Looking for new friends who quit sugar/eat clean :)

Awesome job on your weight loss so far! I'll send you a friend request

I looked back at my comment on page 1, and think it was unquestionably encouraging and congratulatory, as were many others. However, I think this (from page 4) is worth repeating, and I am really interested in knowing the answer:

lemurcat12 wrote: »

I find it odd and kind of interesting that when some of us say "hey, I don't self define as a clean eater but I mostly eat nutrient-dense meals cooked from scratch and would love to share ideas/recipes" that we don't get takers. Nor do I see many self-described clean eaters seeking out the vegetable/fruit challenge (we all aim to eat 10+ servings a day) and wanting to hang out there, even though there is discussion about eating veg there. Is it that you think we'll push our nasty dried pasta and cottage cheese and tofu on you? I really don't get it -- why does it matter if someone self identifies as clean (especially since the diets are often extremely similar) if what is wanted is sharing ideas and support? This is why I suspect it's often more about something else.

(And no, I don't push how I eat on people either. I just don't think that eating some tofu means I eat "unclean.") ;-)

Anyway, if you want to chat about meal ideas, I'm interested. Seems like a perfectly good use for a thread.

iamabeetle wrote: »

I am no expert on clean eating as I have only been doing it for a few months but like all foods, everything in moderation and even though I consider myself as a clean eater, I have had a slice of pizza here and there in the past 3 months but I don't consider myself as an 'unclean eater' for doing so.

So like I keep saying, on the whole "clean eaters" and many of us who don't self define as "clean eaters" probably eat similarly. It just strikes me as a divisive term (if someone asks me if I'm a clean eater I think well, I mostly cook from scratch and have for ages and enjoy it, but I also eat tofu or pasta or use some protein powder or go out to a restaurant or whatever it is and assume I'd be dishonest in saying yes, and plus I feel like the term is inherently insulting to others and stigmatizes foods that are fine to include in a diet), but if your interest is in talking about nutrition or eating nutrition-conscious meals or cooking (mostly) from scratch, I imagine many of the rest of us would be interested (and we won't have to hash out what "clean eating" means!).

I haven't been logging over the past week or so, but I plan to start again tomorrow. I log at Cronometer because it's good for nutrients and I find it easier due to a less cluttered database. I do enjoy chatting about vegetables and fruit in the challenge I mentioned, and am always up for new meal inspirations.

Are there particular challenges in meal planning or the like that you face?

I get a farm box in season (late spring to around Thanksgiving) and having to use that up is a fun challenge for me. I tend to have a slightly harder time getting inspired in my cooking in winter, although I am playing with my new instant pot lately.

Who consumes 100 grams of either at one sitting? Or even in one day?

I think the reason some of us (mostly veterans of MFP that has been here before, learned from their mistakes and moved on) think the CLEAN EATING movement is garbage is the fact that it's not sustainable. And if you are here for weight loss, it's all Calories In, Calories Out. Doesn't matter where those calories come from, if you eat too many, you gain. If you eat at a deficient you lose.

I've been doing this "losing/maintaining" stuff since 2011 and I've learned a ton from these forums and the very reasonable people posting. When I started I thought you had to cut out all processed foods and eat "clean" too. That's a result of media, magazines, and etc. You read stuff, you think it has to be true and then you try it. You do it for a few weeks, you are proud of yourself that you hung on that long...THEN you go to birthday party and your favorite cake is there, staring you in the face. Cake, oh goodness, that's like the holy grail of bad. But it tastes so good, and you want some. Everyone else is doing it. But you lasted 3 full weeks without "processed junk" and if you eat it you'll gain. Guess what? If you eat it, and skip the 2 glasses of red wine at dinner (you know that booze that everyone says it good for you), it will all balance out. Your body really isn't that smart. Sugar is sugar and it's all processed the same. If it comes from cake, fruit, wine, honey, agave, etc.

Now, I'm not telling you to live on a diet of McDonalds Quarter Pounders and cake. I'm telling you there needs to be a balance. I like the 80-20 rule. 80% of the things I eat are good for my body (lean protein, omega 3 fatty acids, veggies, fruit, etc), and 20% may be questionable (sugar, carbs, wine etc). You know why? You CAN'T go your whole life being rigid and still live a happy, no guilt life. I know I couldn't have lasted this long without wine, beer, cookies, bread, diet coke and pasta. I'd be in the fetal position crying on the floor every day. And this isn't just about getting the weight off. It's about keeping it off and finding balance.

OP, good luck to you. I hope your plan works. But if it doesn't, we'll be here to be the voice of reason.