Can you control your weight by "clean eating" alone?
Replies
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CircleJerkk wrote: »CircleJerkk wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »CircleJerkk wrote: »It's easier to eat within calories when you eat "clean" Speaking from personal experience. After a couple weeks with zero sugar those cravings go away. If you balance your meals with a protein, starch, and vegetable you feel pretty satisfied and it lasts awhile. I never binge when I eat this way... but if I have any type of sugar it sets me off and I'll throw the whole kitchen down this gullet.
How, exactly, do you plan to avoid sugar for the rest of your life? Better to learn to control the cravings than to binge as you're describing.
I eat sugar that is naturally occurring, like in fruit. I don't eat packaged sweets. I've been doing it for quite while now, bud. It's not that difficult.
So you don't avoid sugar, and you don't eat zero sugar after all. That's what the poster you are responded to was asking about. Avoiding added sugar and eating zero sugar are wildly different.
Yes, that's true. I worded it wrong. I don't really think about fruits and vegetables as sugar because they don't have a bad effect on me mentally. No depression, anxiety, or binging. But of course without being more specific nobody would know that. So the only sugar I avoid is white sugar, or those added to foods, or really most processed foods.. since I eat canned coconut milk and I guess that is technically processed. My bad
This is precisely why people dislike the term “clean eating” so much. It’s arbitrary and subjective to the individual, essentially rendering it meaningless. Not to mention it’s unrealistic since as you pointed out, all the people who say they eat clean actually do eat some processed foods, and that’s fine. There’s a lot of nutrient dense processed foods, but people who hear these silly definitions and think they have to follow them to the letter might omit things like coconut milk, Greek yogurt, steel cut oats, quinoa, baby carrots, frozen vegetables, etc - because “processed”.
So why not just say, “I eat a primarily Whole Foods diet and limit added sugars because those are difficult for me to moderate”.... instead of saying “I eat clean”. People would understand and would likely not bat an eye at the former explanation.11 -
WinoGelato wrote: »CircleJerkk wrote: »CircleJerkk wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »CircleJerkk wrote: »It's easier to eat within calories when you eat "clean" Speaking from personal experience. After a couple weeks with zero sugar those cravings go away. If you balance your meals with a protein, starch, and vegetable you feel pretty satisfied and it lasts awhile. I never binge when I eat this way... but if I have any type of sugar it sets me off and I'll throw the whole kitchen down this gullet.
How, exactly, do you plan to avoid sugar for the rest of your life? Better to learn to control the cravings than to binge as you're describing.
I eat sugar that is naturally occurring, like in fruit. I don't eat packaged sweets. I've been doing it for quite while now, bud. It's not that difficult.
So you don't avoid sugar, and you don't eat zero sugar after all. That's what the poster you are responded to was asking about. Avoiding added sugar and eating zero sugar are wildly different.
Yes, that's true. I worded it wrong. I don't really think about fruits and vegetables as sugar because they don't have a bad effect on me mentally. No depression, anxiety, or binging. But of course without being more specific nobody would know that. So the only sugar I avoid is white sugar, or those added to foods, or really most processed foods.. since I eat canned coconut milk and I guess that is technically processed. My bad
This is precisely why people dislike the term “clean eating” so much. It’s arbitrary and subjective to the individual, essentially rendering it meaningless. Not to mention it’s unrealistic since as you pointed out, all the people who say they eat clean actually do eat some processed foods, and that’s fine. There’s a lot of nutrient dense processed foods, but people who hear these silly definitions and think they have to follow them to the letter might omit things like coconut milk, Greek yogurt, steel cut oats, quinoa, baby carrots, frozen vegetables, etc - because “processed”.
So why not just say, “I eat a primarily Whole Foods diet and limit added sugars because those are difficult for me to moderate”.... instead of saying “I eat clean”. People would understand and would likely not bat an eye at the former explanation.
That's why I put clean in quotations. I am responding to the OP, and that is the title of this thread.4 -
CircleJerkk wrote: »WinoGelato wrote: »CircleJerkk wrote: »CircleJerkk wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »CircleJerkk wrote: »It's easier to eat within calories when you eat "clean" Speaking from personal experience. After a couple weeks with zero sugar those cravings go away. If you balance your meals with a protein, starch, and vegetable you feel pretty satisfied and it lasts awhile. I never binge when I eat this way... but if I have any type of sugar it sets me off and I'll throw the whole kitchen down this gullet.
How, exactly, do you plan to avoid sugar for the rest of your life? Better to learn to control the cravings than to binge as you're describing.
I eat sugar that is naturally occurring, like in fruit. I don't eat packaged sweets. I've been doing it for quite while now, bud. It's not that difficult.
So you don't avoid sugar, and you don't eat zero sugar after all. That's what the poster you are responded to was asking about. Avoiding added sugar and eating zero sugar are wildly different.
Yes, that's true. I worded it wrong. I don't really think about fruits and vegetables as sugar because they don't have a bad effect on me mentally. No depression, anxiety, or binging. But of course without being more specific nobody would know that. So the only sugar I avoid is white sugar, or those added to foods, or really most processed foods.. since I eat canned coconut milk and I guess that is technically processed. My bad
This is precisely why people dislike the term “clean eating” so much. It’s arbitrary and subjective to the individual, essentially rendering it meaningless. Not to mention it’s unrealistic since as you pointed out, all the people who say they eat clean actually do eat some processed foods, and that’s fine. There’s a lot of nutrient dense processed foods, but people who hear these silly definitions and think they have to follow them to the letter might omit things like coconut milk, Greek yogurt, steel cut oats, quinoa, baby carrots, frozen vegetables, etc - because “processed”.
So why not just say, “I eat a primarily Whole Foods diet and limit added sugars because those are difficult for me to moderate”.... instead of saying “I eat clean”. People would understand and would likely not bat an eye at the former explanation.
That's why I put clean in quotations. I am responding to the OP, and that is the title of this thread.
Yes but you also responded as if what works for you, will work for everyone: It's easier to eat within calories when you eat "clean". Speaking from personal experience. After a couple weeks with zero sugar those cravings go away. If you balance your meals with a protein, starch, and vegetable you feel pretty satisfied and it lasts awhile.
That may work for you, but many people have found the opposite. That heavily restricting things actually is what causes cravings and potential binges. And for me, eating protein, starch, vegetable is how I eat most meals, but that doesn't mean I don't still enjoy eating something sweet after dinner.7 -
I didn't read the article, but with regards to the general theme of controlling weight without counting calories, I've been doing that for quite a few years now. The bulk of my diet is lean protein, fruits and vegetables and "whole" foods. For me, it's next to impossible to over eat those things. I still indulge on a treat here and there or some calorie dense foods, but I never have to stress or worry about it.1
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I didn't read the article, but with regards to the general theme of controlling weight without counting calories, I've been doing that for quite a few years now. The bulk of my diet is lean protein, fruits and vegetables and "whole" foods. For me, it's next to impossible to over eat those things. I still indulge on a treat here and there or some calorie dense foods, but I never have to stress or worry about it.
Could I just ask you how many calories (about) you eat in a day? This works for someone who can eat 2500 calories and up a day. A small woman with 1400 or less calories a day can't do this.1 -
WinoGelato wrote: »CircleJerkk wrote: »WinoGelato wrote: »CircleJerkk wrote: »CircleJerkk wrote: »snowflake954 wrote: »CircleJerkk wrote: »It's easier to eat within calories when you eat "clean" Speaking from personal experience. After a couple weeks with zero sugar those cravings go away. If you balance your meals with a protein, starch, and vegetable you feel pretty satisfied and it lasts awhile. I never binge when I eat this way... but if I have any type of sugar it sets me off and I'll throw the whole kitchen down this gullet.
How, exactly, do you plan to avoid sugar for the rest of your life? Better to learn to control the cravings than to binge as you're describing.
I eat sugar that is naturally occurring, like in fruit. I don't eat packaged sweets. I've been doing it for quite while now, bud. It's not that difficult.
So you don't avoid sugar, and you don't eat zero sugar after all. That's what the poster you are responded to was asking about. Avoiding added sugar and eating zero sugar are wildly different.
Yes, that's true. I worded it wrong. I don't really think about fruits and vegetables as sugar because they don't have a bad effect on me mentally. No depression, anxiety, or binging. But of course without being more specific nobody would know that. So the only sugar I avoid is white sugar, or those added to foods, or really most processed foods.. since I eat canned coconut milk and I guess that is technically processed. My bad
This is precisely why people dislike the term “clean eating” so much. It’s arbitrary and subjective to the individual, essentially rendering it meaningless. Not to mention it’s unrealistic since as you pointed out, all the people who say they eat clean actually do eat some processed foods, and that’s fine. There’s a lot of nutrient dense processed foods, but people who hear these silly definitions and think they have to follow them to the letter might omit things like coconut milk, Greek yogurt, steel cut oats, quinoa, baby carrots, frozen vegetables, etc - because “processed”.
So why not just say, “I eat a primarily Whole Foods diet and limit added sugars because those are difficult for me to moderate”.... instead of saying “I eat clean”. People would understand and would likely not bat an eye at the former explanation.
That's why I put clean in quotations. I am responding to the OP, and that is the title of this thread.
Yes but you also responded as if what works for you, will work for everyone: It's easier to eat within calories when you eat "clean". Speaking from personal experience. After a couple weeks with zero sugar those cravings go away. If you balance your meals with a protein, starch, and vegetable you feel pretty satisfied and it lasts awhile.
That may work for you, but many people have found the opposite. That heavily restricting things actually is what causes cravings and potential binges. And for me, eating protein, starch, vegetable is how I eat most meals, but that doesn't mean I don't still enjoy eating something sweet after dinner.
Indeed, the author of the article seems to be one of those people who reacted poorly to heavily restricting things. She says it caused her to develop a bingeing issue, and that what worked for her was eating whatever she wanted in moderation but also (of course) paying attention to nutrition and calories (not counting), reading labels, and eating according to a schedule and plan that worked for her (3 regular meals and a snack, lots of vegetables, some lower cal but satisfying to her go-tos as snacks).
That's why I find it odd that it was presented by OP as about clean eating.2 -
Food is clean if it is prepared in sanitary conditions. Weight loss is 99% a matter of CICO. What people call clean eating is (usually) really orthorexia disguised as a healthy diet.6
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Probably beating a dead horse but most people who control their weight with "clean eating" alone, in reality, just have a limited appetite.
Go to the "gaining weight" subforum and find a post from someone who is underweight and looking to gain weight. They usually mention that they just don't like to eat very much or can't eat much before feeling full.2 -
cbohling1987 wrote: »Probably beating a dead horse but most people who control their weight with "clean eating" alone, in reality, just have a limited appetite.
Go to the "gaining weight" subforum and find a post from someone who is underweight and looking to gain weight. They usually mention that they just don't like to eat very much or can't eat much before feeling full.
Lol you've never seen me at a buffet, or a dinner out. I've never been anywhere close to underweight and was once a decent amount overweight. If left to my own devices, eating a highly palatable, processed, calorie dense diet, I'll pack on the pounds in no time if no other controls are put in place.1 -
My friend who controls her weight by doing what she describes as "clean eating" will never be found on this web site because she doesn't feel she needs it. I, as stated, am a calorie counter as are most MFPers. Otherwise, why would you use the site?
So we are rather self-selected CICOs.
And, it seems to be working fine for me!4 -
snowflake954 wrote: »I didn't read the article, but with regards to the general theme of controlling weight without counting calories, I've been doing that for quite a few years now. The bulk of my diet is lean protein, fruits and vegetables and "whole" foods. For me, it's next to impossible to over eat those things. I still indulge on a treat here and there or some calorie dense foods, but I never have to stress or worry about it.
Could I just ask you how many calories (about) you eat in a day? This works for someone who can eat 2500 calories and up a day. A small woman with 1400 or less calories a day can't do this.
Honestly I don't know, certainly over 2000 because I'm pretty active.
But it can be done for smaller women. Unless my friend is an outlier, she easily keeps the weight off without counting on a diet whole foods.2 -
I'll say again that I can keep weight off without counting (and I do eat a diet of mostly whole foods), but that's -- for me -- quite a bit different from saying that all that is required is eating whole foods, or that I couldn't gain eating whole foods. In fact, I did gain eating basically the same mix of foods (mostly whole foods, lots of vegetables) as I eat now. (And that started when I went from quite active to not very active.) I find homemade foods more palatable for the most part than other options (with exceptions like really good cheese, of course).
What I need to do to not gain eating any diet, including mostly whole foods, is to pay attention, generally eat according to a schedule and what I've learned are reasonable portion sizes for me, generally don't snack. Occasional restaurants are fine, be reasonable; if I want to do a restaurant meal and not care (as when I have Indian), do it more rarely.
This kind of mental monitoring (although not calorie counting) seems similar to what Brody is talking about in the article linked in the OP.1 -
Lol you've never seen me at a buffet, or a dinner out. I've never been anywhere close to underweight and was once a decent amount overweight. If left to my own devices, eating a highly palatable, processed, calorie dense diet, I'll pack on the pounds in no time if no other controls are put in place.
I believe you, I just don't think that's the case for most people. It's certainly not the case for me.
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I still have to count calories or I gain weight. I consider peanut butter clean, but u can’t sit down with the jar and a spoon.2
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The short answer is yes.2
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And my short answer would be no, I couldn't.1
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So the short answer is... Maybe?3
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Well it is certainly possible to control and maintain a healthy weight without calorie counting through portion control and basically eating similar things often. Eating clean limits you so much I'd guess that it probably would be easier to not overeat kind of like how monks probably don't have a lot of issues with over eating. That said it is overly strict in my opinion and unnecessary. It's subjective whether you find only eating chicken breast and broccoli to be more or less of a pain than simply calorie counting so I try not to judge.
That said if you are overweight and have difficulty with portion control switching to "clean" eating won't automatically fix that.1 -
Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »For me, weight control means counting calories. The moment I stop, I start to gain. But, it doesn't really bother me to do it, so I do. I also do fairly intense workouts several times a week and I must eat extra calories to compensate for them without overcompensating, so again, calorie counting really helps.
I have a friend that has told me they can control their weight by simply by "clean eating."
Here's a recent article that extols this approach, sort of. (At least it extols the virtues of not counting calories):
https://nyti.ms/2D3xzJe
I do note that the author describes some level of portion control and does watch her weight, cutting back on portions if it increases. Therefore, it sounds like she is "all but" calorie counting.
I can't control my weight with clean eating, as in lose from an already high weight, but I think it can help prevent me from gaining. I gain mostly on sweets. I have tried controlling sweets and I don't do that very well. I am in my 30' s so I will stick with staying away from sweets and eating mostly while foods.0
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