felt free from the craving was when I had zero tolerance towards it, so that is what I will do and I will not look back. Maybe this is silly to others, but it isn't to me.11 -
Not silly at all. the majority of people have a trigger food that they struggle to eat moderately.
Mine is fresh crusty white bread smothered in salted butter. I have to just buy a single roll now and again.5 -
RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »Not silly at all. the majority of people have a trigger food that they struggle to eat moderately.
Mine is fresh crusty white bread smothered in salted butter. I have to just buy a single roll now and again.
That sounds so good, though, almost forgot that I was hungry before I read that!
Is trigger food the common name for that here? I suppose I have quite a few of those, like all those I mentioned, maybe it wasn't in this thread I mentioned them though, but I suppose "salty things" sums it up.0 -
Maybe you have to cut out your trigger foods, or maybe trying to cut them out is what makes the foods into trigger foods. What's terrible, is feeling miserable and out of control and denying yourself pleasure from something so innocent as food, resulting in overeating when you just can't stand the deprivation anymore - you're not allowing yourself, you're giving in, so you feel like you've failed, and your' not even enjoying it. Maybe your body needs more salt.MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »-
Being a normal weight is the main indicator to good health.
-
I'm sorry but I will have to question this part. The only thing being normal weight means is that you eat the right amount of calories. I am normal weight and I've mainly eaten potato crisps for the past years. Even if this doesn't cause me to gain weight, do you think I'm healthy?
Of course everyone choose what they want to eat, but completely denying that some foods are not healthy is not right.
As I said, main indicator.
Eating too much of anything isn't healthy. Eating a little bit of potato chips as part of a balanced diet is fine.
I'm not scared of eating some"unclean" potato chips or a chocolate bar.
I doubt anyone is scared to do so, but is it so terrible if people want to steer away from eating those things? Why bash them?
Where is anyone bashing them?
Maybe I've misunderstood something, but this thread quickly got filled up with people trying to tear down (with lack of a better word) that this was something worth doing. As if we're being silly even wanting to try this out. It's not nice.
I didn't read that at all.
I read people pointing out that no one knows what Clean eating means.
And also pointing out that you don't need to cut out any type of food, that you just have to watch the dose.
About the clean eating. Some people say it is something with three ingredients or less, others say nothing in a box, others say it's raw vegan, others say it's, insert what ever here.
It has no definition.
I didn't know it had so many definitions on here, I've always heard it was whole foods, unprocessed foods or minimally processed foods. I guess I misunderstood the conversation going on because of that, it came across as hostile and belittling to me, but if you say that it is not, I will drop it.
I am cutting out a lot after today because I will binge on whatever I have around me that is salty. It is terrible. Even if I've had a long break from it I will just start again when I allow myself to eat it again.
The only time I've felt free from the craving was when I had zero tolerance towards it, so that is what I will do and I will not look back. Maybe this is silly to others, but it isn't to me.
I think it's a friendly and loving gesture to point out that what you're trying to do, isn't going to work, and explain why. Even if it can hurt to have your beliefs questioned.16 -
kommodevaran wrote: »
Maybe you have to cut out your trigger foods, or maybe trying to cut them out is what makes the foods into trigger foods. What's terrible, is feeling miserable and out of control and denying yourself pleasure from something so innocent as food, resulting in overeating when you just can't stand the deprivation anymore - you're not allowing yourself, you're giving in, so you feel like you've failed, and your' not even enjoying it. Maybe your body needs more salt.MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »-
Being a normal weight is the main indicator to good health.
-
I'm sorry but I will have to question this part. The only thing being normal weight means is that you eat the right amount of calories. I am normal weight and I've mainly eaten potato crisps for the past years. Even if this doesn't cause me to gain weight, do you think I'm healthy?
Of course everyone choose what they want to eat, but completely denying that some foods are not healthy is not right.
As I said, main indicator.
Eating too much of anything isn't healthy. Eating a little bit of potato chips as part of a balanced diet is fine.
I'm not scared of eating some"unclean" potato chips or a chocolate bar.
I doubt anyone is scared to do so, but is it so terrible if people want to steer away from eating those things? Why bash them?
Where is anyone bashing them?
Maybe I've misunderstood something, but this thread quickly got filled up with people trying to tear down (with lack of a better word) that this was something worth doing. As if we're being silly even wanting to try this out. It's not nice.
I didn't read that at all.
I read people pointing out that no one knows what Clean eating means.
And also pointing out that you don't need to cut out any type of food, that you just have to watch the dose.
About the clean eating. Some people say it is something with three ingredients or less, others say nothing in a box, others say it's raw vegan, others say it's, insert what ever here.
It has no definition.
I didn't know it had so many definitions on here, I've always heard it was whole foods, unprocessed foods or minimally processed foods. I guess I misunderstood the conversation going on because of that, it came across as hostile and belittling to me, but if you say that it is not, I will drop it.
I am cutting out a lot after today because I will binge on whatever I have around me that is salty. It is terrible. Even if I've had a long break from it I will just start again when I allow myself to eat it again.
The only time I've felt free from the craving was when I had zero tolerance towards it, so that is what I will do and I will not look back. Maybe this is silly to others, but it isn't to me.
I think it's a friendly and loving gesture to point out that what you're trying to do, isn't going to work, and explain why. Even if it can hurt to have your beliefs questioned.
It will work and it will work just fine, I have cut out these foods two times before, both times went excellent, I ate well, the cravings completely went away. I got happier, more awake and energetic, and then at some point I considered myself "cured" and started snacking with my family infront of the TV again, and soon after that I was back to eating it instead of proper food.
There is nothing sad about my situation, it's just stupid. I've been stupid. It is as if I was a smoker, who quit smoking and then went back to it when I wasn't addicted anymore, only that these things shouldn't contain anything that is addicting. I have already eaten my last crisp (I ran out of them yesterday), and I do not intend on buying more because someone on a forum claims that I won't be able to quit.
Just to clarify: I've been snacking on more than just crisps, but they've always been what I fall back on the most, so that's why I say crisps and not everything I've been snacking on.13 -
MarianMarMoi wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »-
Being a normal weight is the main indicator to good health.
-
I'm sorry but I will have to question this part. The only thing being normal weight means is that you eat the right amount of calories. I am normal weight and I've mainly eaten potato crisps for the past years. Even if this doesn't cause me to gain weight, do you think I'm healthy?
Of course everyone choose what they want to eat, but completely denying that some foods are not healthy is not right.
You have to consider context within the overall diet and dosage rather than blindly/dogmatically categorizing a food as "healthy" or "unhealthy". Eating potato crisps once in a while within an overall balanced diet is perfectly fine. Eating potato crisps all day every day is not perfectly fine.
I'm not really sure how to respond to you. I wrote that as a reply to someone who stated that being normal weight is the main indicator of good health, as if it doesn't matter if you eat well or terrible, as long as it has the right amount of calories.
It is the main indicator. Someone fat, even if all they eat is "healthy" foods, is going to be at higher risk of a whole list of medical problems that someone at a normal weight, even if they don't eat "healthy", because the main risk factor for those medical problems is your weight.8 -
MarianMarMoi wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »
Maybe you have to cut out your trigger foods, or maybe trying to cut them out is what makes the foods into trigger foods. What's terrible, is feeling miserable and out of control and denying yourself pleasure from something so innocent as food, resulting in overeating when you just can't stand the deprivation anymore - you're not allowing yourself, you're giving in, so you feel like you've failed, and your' not even enjoying it. Maybe your body needs more salt.MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »-
Being a normal weight is the main indicator to good health.
-
I'm sorry but I will have to question this part. The only thing being normal weight means is that you eat the right amount of calories. I am normal weight and I've mainly eaten potato crisps for the past years. Even if this doesn't cause me to gain weight, do you think I'm healthy?
Of course everyone choose what they want to eat, but completely denying that some foods are not healthy is not right.
As I said, main indicator.
Eating too much of anything isn't healthy. Eating a little bit of potato chips as part of a balanced diet is fine.
I'm not scared of eating some"unclean" potato chips or a chocolate bar.
I doubt anyone is scared to do so, but is it so terrible if people want to steer away from eating those things? Why bash them?
Where is anyone bashing them?
Maybe I've misunderstood something, but this thread quickly got filled up with people trying to tear down (with lack of a better word) that this was something worth doing. As if we're being silly even wanting to try this out. It's not nice.
I didn't read that at all.
I read people pointing out that no one knows what Clean eating means.
And also pointing out that you don't need to cut out any type of food, that you just have to watch the dose.
About the clean eating. Some people say it is something with three ingredients or less, others say nothing in a box, others say it's raw vegan, others say it's, insert what ever here.
It has no definition.
I didn't know it had so many definitions on here, I've always heard it was whole foods, unprocessed foods or minimally processed foods. I guess I misunderstood the conversation going on because of that, it came across as hostile and belittling to me, but if you say that it is not, I will drop it.
I am cutting out a lot after today because I will binge on whatever I have around me that is salty. It is terrible. Even if I've had a long break from it I will just start again when I allow myself to eat it again.
The only time I've felt free from the craving was when I had zero tolerance towards it, so that is what I will do and I will not look back. Maybe this is silly to others, but it isn't to me.
I think it's a friendly and loving gesture to point out that what you're trying to do, isn't going to work, and explain why. Even if it can hurt to have your beliefs questioned.
It will work and it will work just fine, I have cut out these foods two times before, both times went excellent, I ate well, the cravings completely went away. I got happier, more awake and energetic, and then at some point I considered myself "cured" and started snacking with my family infront of the TV again, and soon after that I was back to eating it instead of proper food.
There is nothing sad about my situation, it's just stupid. I've been stupid. It is as if I was a smoker, who quit smoking and then went back to it when I wasn't addicted anymore, only that these things shouldn't contain anything that is addicting. I have already eaten my last crisp (I ran out of them yesterday), and I do not intend on buying more because someone on a forum claims that I won't be able to quit.
Just to clarify: I've been snacking on more than just crisps, but they've always been what I fall back on the most, so that's why I say crisps and not everything I've been snacking on.
So it didn't work because you viewed it as something temporary. If it worked, you could do it indefinitely without thinking about it. You did it 2 times before, you stopped, you regained. Why do you think this time will be different?15 -
Wildflowers70 wrote: »Why are you here? You obviously aren't looking for friends who eat clean. I don't feel like arguing semantics with somebody who is obviously bored and looking to edumacate everybody in his/her opinion. I don't even give a flip if I am wrong. Wooooohooo somebody on the internet disagrees. Big whoop! I am here to find friends who want to live a similar lifestyle. We disagree. The end. [post edited by mods]
If you're looking to make friends, good manners really make a difference.26 -
stevencloser wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »
Maybe you have to cut out your trigger foods, or maybe trying to cut them out is what makes the foods into trigger foods. What's terrible, is feeling miserable and out of control and denying yourself pleasure from something so innocent as food, resulting in overeating when you just can't stand the deprivation anymore - you're not allowing yourself, you're giving in, so you feel like you've failed, and your' not even enjoying it. Maybe your body needs more salt.MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »-
Being a normal weight is the main indicator to good health.
-
I'm sorry but I will have to question this part. The only thing being normal weight means is that you eat the right amount of calories. I am normal weight and I've mainly eaten potato crisps for the past years. Even if this doesn't cause me to gain weight, do you think I'm healthy?
Of course everyone choose what they want to eat, but completely denying that some foods are not healthy is not right.
As I said, main indicator.
Eating too much of anything isn't healthy. Eating a little bit of potato chips as part of a balanced diet is fine.
I'm not scared of eating some"unclean" potato chips or a chocolate bar.
I doubt anyone is scared to do so, but is it so terrible if people want to steer away from eating those things? Why bash them?
Where is anyone bashing them?
Maybe I've misunderstood something, but this thread quickly got filled up with people trying to tear down (with lack of a better word) that this was something worth doing. As if we're being silly even wanting to try this out. It's not nice.
I didn't read that at all.
I read people pointing out that no one knows what Clean eating means.
And also pointing out that you don't need to cut out any type of food, that you just have to watch the dose.
About the clean eating. Some people say it is something with three ingredients or less, others say nothing in a box, others say it's raw vegan, others say it's, insert what ever here.
It has no definition.
I didn't know it had so many definitions on here, I've always heard it was whole foods, unprocessed foods or minimally processed foods. I guess I misunderstood the conversation going on because of that, it came across as hostile and belittling to me, but if you say that it is not, I will drop it.
I am cutting out a lot after today because I will binge on whatever I have around me that is salty. It is terrible. Even if I've had a long break from it I will just start again when I allow myself to eat it again.
The only time I've felt free from the craving was when I had zero tolerance towards it, so that is what I will do and I will not look back. Maybe this is silly to others, but it isn't to me.
I think it's a friendly and loving gesture to point out that what you're trying to do, isn't going to work, and explain why. Even if it can hurt to have your beliefs questioned.
It will work and it will work just fine, I have cut out these foods two times before, both times went excellent, I ate well, the cravings completely went away. I got happier, more awake and energetic, and then at some point I considered myself "cured" and started snacking with my family infront of the TV again, and soon after that I was back to eating it instead of proper food.
There is nothing sad about my situation, it's just stupid. I've been stupid. It is as if I was a smoker, who quit smoking and then went back to it when I wasn't addicted anymore, only that these things shouldn't contain anything that is addicting. I have already eaten my last crisp (I ran out of them yesterday), and I do not intend on buying more because someone on a forum claims that I won't be able to quit.
Just to clarify: I've been snacking on more than just crisps, but they've always been what I fall back on the most, so that's why I say crisps and not everything I've been snacking on.
So it didn't work because you viewed it as something temporary. If it worked, you could do it indefinitely without thinking about it. You did it 2 times before, you stopped, you regained. Why do you think this time will be different?
You answered your own question, I saw both of those times as temporary, I do not do that now. I won't start eating those things again.
I'm not sure why people are telling me to give up before I've even started, it is really the last thing I would expect from this site.11 -
MarianMarMoi wrote: »I'm not sure why people are telling me to give up before I've even started, it is really the last thing I would expect from this site.
Don't let other discourage you from doing what you feel is best for yourself.
CICO will certainly work to drop pounds and that seems to be the golden rule on this site. You will lose weight by eating less than you burn...I don't think anyone is really questioning that.
What some people seem to forget on this site is that there is more than one way to skin a cat (so to speak). There is nothing wrong with wanting to change your diet to eat healthier or "clean". There are many people who are a relatively normal weight, but are extremely unhealthy and malnurished. What you fuel your body with makes a difference.
As I understand it, the theory behind clean eating is fueling your body with whole, nutrient dense foods so your body gets what it needs and you don't crave anymore because your body is satiated. So yes, this means you are losing weight because you are consuming less because your body was satiated more quickly because the food was whole (essentially another way of achieving CICO without counting calories)
To me, this sounds like a much more "fun" way lose weight than to spend the rest of my life counting calories and weighing every ounce of food I put in my mouth.
I have done clean eating before and I plan to do it again for the new year. I'm sure I don't follow the true clean eating plan, but I go by my own rules of what I consider clean (no added sugars, avoid heavily processed foods etc). I am pretty lenient with the concept, as will occasionally indulge in non clean foods as a treat. I find that when I eat healthier, I naturally eat less, have less cravings (once I get over the hump), have more energy and just feel better.
So yes, there are many on this site who won't support you in anything other than CICO weightloss, but there are plenty of us here who back you up. Achieving optimal health is a personal journey and you need to find what works for you...everyone's path can be different and still end up at the same place.27 -
MarianMarMoi wrote: »I'm not sure why people are telling me to give up before I've even started, it is really the last thing I would expect from this site.
Don't let other discourage you from doing what you feel is best for yourself.
CICO will certainly work to drop pounds and that seems to be the golden rule on this site. You will lose weight by eating less than you burn...I don't think anyone is really questioning that.
What some people seem to forget on this site is that there is more than one way to skin a cat (so to speak). There is nothing wrong with wanting to change your diet to eat healthier or "clean". There are many people who are a relatively normal weight, but are extremely unhealthy and malnurished. What you fuel your body with makes a difference.
As I understand it, the theory behind clean eating is fueling your body with whole, nutrient dense foods so your body gets what it needs and you don't crave anymore because your body is satiated. So yes, this means you are losing weight because you are consuming less because your body was satiated more quickly because the food was whole (essentially another way of achieving CICO without counting calories)
To me, this sounds like a much more "fun" way lose weight than to spend the rest of my life counting calories and weighing every ounce of food I put in my mouth.
I have done clean eating before and I plan to do it again for the new year. I'm sure I don't follow the true clean eating plan, but I go by my own rules of what I consider clean (no added sugars, avoid heavily processed foods etc). I am pretty lenient with the concept, as will occasionally indulge in non clean foods as a treat. I find that when I eat healthier, I naturally eat less, have less cravings (once I get over the hump), have more energy and just feel better.
So yes, there are many on this site who won't support you in anything other than CICO weightloss, but there are plenty of us here who back you up. Achieving optimal health is a personal journey and you need to find what works for you...everyone's path can be different and still end up at the same place.
Thank you so much for your reply, I needed it.
I'm more confused than anything after this discussion. I was not expecting people to respond like they did to my plans. I suppose what you just said explains the response to a certain amount, I thought I did explain that I'm just trying to get healthy, but maybe I didn't explain it well enough. English isn't my first language.
I know what I will do and I know that it will go well. It might take some getting used to in the beginning with all the cooking and probably some calorie counting to make sure I'm not under eating, but after that I don't expect any problems
The possibility of under eating is the only problem I can see myself facing, and I know that I will be able to get around that eventually, but in the beginning I might add oils to my food just to have my weight stay stable.
I am very interested in health and wellbeing and I just thought it was about time I started doing something about my own situation. What I have done to my body these past years makes me a bit sad, my body has reacted poorly to intake of french fries and crisps for over a year now and I still didn't stop.
I wish you good luck with the clean eating! I don't expect myself to become a super strict "clean eater" either, I have a few things that I don't plan on quitting that are slightly processed.
All I feel is joy for this change, finally I'm taking a step!
(edited because I saw you updated your text)12 -
MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »-
Being a normal weight is the main indicator to good health.
-
I'm sorry but I will have to question this part. The only thing being normal weight means is that you eat the right amount of calories. I am normal weight and I've mainly eaten potato crisps for the past years. Even if this doesn't cause me to gain weight, do you think I'm healthy?
Of course everyone choose what they want to eat, but completely denying that some foods are not healthy is not right.
Nutrition is, IMO, important, but if you are obese, the number one thing you can do to improve health is probably losing weight. (I know you are not, but you are kind of jumping into another thread, and OP is and said she was trying to lose.)
The second is probably getting active, if you aren't already. So all the obsession with one diet vs. another beyond "what makes it easier for me to sustain a healthy weight" tends to be overdone.
I am actually pretty focused on healthy eating, since I think it helps me sustain a healthy weight and feel good, and because I think it is, also, important.
Bigger point is that "healthy eating" is not "clean eating." As I normally understand "clean eating" (although there are about a million different definitions) is a focus on eliminating certain foods 100% (often added sugar, but not honey, which makes no sense, and often added sugar in absolutely any quantities, which also makes no sense -- if I want to add a bit of sugar to a rhubarb sauce or cranberry sauce made with fresh cranberries, that is going to end up still with less sugar and more fiber than an apple, so why does the added sugar make it BAD?). Other than sugar, the ingredients/foods eliminated vary so that there is no commonality, but often grains, potatoes, meat, dairy, etc.
There is also a weird obsession with "processing" being bad, often without an understanding of what "processing" is. Something that is processed may have lots of problematic ingredients added (in terms of calories or nutrients or health effects), but so may something cooked at home. Many technically processed foods are ones that most would accept as healthful -- cottage cheese, smoked salmon, canned beans (low sodium), dried pasta (let's assume whole grain), Ezekial bread, skinless, boneless chicken breast, canned sardines, olive oil, so on.
That is all why I consider myself really into healthy eating, but not a clean eater, personally, even though my main meals would often be considered "clean" by those who are into "clean eating." I've never added sugar to meals, don't eat much packaged or premade stuff, enjoy cooking from scratch.
Someone can probably be a clean eater and eat lots of chips, btw, if you make them at home (depending on the definition), and someone who eats a diet mostly based on chips (which I don't think anyone does, probably) has a problem due to the lack of a healthy diet, based on poor nutrition, not because the diet is not clean. IMO, focusing on nutrition or eating a healthy diet requires a focus on what you do eat (like vegetables, protein, healthy fats) and how much, and is not generally about eliminating specific ingredients alone or really about processing (if it's easier for me to eat well if I occasionally get canned beans and tinned fish and smoked salmon and dried pasta and a premade spice mix, why would "clean eating" inherently be an improvement?).
This are just things to think about, and I am genuinely curious about the answer. I don't think it's really related to OP's post, and that's why I asked her what she was interested in and suggested that my own eating patterns might mean we could exchange ideas and recipes even though I am not a self-identified clean eater (since I am interested in nutrition, cook from scratch, etc.).
As for why "clean eating" sets people off, I tend to think it's the use of the term "clean" which isn't really a sensible term and suggests that if you eat some smoked salmon or a cookie your diet is dirty or unclean or whatever (I have opinions myself on the links between cleanliness/purity and both diet and morality, but again probably not worth getting into here).
Personally I've decided that many people just (weirdly, to my mind) use "clean" to mean "nutrition conscious" and when they are I am probably on the same page with them (as are many of the people who objected to the term clean and mentioned calories), since I am very nutrition conscious and interested in talking about nutrition.
OP seems to be interested in losing weight, btw, and why "clean eating" is working for her is that she has reduced calories eating that way and found a way of eating that is for now satisfying. If the restrictions aren't a problem for her, I think that's great. (My diet tends to be whole foods based not because I "gave up" other foods, but just because that's how I prefer to eat.)
Anyway, sorry to go on so long, but I thought I'd try to answer some of the things that you seemed to find confusing about this thread.22 -
Oh, to clarify one other thing (more briefly), one thing that tends to bug people is opposing "clean eating" to "CICO" and I think that's what started this thread on a sidetrack.
I lost a lot of weight due to keeping CI below CO, and did so whether or not I counted calories (which I did) and whether or not my diet was "clean" (which it probably was, according to most definitions I've seen, even though I didn't do some "clean eating" program, it's just how I like to eat).
Saying CICO is what matters does not mean you are saying "ignore nutrition" or eating a poor diet or eating a less nutritious diet than someone who claims to be into "clean eating."
Does that help clarify?7 -
I sort of skimmed the thread, so forgive me for posting without fully reading.
Allow a veteran of the dieting wars share some advice.
It's a very wonderful thing to want to eat a nutritious, varied diet.
In the pursuit of that goal, don't let perfect become the enemy of good, and don't let the inevitable burden that the boundaries of too much restriction place upon you deter you from the larger goal of achieving permanent weight loss and management.
Too often, someone picks a way of eating as a means to an end and they post on these boards all full of enthusiasm for their new found plan only to crash and burn when the novelty wears off or the siren song of forbidden fruit becomes too irresistible for them to ignore. Without having taken any advice on board outside of their restrictive regimens, they are left floundering as to where to go from there and just give up.
I have some experience in giving things up. I didn't eat sugar for ten years. Ponder that. I never cheated. Not even once. I ultimately found it wasn't sustainable, and furthermore, I found it wasn't the only thing needed to manage my weight. I still managed to gain weight during that time because I was eating too much food. And all of it was healthy whole foods.
A proper understanding of energy balance (yes, that is what CICO means, CICO is not calorie counting or eat whatever you want, it's just the energy balance equation) is imperative no matter what you do.
So have at your clean eating and sugar free period for now, but read the forum stickies and stick around the forums and read the experiences of people who have been there and learned that a sustainable path isn't necessarily a restrictive one. Have a back up plan ready and be prepared with knowledge of how to manage your weight should you decide that hey, you know what? Maybe that candy bar in the grocery check out line isn't the worst thing in the world after all.27 -
I have heard many different definitions of "clean" eating. One acquaintance is a paleo type, eats bacon, duck fat and bunless burgers in large quantities; another is a gluten free vegetarian who mainly eats complex carbs and legumes. Both are proud "clean" eaters. The thing that mildly annoys me about the term "clean" eating is that it implied eating things "off the diet" (carbs? sugar? booze? ICE CREAM??!!!) is "dirty" and there's thus a kind of a sanctimoniousness about food that is not helpful to many of us who do better when we view food without the veil of judgment. For me, getting away from years of conditioning that there was 'good' food and 'bad' food has allowed me to lead a more sustainable and happier lifestyle and make judgments about my nutrition that are evidence based, experience based, and shorn of moral implication.
I think it is GREAT to have nutrition based goals--whether its hitting macros, eating more vegetables, cutting out fast food, eating less sugar, learning to stop eating when you're full or eating more slowly, replacing wheat with white, cutting down alcohol--that make sense for YOU. Just as I think its great if intermittent fasting, or bulletproof coffee or whatever works for you and I enjoy when people share their experiences of what works for them. Its just important to recognize that there are MANY ways of achieving AND maintaining your weight and fitness goals and that not following a particular diet is not "unclean."13 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »-
Being a normal weight is the main indicator to good health.
-
I'm sorry but I will have to question this part. The only thing being normal weight means is that you eat the right amount of calories. I am normal weight and I've mainly eaten potato crisps for the past years. Even if this doesn't cause me to gain weight, do you think I'm healthy?
Of course everyone choose what they want to eat, but completely denying that some foods are not healthy is not right.
Nutrition is, IMO, important, but if you are obese, the number one thing you can do to improve health is probably losing weight. (I know you are not, but you are kind of jumping into another thread, and OP is and said she was trying to lose.)
The second is probably getting active, if you aren't already. So all the obsession with one diet vs. another beyond "what makes it easier for me to sustain a healthy weight" tends to be overdone.
I am actually pretty focused on healthy eating, since I think it helps me sustain a healthy weight and feel good, and because I think it is, also, important.
Bigger point is that "healthy eating" is not "clean eating." As I normally understand "clean eating" (although there are about a million different definitions) is a focus on eliminating certain foods 100% (often added sugar, but not honey, which makes no sense, and often added sugar in absolutely any quantities, which also makes no sense -- if I want to add a bit of sugar to a rhubarb sauce or cranberry sauce made with fresh cranberries, that is going to end up still with less sugar and more fiber than an apple, so why does the added sugar make it BAD?). Other than sugar, the ingredients/foods eliminated vary so that there is no commonality, but often grains, potatoes, meat, dairy, etc.
There is also a weird obsession with "processing" being bad, often without an understanding of what "processing" is. Something that is processed may have lots of problematic ingredients added (in terms of calories or nutrients or health effects), but so may something cooked at home. Many technically processed foods are ones that most would accept as healthful -- cottage cheese, smoked salmon, canned beans (low sodium), dried pasta (let's assume whole grain), Ezekial bread, skinless, boneless chicken breast, canned sardines, olive oil, so on.
That is all why I consider myself really into healthy eating, but not a clean eater, personally, even though my main meals would often be considered "clean" by those who are into "clean eating." I've never added sugar to meals, don't eat much packaged or premade stuff, enjoy cooking from scratch.
Someone can probably be a clean eater and eat lots of chips, btw, if you make them at home (depending on the definition), and someone who eats a diet mostly based on chips (which I don't think anyone does, probably) has a problem due to the lack of a healthy diet, based on poor nutrition, not because the diet is not clean. IMO, focusing on nutrition or eating a healthy diet requires a focus on what you do eat (like vegetables, protein, healthy fats) and how much, and is not generally about eliminating specific ingredients alone or really about processing (if it's easier for me to eat well if I occasionally get canned beans and tinned fish and smoked salmon and dried pasta and a premade spice mix, why would "clean eating" inherently be an improvement?).
This are just things to think about, and I am genuinely curious about the answer. I don't think it's really related to OP's post, and that's why I asked her what she was interested in and suggested that my own eating patterns might mean we could exchange ideas and recipes even though I am not a self-identified clean eater (since I am interested in nutrition, cook from scratch, etc.).
As for why "clean eating" sets people off, I tend to think it's the use of the term "clean" which isn't really a sensible term and suggests that if you eat some smoked salmon or a cookie your diet is dirty or unclean or whatever (I have opinions myself on the links between cleanliness/purity and both diet and morality, but again probably not worth getting into here).
Personally I've decided that many people just (weirdly, to my mind) use "clean" to mean "nutrition conscious" and when they are I am probably on the same page with them (as are many of the people who objected to the term clean and mentioned calories), since I am very nutrition conscious and interested in talking about nutrition.
OP seems to be interested in losing weight, btw, and why "clean eating" is working for her is that she has reduced calories eating that way and found a way of eating that is for now satisfying. If the restrictions aren't a problem for her, I think that's great. (My diet tends to be whole foods based not because I "gave up" other foods, but just because that's how I prefer to eat.)
Anyway, sorry to go on so long, but I thought I'd try to answer some of the things that you seemed to find confusing about this thread.
I've realised that there seems to be a million different definitions of "clean eating" after having this discussion. In my head it is pretty much the same as eating things that you yourself cook from scratch. Now, I won't eliminate everything processed, but some things will go. This is not because I think they're ultimately "bad" for you, it is because I don't want to eat them. My goal with it is mainly to eat a lot more vegetables and to cook my own food, make my own sauces, know exactly what I put in it and finally: learn how to cook. I don't view this as a diet, it's more of a lifestyle change to me. Eventually I hope that I'm good enough at cooking that I can adapt after the seasons to be a bit more environmentally friendly, but maybe that's another level of silly
Ofc I realise that someone that is overweight probably has as main goal to lose weight for their healths sake. I think I reacted poorly to that part, that being normal weight is the main indicator of health, since I have never been completely healthy in my entire life, but since I've never been overweight I suddenly have that main indicator of health. It just hit me the wrong way. Sorry about that.
What I wrote in that post wasn't really related to the "clean eating" (btw, I do find that to be an odd word to use as well, makes me picture glossy food).
The sugar discussion I can't say much about. I've never been that into sweet things. I do eat fruit, but mainly for the other things they contain + the fact that we have so many apple trees around here.
Quitting with crisps (and things I tend to replace crisps with when I'm out of crisps) is not related to the "clean eating", it's just me changing what I eat.
Maybe I should have stayed more on topic in this thread
lemurcat12 wrote: »Oh, to clarify one other thing (more briefly), one thing that tends to bug people is opposing "clean eating" to "CICO" and I think that's what started this thread on a sidetrack.
I lost a lot of weight due to keeping CI below CO, and did so whether or not I counted calories (which I did) and whether or not my diet was "clean" (which it probably was, according to most definitions I've seen, even though I didn't do some "clean eating" program, it's just how I like to eat).
Saying CICO is what matters does not mean you are saying "ignore nutrition" or eating a poor diet or eating a less nutritious diet than someone who claims to be into "clean eating."
Does that help clarify?
I don't think I understood that part of the discussion at all, so thank you for explaining!1 -
MarianMarMoi wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »-
Being a normal weight is the main indicator to good health.
-
I'm sorry but I will have to question this part. The only thing being normal weight means is that you eat the right amount of calories. I am normal weight and I've mainly eaten potato crisps for the past years. Even if this doesn't cause me to gain weight, do you think I'm healthy?
Of course everyone choose what they want to eat, but completely denying that some foods are not healthy is not right.
Nutrition is, IMO, important, but if you are obese, the number one thing you can do to improve health is probably losing weight. (I know you are not, but you are kind of jumping into another thread, and OP is and said she was trying to lose.)
The second is probably getting active, if you aren't already. So all the obsession with one diet vs. another beyond "what makes it easier for me to sustain a healthy weight" tends to be overdone.
I am actually pretty focused on healthy eating, since I think it helps me sustain a healthy weight and feel good, and because I think it is, also, important.
Bigger point is that "healthy eating" is not "clean eating." As I normally understand "clean eating" (although there are about a million different definitions) is a focus on eliminating certain foods 100% (often added sugar, but not honey, which makes no sense, and often added sugar in absolutely any quantities, which also makes no sense -- if I want to add a bit of sugar to a rhubarb sauce or cranberry sauce made with fresh cranberries, that is going to end up still with less sugar and more fiber than an apple, so why does the added sugar make it BAD?). Other than sugar, the ingredients/foods eliminated vary so that there is no commonality, but often grains, potatoes, meat, dairy, etc.
There is also a weird obsession with "processing" being bad, often without an understanding of what "processing" is. Something that is processed may have lots of problematic ingredients added (in terms of calories or nutrients or health effects), but so may something cooked at home. Many technically processed foods are ones that most would accept as healthful -- cottage cheese, smoked salmon, canned beans (low sodium), dried pasta (let's assume whole grain), Ezekial bread, skinless, boneless chicken breast, canned sardines, olive oil, so on.
That is all why I consider myself really into healthy eating, but not a clean eater, personally, even though my main meals would often be considered "clean" by those who are into "clean eating." I've never added sugar to meals, don't eat much packaged or premade stuff, enjoy cooking from scratch.
Someone can probably be a clean eater and eat lots of chips, btw, if you make them at home (depending on the definition), and someone who eats a diet mostly based on chips (which I don't think anyone does, probably) has a problem due to the lack of a healthy diet, based on poor nutrition, not because the diet is not clean. IMO, focusing on nutrition or eating a healthy diet requires a focus on what you do eat (like vegetables, protein, healthy fats) and how much, and is not generally about eliminating specific ingredients alone or really about processing (if it's easier for me to eat well if I occasionally get canned beans and tinned fish and smoked salmon and dried pasta and a premade spice mix, why would "clean eating" inherently be an improvement?).
This are just things to think about, and I am genuinely curious about the answer. I don't think it's really related to OP's post, and that's why I asked her what she was interested in and suggested that my own eating patterns might mean we could exchange ideas and recipes even though I am not a self-identified clean eater (since I am interested in nutrition, cook from scratch, etc.).
As for why "clean eating" sets people off, I tend to think it's the use of the term "clean" which isn't really a sensible term and suggests that if you eat some smoked salmon or a cookie your diet is dirty or unclean or whatever (I have opinions myself on the links between cleanliness/purity and both diet and morality, but again probably not worth getting into here).
Personally I've decided that many people just (weirdly, to my mind) use "clean" to mean "nutrition conscious" and when they are I am probably on the same page with them (as are many of the people who objected to the term clean and mentioned calories), since I am very nutrition conscious and interested in talking about nutrition.
OP seems to be interested in losing weight, btw, and why "clean eating" is working for her is that she has reduced calories eating that way and found a way of eating that is for now satisfying. If the restrictions aren't a problem for her, I think that's great. (My diet tends to be whole foods based not because I "gave up" other foods, but just because that's how I prefer to eat.)
Anyway, sorry to go on so long, but I thought I'd try to answer some of the things that you seemed to find confusing about this thread.
I've realised that there seems to be a million different definitions of "clean eating" after having this discussion. In my head it is pretty much the same as eating things that you yourself cook from scratch. Now, I won't eliminate everything processed, but some things will go. This is not because I think they're ultimately "bad" for you, it is because I don't want to eat them. My goal with it is mainly to eat a lot more vegetables and to cook my own food, make my own sauces, know exactly what I put in it and finally: learn how to cook. I don't view this as a diet, it's more of a lifestyle change to me. Eventually I hope that I'm good enough at cooking that I can adapt after the seasons to be a bit more environmentally friendly, but maybe that's another level of silly
Ofc I realise that someone that is overweight probably has as main goal to lose weight for their healths sake. I think I reacted poorly to that part, that being normal weight is the main indicator of health, since I have never been completely healthy in my entire life, but since I've never been overweight I suddenly have that main indicator of health. It just hit me the wrong way. Sorry about that.
What I wrote in that post wasn't really related to the "clean eating" (btw, I do find that to be an odd word to use as well, makes me picture glossy food).
The sugar discussion I can't say much about. I've never been that into sweet things. I do eat fruit, but mainly for the other things they contain + the fact that we have so many apple trees around here.
Quitting with crisps (and things I tend to replace crisps with when I'm out of crisps) is not related to the "clean eating", it's just me changing what I eat.
Maybe I should have stayed more on topic in this threadlemurcat12 wrote: »Oh, to clarify one other thing (more briefly), one thing that tends to bug people is opposing "clean eating" to "CICO" and I think that's what started this thread on a sidetrack.
I lost a lot of weight due to keeping CI below CO, and did so whether or not I counted calories (which I did) and whether or not my diet was "clean" (which it probably was, according to most definitions I've seen, even though I didn't do some "clean eating" program, it's just how I like to eat).
Saying CICO is what matters does not mean you are saying "ignore nutrition" or eating a poor diet or eating a less nutritious diet than someone who claims to be into "clean eating."
Does that help clarify?
I don't think I understood that part of the discussion at all, so thank you for explaining!
Just a quick follow up question for you (even though you kinda hijacked this thread from the OP), you say you cook everything from scratch at home, therefore you say it is “not processed” or “clean”.
Do you cook with flour at all?
Flour is one of the hallmarks of “processed”2 -
GemstoneofHeart wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »-
Being a normal weight is the main indicator to good health.
-
I'm sorry but I will have to question this part. The only thing being normal weight means is that you eat the right amount of calories. I am normal weight and I've mainly eaten potato crisps for the past years. Even if this doesn't cause me to gain weight, do you think I'm healthy?
Of course everyone choose what they want to eat, but completely denying that some foods are not healthy is not right.
Nutrition is, IMO, important, but if you are obese, the number one thing you can do to improve health is probably losing weight. (I know you are not, but you are kind of jumping into another thread, and OP is and said she was trying to lose.)
The second is probably getting active, if you aren't already. So all the obsession with one diet vs. another beyond "what makes it easier for me to sustain a healthy weight" tends to be overdone.
I am actually pretty focused on healthy eating, since I think it helps me sustain a healthy weight and feel good, and because I think it is, also, important.
Bigger point is that "healthy eating" is not "clean eating." As I normally understand "clean eating" (although there are about a million different definitions) is a focus on eliminating certain foods 100% (often added sugar, but not honey, which makes no sense, and often added sugar in absolutely any quantities, which also makes no sense -- if I want to add a bit of sugar to a rhubarb sauce or cranberry sauce made with fresh cranberries, that is going to end up still with less sugar and more fiber than an apple, so why does the added sugar make it BAD?). Other than sugar, the ingredients/foods eliminated vary so that there is no commonality, but often grains, potatoes, meat, dairy, etc.
There is also a weird obsession with "processing" being bad, often without an understanding of what "processing" is. Something that is processed may have lots of problematic ingredients added (in terms of calories or nutrients or health effects), but so may something cooked at home. Many technically processed foods are ones that most would accept as healthful -- cottage cheese, smoked salmon, canned beans (low sodium), dried pasta (let's assume whole grain), Ezekial bread, skinless, boneless chicken breast, canned sardines, olive oil, so on.
That is all why I consider myself really into healthy eating, but not a clean eater, personally, even though my main meals would often be considered "clean" by those who are into "clean eating." I've never added sugar to meals, don't eat much packaged or premade stuff, enjoy cooking from scratch.
Someone can probably be a clean eater and eat lots of chips, btw, if you make them at home (depending on the definition), and someone who eats a diet mostly based on chips (which I don't think anyone does, probably) has a problem due to the lack of a healthy diet, based on poor nutrition, not because the diet is not clean. IMO, focusing on nutrition or eating a healthy diet requires a focus on what you do eat (like vegetables, protein, healthy fats) and how much, and is not generally about eliminating specific ingredients alone or really about processing (if it's easier for me to eat well if I occasionally get canned beans and tinned fish and smoked salmon and dried pasta and a premade spice mix, why would "clean eating" inherently be an improvement?).
This are just things to think about, and I am genuinely curious about the answer. I don't think it's really related to OP's post, and that's why I asked her what she was interested in and suggested that my own eating patterns might mean we could exchange ideas and recipes even though I am not a self-identified clean eater (since I am interested in nutrition, cook from scratch, etc.).
As for why "clean eating" sets people off, I tend to think it's the use of the term "clean" which isn't really a sensible term and suggests that if you eat some smoked salmon or a cookie your diet is dirty or unclean or whatever (I have opinions myself on the links between cleanliness/purity and both diet and morality, but again probably not worth getting into here).
Personally I've decided that many people just (weirdly, to my mind) use "clean" to mean "nutrition conscious" and when they are I am probably on the same page with them (as are many of the people who objected to the term clean and mentioned calories), since I am very nutrition conscious and interested in talking about nutrition.
OP seems to be interested in losing weight, btw, and why "clean eating" is working for her is that she has reduced calories eating that way and found a way of eating that is for now satisfying. If the restrictions aren't a problem for her, I think that's great. (My diet tends to be whole foods based not because I "gave up" other foods, but just because that's how I prefer to eat.)
Anyway, sorry to go on so long, but I thought I'd try to answer some of the things that you seemed to find confusing about this thread.
I've realised that there seems to be a million different definitions of "clean eating" after having this discussion. In my head it is pretty much the same as eating things that you yourself cook from scratch. Now, I won't eliminate everything processed, but some things will go. This is not because I think they're ultimately "bad" for you, it is because I don't want to eat them. My goal with it is mainly to eat a lot more vegetables and to cook my own food, make my own sauces, know exactly what I put in it and finally: learn how to cook. I don't view this as a diet, it's more of a lifestyle change to me. Eventually I hope that I'm good enough at cooking that I can adapt after the seasons to be a bit more environmentally friendly, but maybe that's another level of silly
Ofc I realise that someone that is overweight probably has as main goal to lose weight for their healths sake. I think I reacted poorly to that part, that being normal weight is the main indicator of health, since I have never been completely healthy in my entire life, but since I've never been overweight I suddenly have that main indicator of health. It just hit me the wrong way. Sorry about that.
What I wrote in that post wasn't really related to the "clean eating" (btw, I do find that to be an odd word to use as well, makes me picture glossy food).
The sugar discussion I can't say much about. I've never been that into sweet things. I do eat fruit, but mainly for the other things they contain + the fact that we have so many apple trees around here.
Quitting with crisps (and things I tend to replace crisps with when I'm out of crisps) is not related to the "clean eating", it's just me changing what I eat.
Maybe I should have stayed more on topic in this threadlemurcat12 wrote: »Oh, to clarify one other thing (more briefly), one thing that tends to bug people is opposing "clean eating" to "CICO" and I think that's what started this thread on a sidetrack.
I lost a lot of weight due to keeping CI below CO, and did so whether or not I counted calories (which I did) and whether or not my diet was "clean" (which it probably was, according to most definitions I've seen, even though I didn't do some "clean eating" program, it's just how I like to eat).
Saying CICO is what matters does not mean you are saying "ignore nutrition" or eating a poor diet or eating a less nutritious diet than someone who claims to be into "clean eating."
Does that help clarify?
I don't think I understood that part of the discussion at all, so thank you for explaining!
Just a quick follow up question for you (even though you kinda hijacked this thread from the OP), you say you cook everything from scratch at home, therefore you say it is “not processed” or “clean”.
Do you cook with flour at all?
Flour is one of the hallmarks of “processed”
I told people that the thread was getting a bit hostile and was going to scare people off, after that I plunged into the discussion myself. I guess I tried to defend what i thought the thread was about, which was a mistake because it seems like I didn't understand it at all.
I haven't started cooking from scratch yet, up until yesterday I primarily ate crisps. Today is the day I will start.
But no, flour is something I view as an ingredient in baking and I never bake.5 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »MarianMarMoi wrote: »RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »-
Being a normal weight is the main indicator to good health.
-
I'm sorry but I will have to question this part. The only thing being normal weight means is that you eat the right amount of calories. I am normal weight and I've mainly eaten potato crisps for the past years. Even if this doesn't cause me to gain weight, do you think I'm healthy?
Of course everyone choose what they want to eat, but completely denying that some foods are not healthy is not right.
Nutrition is, IMO, important, but if you are obese, the number one thing you can do to improve health is probably losing weight. (I know you are not, but you are kind of jumping into another thread, and OP is and said she was trying to lose.)
The second is probably getting active, if you aren't already. So all the obsession with one diet vs. another beyond "what makes it easier for me to sustain a healthy weight" tends to be overdone.
I am actually pretty focused on healthy eating, since I think it helps me sustain a healthy weight and feel good, and because I think it is, also, important.
Bigger point is that "healthy eating" is not "clean eating." As I normally understand "clean eating" (although there are about a million different definitions) is a focus on eliminating certain foods 100% (often added sugar, but not honey, which makes no sense, and often added sugar in absolutely any quantities, which also makes no sense -- if I want to add a bit of sugar to a rhubarb sauce or cranberry sauce made with fresh cranberries, that is going to end up still with less sugar and more fiber than an apple, so why does the added sugar make it BAD?). Other than sugar, the ingredients/foods eliminated vary so that there is no commonality, but often grains, potatoes, meat, dairy, etc.
There is also a weird obsession with "processing" being bad, often without an understanding of what "processing" is. Something that is processed may have lots of problematic ingredients added (in terms of calories or nutrients or health effects), but so may something cooked at home. Many technically processed foods are ones that most would accept as healthful -- cottage cheese, smoked salmon, canned beans (low sodium), dried pasta (let's assume whole grain), Ezekial bread, skinless, boneless chicken breast, canned sardines, olive oil, so on.
That is all why I consider myself really into healthy eating, but not a clean eater, personally, even though my main meals would often be considered "clean" by those who are into "clean eating." I've never added sugar to meals, don't eat much packaged or premade stuff, enjoy cooking from scratch.
Someone can probably be a clean eater and eat lots of chips, btw, if you make them at home (depending on the definition), and someone who eats a diet mostly based on chips (which I don't think anyone does, probably) has a problem due to the lack of a healthy diet, based on poor nutrition, not because the diet is not clean. IMO, focusing on nutrition or eating a healthy diet requires a focus on what you do eat (like vegetables, protein, healthy fats) and how much, and is not generally about eliminating specific ingredients alone or really about processing (if it's easier for me to eat well if I occasionally get canned beans and tinned fish and smoked salmon and dried pasta and a premade spice mix, why would "clean eating" inherently be an improvement?).
This are just things to think about, and I am genuinely curious about the answer. I don't think it's really related to OP's post, and that's why I asked her what she was interested in and suggested that my own eating patterns might mean we could exchange ideas and recipes even though I am not a self-identified clean eater (since I am interested in nutrition, cook from scratch, etc.).
As for why "clean eating" sets people off, I tend to think it's the use of the term "clean" which isn't really a sensible term and suggests that if you eat some smoked salmon or a cookie your diet is dirty or unclean or whatever (I have opinions myself on the links between cleanliness/purity and both diet and morality, but again probably not worth getting into here).
Personally I've decided that many people just (weirdly, to my mind) use "clean" to mean "nutrition conscious" and when they are I am probably on the same page with them (as are many of the people who objected to the term clean and mentioned calories), since I am very nutrition conscious and interested in talking about nutrition.
OP seems to be interested in losing weight, btw, and why "clean eating" is working for her is that she has reduced calories eating that way and found a way of eating that is for now satisfying. If the restrictions aren't a problem for her, I think that's great. (My diet tends to be whole foods based not because I "gave up" other foods, but just because that's how I prefer to eat.)
Anyway, sorry to go on so long, but I thought I'd try to answer some of the things that you seemed to find confusing about this thread.
As usual you word things in a very clear way. I agree with what you say and agree that "clean eating" is s term that gets used when nutritious eating would fit better.3
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 426 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions