Flexible dieting vs clean eating
Replies
-
GrumpyHeadmistress wrote: »I started this process with the whole concept of “yay, I can eat whatever I want as long as it’s within my calories” and that’s still true.
However I’ve ended up eating different foods (some would say “cleaner”) in order to make me fuller for longer and to give me energy to exercise. Plus I’m greedy and want to eat as much as possible.
I still absolutely eat cake, ice cream, chocolate, candy, burgers etc. In fact last nights dinner was a burger with fried chicken and waffles on it. Drenched in maple syrup. Topped with whipped cream and bacon bits. Nom. Fitted in my calories so...
See? That's what many people don't understand about flexible dieting. It's self-adjusting. Your choices adjust to your needs, preferences, and hunger level. It doesn't need rules set in stone about what foods to eat and what not to eat, but it also rarely translates into "twinkies all day every day". I have no idea why people understand it that way.20 -
I generally eat "clean" but it depends on by whose standards. I also like popcorn that has MSG in it. I think figuring out how to cook and eat healthily is a good idea.
But I think a big theme of the people on this forum is that if you are too restrictive or strict with your diet, you are going to fail. You have to find a way to make a sustainable life-change. Most of the time that doesn't mean cutting out everything fun from your diet forever, but rather learning how to eat those things in moderation, like people who are at a healthy weight do.6 -
Someone told you you had to choose? This may come as a shock but many flexible dieters get most of their calories from whole, nutrient dense foods they just don't get PTSD when they eat a slice of cake.35
-
Who said our body was like a Bunsen burner machine and macros did not matter????10
-
justinkimcentral wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »
By whom? Not me. People who eat clean don't even even agree on what clean eating is.justinkimcentral wrote: »So i know that clean is preferred
Yes.but how does flexible dieting work. Is it just calories in vs calories out?
I've heard a lot of things too. All of them aren't true.I heard that
Yes it is. It's ridiculously simple. It's just not necessarily easy, because it means "eat less, move more, for real and forever". Not many people are ready for that.Calorie in calorie out isnt all that simple though.
Were you going to only eat noodles? Your question is absurd.So if i were to have noodles but still be under my maintainence, will i burn the same amount of fat as if i were clean eating under my maintainence
Understand what maintenance means - the amount of calories that leads you to maintain a stable weight.
Our body isnt a bunsen burner machine that just burns calories as it is. Macros for example...
Exactly what point are you trying to make here?11 -
justinkimcentral wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »
By whom? Not me. People who eat clean don't even even agree on what clean eating is.justinkimcentral wrote: »So i know that clean is preferred
Yes.but how does flexible dieting work. Is it just calories in vs calories out?
I've heard a lot of things too. All of them aren't true.I heard that
Yes it is. It's ridiculously simple. It's just not necessarily easy, because it means "eat less, move more, for real and forever". Not many people are ready for that.Calorie in calorie out isnt all that simple though.
Were you going to only eat noodles? Your question is absurd.So if i were to have noodles but still be under my maintainence, will i burn the same amount of fat as if i were clean eating under my maintainence
Understand what maintenance means - the amount of calories that leads you to maintain a stable weight.
Our body isnt a bunsen burner machine that just burns calories as it is. Macros for example...
That makes no sense. "Calories" are units of energy. "Macros" describe things that have calories.
That's like saying "Our body isnt a bunsen burner machine that just burns calories as it is. Our bodies burn purple for example".13 -
justinkimcentral wrote: »So i know that clean is preferred but how does flexible dieting work. Is it just calories in vs calories out? I heard that Calorie in calorie out isnt all that simple though. So if i were to have noodles but still be under my maintainence, will i burn the same amount of fat as if i were clean eating under my maintainence
I think we can get ourselves into trouble with labels because clean eating or flexible eating may not be the same for any two people. You simply need to come up with a food plan that helps you best reach your goal to lose weight. Weight loss is accomplished via a calorie deficit.
So, you will lose weight no matter what you eat, or how you eat, as long as you stay in a calorie deficit. Everything else you throw into the mix, such as flexible eating or clean eating, or anything, are just tools to keep you on your journey toward weight management
2 -
Eating food you enjoy and not restricting anything is the way I chose to go. You have to do what works for you. The phrase clean eating is nonsense to me. Food is food, food is fuel. I kept to my alloted calories and ate what ever I liked. 8 stone lost and been at maintenance for about 9 months now...still eating what I like and not having to transition away from fad food ideas and "clean" food.12
-
As long as my cookie didn't fall on the floor - it's clean.
If you eat a fairly healthy diet, eating extra doesn't earn you bonus points.
I've done best at eating ~75% healthy (fresh fruit & veggies, lean protiens, complex carbs/whole grains), the rest - snacks and less than "clean" foods. Doing this I have never felt deprived or ended up with severe cravings that lead to binging on stuff.
Look up Olympic athletes eating on YouTube - they have interviews showing what they eat, and guess what, it's NOT "clean eating", and these are the best athletes in the world that need to be at thier best for competition.16 -
I have found that I can’t eat in a restrictive plan. It doesn’t fit for my lifestyle. I have learned I do better on a lower carb diet, but no doing Keto at all. Just balancing my carbs, eating more protein.
Find what works for you3 -
News flash...most people doing "flexible dieting" are getting most of their calories from highly nutritious sources...we just don't freak out because we had a *kitten* cookie for desert after our grilled chicken mixed green and veggie salad.33
-
cwolfman13 wrote: »News flash...most people doing "flexible dieting" are getting most of their calories from highly nutritious sources...we just don't freak out because we had a *kitten* cookie for desert after our grilled chicken mixed green and veggie salad.
Yea, I don't understand why people think that flexible dieting means eating just junk food. I don't doubt some people do eat like that, but that makes up a small percentage.8 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »News flash...most people doing "flexible dieting" are getting most of their calories from highly nutritious sources...we just don't freak out because we had a *kitten* cookie for desert after our grilled chicken mixed green and veggie salad.
Yep wolfman.....
If I ate all my calories from "junk", I would be hungry all the kitten time. Most people would. There are some people who can ignore the biological drive to eat. They are the minority IMHO. Time for my sweet potatoes, veg , and lean meat! Lol2 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »News flash...most people doing "flexible dieting" are getting most of their calories from highly nutritious sources...we just don't freak out because we had a *kitten* cookie for desert after our grilled chicken mixed green and veggie salad.Yea, I don't understand why people think that flexible dieting means eating just junk food. I don't doubt some people do eat like that, but that makes up a small percentage.
I guess some people may be able to get away with it. I'd be hungry all the time if I constantly indulged in calorie-dense "treat" type foods. I can make room in my calorie and nutrition goals to fit them in moderation, but wouldn't have lasted a week if they comprised the majority of my diet.
I certainly don't eat "clean" by any definition of the term, but I do eat a reasonably balanced, nutritious diet which provides me maximal satiety.5 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »News flash...most people doing "flexible dieting" are getting most of their calories from highly nutritious sources...we just don't freak out because we had a *kitten* cookie for desert after our grilled chicken mixed green and veggie salad.Yea, I don't understand why people think that flexible dieting means eating just junk food. I don't doubt some people do eat like that, but that makes up a small percentage.
I guess some people may be able to get away with it. I'd be hungry all the time if I constantly indulged in calorie-dense "treat" type foods. I can make room in my calorie and nutrition goals to fit them in moderation, but wouldn't have lasted a week if they comprised the majority of my diet.
I certainly don't eat "clean" by any definition of the term, but I do eat a reasonably balanced, nutritious diet which provides me maximal satiety.
I often eat too many sweets and fruits. A few days ago I had 1000 calories of fruit in one day (and ~2500 is a big day for me; most are less). Protein tends to come from skinless chicken breasts on those days, which is not awful because I like them. What happens to me sometimes is I get in the kind of bind I am in now - barely have enough calories to get through the day and have dinner. After lunch (chicken spaghetti), I had a honey mango and sliced up a fresh pineapple intending to have a couple of slices but it was so good; before I knew it I ate a pound. Oh, and there were some oreos. Dinner will be chicken breast and brussel sprouts (because I like brussel sprouts). Off to the pool I go for a couple of hours of swimming so I can have some heavily processed chocolate low fat frozen yogurt for dessert tonight.
BTW - BMI is around 24 right now, maintaining 60+ pound loss (currently 65) since the beginning of March.5 -
justinkimcentral wrote: »So i know that clean is preferred but how does flexible dieting work. Is it just calories in vs calories out? I heard that Calorie in calorie out isnt all that simple though. So if i were to have noodles but still be under my maintainence, will i burn the same amount of fat as if i were clean eating under my maintainence
My eating is absolutely horrible. When ive gone to parties, instead of eating less at the party i want to enjoy myself at i dont eat anything before. So thats all my calories in pure *kitten*. I didnt notice any diffrence at all in the rate of loss compared to when i lost with LCHF and super clean eating, only diffrence is i stuck it out with ease this time. I lost 21 kg without any major problems.8 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »News flash...most people doing "flexible dieting" are getting most of their calories from highly nutritious sources...we just don't freak out because we had a *kitten* cookie for desert after our grilled chicken mixed green and veggie salad.
Exactly!!! It's so much easier to make flexible into "normal" for long term results too. No stressing out over social events and food options or having a glass of wine at a party.1 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »News flash...most people doing "flexible dieting" are getting most of their calories from highly nutritious sources...we just don't freak out because we had a *kitten* cookie for desert after our grilled chicken mixed green and veggie salad.
Exactly!!! It's so much easier to make flexible into "normal" for long term results too. No stressing out over social events and food options or having a glass of wine at a party.
It's basically the diet with the least amount of restriction which is why I love it.3 -
CICO is NOT that simple. it is way more complex than that. I've learned so much recently about insulin levels and how weight gain/loss is governed quite a bit hormonally. I would suggest reading the book The Obesity Code: Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss. Eye opening46
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 391.3K Introduce Yourself
- 43.5K Getting Started
- 259.7K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.6K Food and Nutrition
- 47.3K Recipes
- 232.3K Fitness and Exercise
- 388 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.4K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.7K Motivation and Support
- 7.8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.4K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.2K MyFitnessPal Information
- 22 News and Announcements
- 909 Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.2K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions