Eating Clean

MyTime1985
MyTime1985 Posts: 456 Member
edited November 10 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm being needy today, how do you guys feel about eating "Clean", all the time, day in and day out? Has anyone done it? What were your results? Is it tough to stick with?
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Replies

  • coolstacey6
    coolstacey6 Posts: 83 Member
    I try to eat clean or non processed food 80-90% of the time. just healthier for you.
  • subigirl
    subigirl Posts: 53 Member
    I also eat clean (non-processed) about 80-90% of the time. I read Jillian Micheals' book "Boost Your Metabolism" last year about this time...seriously scared me organic! No joke! When I read how additives could dork with your hormones and such, I quit all kinds of things! I haven't had a soda of any kind in nearly a year. I've become a major label reader...avoiding MSG, BHA, BHT, dyes, etc. like they were the plague! I try to eat meats that are hormone-free, antibiotic free, grass-fed, free-ranging...it is a bit more expensive, but after finding out how all impacts you. I've even gone so far as watching my plastics (there are many lists on line which tell you which numbers are more prone to leeching into your drink or food); use paraben-free cosmetics, lotions, etc.; got rid of most of my plastic food storage containers and replaced with glass; and watch the chemicals I use around my house. I have gotten rid of my migraine headaches, cleared up my skin...the list of symptoms I no longer suffer with day in and day out is crazy!
  • pamelad77
    pamelad77 Posts: 292 Member
    When I joined MFP 2 or 3 weeks ago, I used it to kick start a drastic diet change. From fast food and about 1 serving of veg and no fruit a week, I switched to clean eating 80-90% of the time. My diet has improved dramatically, you can view my diary, it's public.

    Even in the two weeks since I started, I have noticed a huge difference. Everyone says how well I am looking. My energy levels are higher and more consistent.

    But to top it all off, a persistent cough I've had for over 15 years (doctors put it down to a sinus problem) has almost gone. It lessens every day.

    I realise it is harder work and takes more planning to eat clean, but I can't recommend it enough!
  • teagin2002
    teagin2002 Posts: 1,900 Member
    I do it 4 days a week regularly (tue to Fri) then on the weekend I eat what even I want with in my maintenance calorie limit. I rarely eat out and stick to healthy foods, but I feel amazing.
    My diary is open if you would like to check it out.
  • Articeluvsmemphis
    Articeluvsmemphis Posts: 1,987 Member
    I also eat clean (non-processed) about 80-90% of the time. I read Jillian Micheals' book "Boost Your Metabolism" last year about this time...seriously scared me organic! No joke! When I read how additives could dork with your hormones and such, I quit all kinds of things! I haven't had a soda of any kind in nearly a year. I've become a major label reader...avoiding MSG, BHA, BHT, dyes, etc. like they were the plague! I try to eat meats that are hormone-free, antibiotic free, grass-fed, free-ranging...it is a bit more expensive, but after finding out how all impacts you. I've even gone so far as watching my plastics (there are many lists on line which tell you which numbers are more prone to leeching into your drink or food); use paraben-free cosmetics, lotions, etc.; got rid of most of my plastic food storage containers and replaced with glass; and watch the chemicals I use around my house. I have gotten rid of my migraine headaches, cleared up my skin...the list of symptoms I no longer suffer with day in and day out is crazy!

    wow! good for you. I like success stories like these.
  • MyTime1985
    MyTime1985 Posts: 456 Member
    Wow! I appreciate the comments. This is something I'm seriously considering starting and doing for the rest of my life. I think I'll have to do it in baby steps but I just figured it has to be good for you. How could it possibly not be??? I'm getting Jillian's book TODAY as well. Thank you!
  • MyTime1985
    MyTime1985 Posts: 456 Member
    Well damn! It must work because Jillian's book is SOLD OUT on Amazon!!!!!
  • CoderGal
    CoderGal Posts: 6,800 Member
    What do you guys eat for carbs that are 'clean'?
  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    I eat as clean as possible.....whole foods, very limited processed foods (can't give up my coffee creamer!), nothing with ingredients I don't recognize, no fast food (limited restaurant food), and no soda. I would say I'm clean 80-90% of the time....and sometimes you just have to have pizza! :)
    Since Jillian's book is sold out - I would recommend you read "In Defense of Food" by Michael Pollan.....or any of his books, really. They are a great education about the state of food in the U.S.
  • My1985Freckles
    My1985Freckles Posts: 1,039 Member
    80-90% of the time as weel.
  • deathmittenz
    deathmittenz Posts: 1 Member
    I do the same- about 80-90% of the time, I am CLEAN. There are a few things I won't give up, like my Crystal Light and Cinnamon Toast Crunch, LOL! But I do NOT eat fast food of any sort, no sodas, candy, or "boxed" dinners/foods. Every once in awhile I will snag a pretzle stick from my hubby's bowl, or eat a packet of instant oats instead of making steel cut oats. It IS harder, it DOES take more time, thought, planning and prep work-and willpower, if you are the only one in the home doing it and therefore have all the "junk" food in the house-but I find it SOOOO worth it. I just FEEL better about myself. I just started MFP not even a week ago, but the clean eating has been for several weeks, and I feel great! Pinterest is a GREAT site for finding clean recipes!
  • simplyeater
    simplyeater Posts: 270 Member
    What do you guys eat for carbs that are 'clean'?

    Brown rice, 100% whole wheat bread (no high fructose corn syrup, or weird preservatives), whole wheat or spelt tortillas, whole wheat or rice or jerusalem artichoke flour pasta, potatoes (sweet and reg.), fruit (it's got plenty of carbs)

    I'm sure there's plenty more but that's a start.
  • angiemartin78
    angiemartin78 Posts: 475 Member
    I've been eating clean since 1-17-12 and I've lost 25 pounds! But I feel so much better without all of the added BS! We went to the Circus last night and I was starving. I had 1/2 of a pretzel and within 20 minutes was feeling gross. I've been reading this book "Accidentally Overweight" written by Dr. Libby Weaver, and it has changed my life! I'm slowly changing things for the rest of my family as well, as I'm sure they would freak if I stripped the cupboards of their favorites all at once. All of the added junk in our food is what is slowly killing us!!!
  • angiemartin78
    angiemartin78 Posts: 475 Member
    What do you guys eat for carbs that are 'clean'?

    Quinoa, brown rice, beans...The possibilites really are endless!
  • daniivdean
    daniivdean Posts: 105 Member
    I'm being needy today, how do you guys feel about eating "Clean", all the time, day in and day out? Has anyone done it? What were your results? Is it tough to stick with?

    I am on day 2 :) i feel wonderful- my diary is open too
  • kunibob
    kunibob Posts: 608 Member
    I aim to eat clean whenever I can, though I'm definitely not strict about it. I feel better about myself mentally on days where I eat pretty clean.
  • sblair77
    sblair77 Posts: 355 Member
    Clean eating just feels right.

    As for carbs I make my own bread. Then I know what the heck is in there.
  • MyTime1985
    MyTime1985 Posts: 456 Member

    This website is very informative! I love the part about 10-20%. My only problem is it's obviously written for "healthy" people and/or bodybuilders. I am very far from that category but it was interesting and I will be keeping it in my favorites as a reference.
  • krkoch1983
    krkoch1983 Posts: 55 Member
    bump
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member

    This website is very informative! I love the part about 10-20%. My only problem is it's obviously written for "healthy" people and/or bodybuilders. I am very far from that category but it was interesting and I will be keeping it in my favorites as a reference.

    Not really it applies to everyone, if you get the majority of your cals from whole nutrient dense foods, some "bad" foods don't make a whole lotta difference.

    And for weight loss, holding calories and protein constant, it doesn't matter if you eat all unclean or clean foods, you're results will be the same and blood markers of health would improve just from losing eight, even if done eating unclean foods
  • subigirl
    subigirl Posts: 53 Member
    What do you guys eat for carbs that are 'clean'?

    Fruit, rice (I've especially grown to love black rice...get it in bulk at Whole Foods), potatoes...there are many, many possibilities. One thing I noticed is how many things have MSG in it! I've even had to resort to playing around with making my own dressings and dips for veggies, because even the mixes have the crap in it!

    It's really all about getting back to cooking your own meals, and if you must take a shortcut (like if you aren't great about making your own sauce), taking the time to read the label!
  • MyTime1985
    MyTime1985 Posts: 456 Member
    Do you guys track your sugar intake? It seems like sugar may be off the chart eating this way unless you limit that as well.
  • JadeRabbit08
    JadeRabbit08 Posts: 551 Member
    I saw dramatic changes in my energy levels and swelling in hands and feet within 4 days of changing to a healthier way of eating.
    I have almost non existent cravings (what I do have I would descibe as mildy fancing some food type rather than the old 'dont stand between me and my food of choice unless you want to get hurt")

    I am not hungry because the meals are huge so no battling with binging behaviour either.
    Its the best move I have ever made for my health and I never want to go back to feeling how I did before.
    I love eating food that taste good and knowing it is great for my health.
    Its freeing to have no guilt associated with eating.
  • MyTime1985
    MyTime1985 Posts: 456 Member
    I haven't heard a negative comment yet so I think I'm ready to give it a try. Thanks everyone!!!!!!!
  • sobriquet84
    sobriquet84 Posts: 607 Member
    What do you guys eat for carbs that are 'clean'?

    I take a grain and starch free approach, with low sugar.

    my sources of carbs usually include:
    nuts and unsweetened peanut/almond butter
    naturally occuring sugars in dairy
    berries (in my protein shakes and sometimes salads)
    tomato
    avocado
    hummus
    lentils
    and last but certainly not least, a TON of all sorts of starch free vegetables. love me some artichokes or eggplant or zucchini or fresh dark leafy greens and spinach salad or a good vegetable stir-fry.

    but of course I ate 5 pieces of chocolate on Valentine's Day :)
  • subigirl
    subigirl Posts: 53 Member
    I was watching my sugar anyway...hence why I was drinking all kinds of diet sodas and using artificial sweeteners before reading that book. I learned a lot from back in my days of doing super low carb. I try to stick with fruit that has a lower glycemic index. I love berries! I also eat a lot more green veggies than I ever had in my life...lunch and dinner always have some sort of green veggie thing to it. I find that I simply make more healthy choices. Yes, the fam still likes to go out to eat on the weekends, and then there is the fajita Tuesday they like so much...but even then, I make the best choices I can. Here is a web site that could help with finding places that serve better meat:

    http://grassfedbeefrestaurants.com/

    Like where I live, Mighty Fine Burgers uses grass-fed beef...so I get a burger with no cheese and no bun (gluten intolerant), and that is basically our go-to hamburger joint. Chipotle also claims to serve meat that is free of hormones and antibiotics. Of course, any time you eat out, you can't be 100% sure what is in the other ingredients you use...but if you can be comfortable with the main ingredient, you are better off than if you went someplace that served cheap, hormone and antibiotic ridden meat!
  • WickedGarden
    WickedGarden Posts: 944 Member
    I was eating healthier since last summer, and recently been eating more clean...probably 90% of the time now. I actually feel 'sick' when I eat out/eat something that is heavily processed.

    Wish it was easier, but when we go to a friend's house for dinner, it's hard to not ask "what did you use in the sauce?" So I try to plan for it. I 'save' my calories for dinner at their place, and have to totally guess at everything-I don't want to look like a diet freak!

    In reality, GMOs (genetically modified organisms), rBGHs rBSTs (cattle growth hormones) and all the other things are so new to our food chain (since the early 90s), we can't really say 'it won't hurt us'. Milk from the cows injected with the growth hormones can possibly trigger a higher cancer risk. (The hormones are digested thru the milk at such a high concentration and then enter a human's bloodstream) Why take that risk?

    Those are my reasons for eating clean.
  • jadedone
    jadedone Posts: 2,446 Member
    I do around 80-85% of the time. Even when eating out (it isn't that hard were I live.)

    I eat about 75-85% organic, and around 60% locally sourced. Trying to increase these numbers. Stick to hormone free/etc meat when I am buying it, generally local as well. About 60% of restaurants I go to do this as well.

    My health is pretty good, but of course I have weight to lose. I have been eating pretty clean for around 8 years at this point. Calories still matter. I gained ~ 30-40 pounds since I started eating cleaner.

    I definitely feel off when I have most processed junk food and most fast food. I read labels, look for things made out of normal stuff. And tread carefully around processed sauces.
  • escloflowneCHANGED
    escloflowneCHANGED Posts: 3,038 Member
    I also eat clean (non-processed) about 80-90% of the time. I read Jillian Micheals' book "Boost Your Metabolism" last year about this time...seriously scared me organic! No joke! When I read how additives could dork with your hormones and such, I quit all kinds of things! I haven't had a soda of any kind in nearly a year. I've become a major label reader...avoiding MSG, BHA, BHT, dyes, etc. like they were the plague! I try to eat meats that are hormone-free, antibiotic free, grass-fed, free-ranging...it is a bit more expensive, but after finding out how all impacts you. I've even gone so far as watching my plastics (there are many lists on line which tell you which numbers are more prone to leeching into your drink or food); use paraben-free cosmetics, lotions, etc.; got rid of most of my plastic food storage containers and replaced with glass; and watch the chemicals I use around my house. I have gotten rid of my migraine headaches, cleared up my skin...the list of symptoms I no longer suffer with day in and day out is crazy!

    You are my twin!:wink:
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