"Eating Clean"- Does it make a difference?

If you eat 1200 calories in smarties or lean chicken breast/veggies, you will lose weight, you will look and feel like crap, but you would lose weight, your body would suffer, hair loss, skintexture changes, general health, alertness, irritability..you get it! but to answer your question, a calorie is a calorie.

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=133634471

If it fits my macros and I like it, I'll eat it. This usually ends up relatively clean since it's not just about calories but about the balanced diet.

If I ate most my calories from sweets it'd be way too many carbs, not enough protein.
If I ate mostly BK and McDonalds junk it'd be way too much fat and sodium.
If I ate mainly ready meals I'd get too much sodium.

This way it balances it all out, I can have chocolate, I can have pizza, I can have ice cream, but in moderation.

I try to eat "healthy-ish" but often eat processed food and have a good amount if "treats". It hasn't effected my weight loss.

Speaking for myself; yes it does make a difference. I really notice the difference the next day (digestive issues) when I don't eat "clean".

Like most folks are saying, you can certainly lose weight in the short term eating only junk. But this can have negative effects on your metabolism.

I try to eat clean for a few reasons:
-it makes me feel better
-I know I'm getting the vitamins and nutrients I need without taking a multivitamin
-even in thin people, high consumption of sugar and HFCS is linked with diabetes and other illnesses.

Sure, I eat chocolate now and then, once in a great while a burger or some pizza, but on a day-to-day basis, I really do strive to eat about 80% clean.

To those of you saying things like oh calories are calories it won't make a difference whether you eat crap like double cheeseburgers with fries all day or healthy food like grilled chicken breasts with salads and whole grains. Please answer this question: if it makes no difference, then why do professional bodybuilders or professional fitness models who depend on their bodies looking lean and muscular to pay their bills not eat pizza and pop all day? After all, calories are calories. Why do they go through the trouble of eating and preparing bad tasting healthy food when they can just go to Mcdonald's or Pizza Hut for the same number of calories?

As i said, if you want to be totally uber healthy, yes it matters. If you just want to be healthier in an easy, sustainable way, if doesn't. I'd rather feel 90% healthier eating what i want than be 100% healthy eating what i don't.

To those of you saying things like oh calories are calories it won't make a difference whether you eat crap like double cheeseburgers with fries all day or healthy food like grilled chicken breasts with salads and whole grains. Please answer this question: if it makes no difference, then why do professional bodybuilders or professional fitness models who depend on their bodies looking lean and muscular to pay their bills not eat pizza and pop all day? After all, calories are calories. Why do they go through the trouble of eating and preparing bad tasting healthy food when they can just go to Mcdonald's or Pizza Hut for the same number of calories?

I say because they need to closely watch their sodium and sugar intakes when they have to appear that lean. If one could eat burgers/fries and still stay under the calorie count, one would do fine in theory. But for me, I couldn't because that would only be allowing one meal vs 2 or 3 clean meals.

Let's say your limit is 2600 calories. Either you eat 3 good clean meals a day or a triple burger, a huge large fries and a supersized milk shake. Then down it with a huge coke. Same calorie count.

I've noticed a big difference in water retention for me personally, especially after cutting processed carbs (white bread, pasta etc) and ready meals. I used to put on 3-5lbs daily now only 1 lb a day fluctuations.. monthlies used to be 6-10lbs!!! now 2-3 lbs going on and coming off much quicker!

I now mainly eat oats or rice krispies for breakfast or fruit.

lunch is salad occasionally with a GF pitta bread to make a healthy kebab or occasionally eggs on toast (also Gluten free bread) .. bread not more than twice a week, usually once. sometimes any left over homemade soup or stew from day before.

dinner is mainly white meat or fish, once a week may have red meat.. I like lamb but not a big fan of beef anyway... usually save it for sunday to have a lamb chop with sunday dinner i also allow a mini yorkie pud on sunday.. which is only item I have with white flour. (thats not wheat gluten free)

I get my food shop online so its easy to add my 'healthy shop' to basket and just get it delievered without been distracted about whats on special offer as I go around the supermarket, I do treat myself to a gluten free choc brownie though when i get my shop every 2-3 weeks! .. and the occasional brandy and coke!

I feel I have more energy not sure if thats the diet or the exercise as doing both. I don't eat out often but when we do my family loves carveries which is a yorkshire tradition so of course plenty of fresh veg, salad and meat to choose from, I usually treat myself to a couple of roast potatoes but don't have them at home... I'll be doing same xmas day.

I think it has made a difference for me and I plan to stick to this and its not just a diet anymore as I'm also enjoying the food. Yesterday for first time I tried coley fish fillet in oven baked in foil I added a little garlic butter and herbs had with green beans, instead of having mashed potato as I would before I steamed carrots and cauliflower and mashed them instead it was lovely!... and don't fel the need to have potatoes etc with everymeal now. Also whizz cauli in processer and use as rice/cous cous substitute.. i did this monday wtih home made chilli and corn tortilla's... much tastier than ready meals!!

My tummy has shrink loads too and I think thats from reduction of carbs as well as exercise lost 12" around largest part of tummy and no longer look pregnant!! .. weighed in at 10st 11 today (from 12st 7 in June) .. first time I been 10 st something for years! :happy:

Of course, it does make a difference. Everything we eat will "send a message" to our body, that will react differently to the different substances. In a way, food is information for your brain.
For instance, if you eat carbs, your pancreas will produce insuline in order to assimilate it. Insuline also helps fat storage, so if you eat too many carbs you will also increase your fat storage.
By eating, we send pieces of information to our brains, so it is important to eat healthy to be healthy and to lose weight more easly.

I think it really depends on the person. Personally, I feel way better when I eat clean and I can REALLY notice the difference in myself when I eat crappy food. I know people who are the same, and have one friend who is even as sensitive as I am. Then I also know people who can eat crappy crappy crap all the time and are still actually healthy. Their bloodwork is good, they are fit, have lots of energy, etc. And of course I know lots of people who eat a combination of crappy and healthy. I think it all comes down to individual's bodies and how they react to things.

Of course, it does make a difference. Everything we eat will "send a message" to our body, that will react differently to the different substances. In a way, food is information for your brain.
For instance, if you eat carbs, your pancreas will produce insuline in order to assimilate it. Insuline also helps fat storage, so if you eat too many carbs you will also increase your fat storage.
By eating, we send pieces of information to our brains, so it is important to eat healthy to be healthy and to lose weight more easly.

^^This. We are, after all, just walking bags of chemical reactions and signaling pathways, the vast majority of which haven't been thoroughly researched.

For instance, if you eat carbs, your pancreas will produce insuline in order to assimilate it. Insuline also helps fat storage, so if you eat too many carbs you will also increase your fat storage.

So you're saying that if we eat too many carbs, we'll gain fat, even if we are creating a calorie deficit with them?

I'm saying that you can not burn fat if you have too high levels of insuline because insuline literally shuts down fat cells. Anyway, there are sooo many hormons and chemical reactions going on (and I am not an expert in this field), that it would be impossible to make too easy generalizations, I think.

Say, you have eaten a bunch of carbs, then your insuline levels will increase and your fat cells will be "blocked" for fat burning and only open for fat storage. Sugar can only be stored in your muscles and in your liver. When both are full, the remaining sugar will be brought to the next (potentially endless ) storage area: the fat cells.

So, I would say, yes: I you CONSTANTLY eat carbs and keep your insuline level very high, it is nearly impossible to lose fat. If you have a high calorie deficit, you'll probably lose weight, muscle weight though.

(P.S.: You may call yourself a "monster", but the kitty in the profile pic is sooo cute! )