people who have switched to clean eating?
lucysmommy
Posts: 460
I am on 1200 cals a day and eat what i want within my limit
what i want to know is if anyone started off the way i have - basically reducing cals only - and then switched to a more clean way of eating? how there losses varied?
i feel i am eating the same old food and therefore getting the cravings - i wonder if clean eating would be better for me? to help get rid of the cravings etc
x
what i want to know is if anyone started off the way i have - basically reducing cals only - and then switched to a more clean way of eating? how there losses varied?
i feel i am eating the same old food and therefore getting the cravings - i wonder if clean eating would be better for me? to help get rid of the cravings etc
x
0
Replies
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for me,cutting out sugar and the notorious "white" foods (flour/rice/potatoes) has almost eliminated my sugar cravings. Now if I feel ike eating that candy or whatever, it's not the intense gotta-have-it-now feeling, more of a wistful nostalgia. I rarely eat the pre-packaged meals anymore (SmartOnes, Lean Cuisine, etc) because of the white flour AND the massive amounts of sodium, which makes me retain fluids like crazy. If I'm super hungry at supper, I'll fix a huge (mixing bowl size) salad of mixed greens, baby spinach, shredded carrots, parmesian cheese, sun-dried tomatoes etc. I'm eating way more green foods than ever and can see an improvement in my skin. I now believe that all calories are NOT created equal, so given the choice between whole foods (cut up a sweet potato and make oven-baked fries) or packaged (prepared sweet potato fries) I'll go with the real foods every time.
So I think it helps my weight loss because it's easier to maintain without the cravings for the sweet and greasy foods I ate before.0 -
for me,cutting out sugar and the notorious "white" foods (flour/rice/potatoes) has almost eliminated my sugar cravings. Now if I feel ike eating that candy or whatever, it's not the intense gotta-have-it-now feeling, more of a wistful nostalgia. I rarely eat the pre-packaged meals anymore (SmartOnes, Lean Cuisine, etc) because of the white flour AND the massive amounts of sodium, which makes me retain fluids like crazy. If I'm super hungry at supper, I'll fix a huge (mixing bowl size) salad of mixed greens, baby spinach, shredded carrots, parmesian cheese, sun-dried tomatoes etc. I'm eating way more green foods than ever and can see an improvement in my skin. I now believe that all calories are NOT created equal, so given the choice between whole foods (cut up a sweet potato and make oven-baked fries) or packaged (prepared sweet potato fries) I'll go with the real foods every time.
So I think it helps my weight loss because it's easier to maintain without the cravings for the sweet and greasy foods I ate before.
^^^ This.
I eat clean whole foods and has been a panacea for me in alot of areas not just related to weight.0 -
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Not sure about clean eating keeping the cravings away, but it will keep your cholesterol heathy and such.0
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Clean eating has so many other benefits than helping aid weight loss.
For me, when I eat a more clean diet, I have less cravings for the junk. I have more energy and overall I feel better about what I put in my body.
You get so much more bang for your buck!
I used to think losing weight was staying under a calorie goal. Now, I know that's not true. It's about lifestyle change. It's about doing what is right for my body. We need fuel to keep moving and exercising. You get more fuel from greens, veggies and fruit than you do a hamburger.
Also, think about the chemicals that are involved. Processed, chemical ridden foods are so bad for your health (arteries, cholesterol, etc) and skin. Clean eating will help with cravings, give you a healthy glow and your innards will appreciate you more.
It's not always about the numbers and how fast they go down!
Be healthy about it!
Oh, and coming from someone that is a total carnivore, it's hard to incorporate more veggies (cause I'm not a fan of their taste!) but look into things like green smoothies to help get them down. I love adding spinach just about anything and I'm learning to like new foods.
That's the best part about eating-there are endless combinations to make things just the way you want!0 -
I keep going more and more clean whole foods. My switch came more from trying to keep within my daily allotment of nutrients(sodium fats protien and all the others ) within the goals. I couldnt even come close eating from a box or package. and the wieght keeps coming off so far, and im not always hungry !0
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I basically eat what I want but really try to avoid straight up junk food like candy. I avoid whites (pasta,rice,sugar,bread) when at all possible. I try to avoid prepackaged meals if I can.
Anything with partially hydrogenated is a game stopper. I don't buy it, and if I'm eating it and don't know it hten find out I stop, even if it's mid meal. High Fructose Corn Syrup to a lesser extent, If it's in the "less than 2%" area of the ingredient list I tend to be more forgiving on HFCS.
I'm not perfect. If I'm hungry and that's all there is then guess what gets eaten.
I log what I eat and move on doing the best I can.0 -
so what kind of carbs does everyone at except fruits and veg?
x0 -
so what kind of carbs does everyone at except fruits and veg?
x
Most mine come from fruits and veggies. Outside this I eat lean meats (not high carbs). Occasionally the wheat breads, or natural chips. Potatoes. But mainly from the former0 -
Sweet potatoes, oatmeal, brown rice.0
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thanks for replies
i am new to this and really want to try it - so what is everyones food lists?
x0 -
OH I still have carbs, just whole grain versions of the white. whole grain flour, WG rice or wild, WG pasta.....0
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I eat sprouted wheat tortillas and bagels and will eat organic corn tortillas too.
I radically cut my carbs and sugar when I first started and eat mostly organic produce and meats.......and I never had that "carb withdrawl" that everyone says they have.
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OH I still have carbs, just whole grain versions of the white. whole grain flour, WG rice or wild, WG pasta.....
That's us too. We switched about 6 months ago and just eat all whole grains and no additives. So I bake pretty much all our bread/muffins/waffles etc. We eat whole grain pasta, rice, I make our crackers when we have them. I still probably eat too many carbs. I love carbs. Mmmmm... The funny thing is now I have gotten where I prefer whole wheat bread/pasta over white. White bread tastes like air and just denigrates in my mouth, LOL. I like some substance to my bread/pasta.0 -
I am on 1200 cals a day and eat what i want within my limit
what i want to know is if anyone started off the way i have - basically reducing cals only - and then switched to a more clean way of eating? how there losses varied?
i feel i am eating the same old food and therefore getting the cravings - i wonder if clean eating would be better for me? to help get rid of the cravings etc
x
It's a mind and soul thing. I've just started to eating more 'real' food and I gotta say, I thought I felt fine before but every time I end up eating 'junk' I feel noticeably crappy. Where as I feel I have more energy and feel better about myself when I eat "real" food.0 -
can you eat eggs?
x0 -
OH I still have carbs, just whole grain versions of the white. whole grain flour, WG rice or wild, WG pasta.....
That's us too. We switched about 6 months ago and just eat all whole grains and no additives. So I bake pretty much all our bread/muffins/waffles etc. We eat whole grain pasta, rice, I make our crackers when we have them. I still probably eat too many carbs. I love carbs. Mmmmm... The funny thing is now I have gotten where I prefer whole wheat bread/pasta over white. White bread tastes like air and just denigrates in my mouth, LOL. I like some substance to my bread/pasta.
Initially it was a hard transition for me but now I prefer it. My wife makes graham crackers from scratch, they're great.0 -
for me,cutting out sugar and the notorious "white" foods (flour/rice/potatoes) has almost eliminated my sugar cravings. Now if I feel ike eating that candy or whatever, it's not the intense gotta-have-it-now feeling, more of a wistful nostalgia. I rarely eat the pre-packaged meals anymore (SmartOnes, Lean Cuisine, etc) because of the white flour AND the massive amounts of sodium, which makes me retain fluids like crazy. If I'm super hungry at supper, I'll fix a huge (mixing bowl size) salad of mixed greens, baby spinach, shredded carrots, parmesian cheese, sun-dried tomatoes etc. I'm eating way more green foods than ever and can see an improvement in my skin. I now believe that all calories are NOT created equal, so given the choice between whole foods (cut up a sweet potato and make oven-baked fries) or packaged (prepared sweet potato fries) I'll go with the real foods every time.
So I think it helps my weight loss because it's easier to maintain without the cravings for the sweet and greasy foods I ate before.
i agree! Ever since i've cut it out cold turkey, I dont even crave it. I'm getting sufficient nutrients through eating clean, so i don't develop cravings for things. UNLESS its my lady time, but even those have decreased significantly.
It honestly depends how your macros are. Half my diet right now is protein because I'm building lean muscle. Looking up new recipes always helps too !
for some good ideas you can check out PINTEREST.COM. I'm addicted to this website.. has a lot of great ideas for a variety of things0 -
Carbs - OATMEAL ! so yummy and filling.0
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can you eat eggs?
x
Egg whites are a great source of protein !0 -
thanks for replies
i am new to this and really want to try it - so what is everyones food lists?
x
Brekky - oatmeal with pb and a banana
Lunch - chicken thigh with a mixture of veg and brown rice
Dinner - either chicken, steak or turkey with veg
For snacks I have nuts, fruit, eggs, protein shakes
Sounds pretty bland but once you stop eating all the flavoursome foods it starts to have more flavor0 -
can you eat eggs?
x
Yes, great source of protein. Try to keep it egg whites only if you have high cholesterol.0 -
Absolutely! But we eat straight from the farm eggs. There is so much more that goes into clean eating like PP said. We no longer buy what I think of as "unethical" animal products. We buy all our meat straight from local farms. We buy fresh milk, farm fresh eggs. We make yogurt from our milk. About the only dairy products we buy are cheese, sour cream and butter (we buy those RSBT free and organic). I want to know where my food is coming from and how the animals were treated. DH makes fun of because I have no desire to go vegetarian, but I want my meat to be happy and treated ethically before I eat it! LOL!!! I feel so much better about what we eat. Yes it's more expensive. Yes it took awhile to find where we were going to buy all these things. But the US spends about 10% of our income on food. Most other countries spend between 30-50%. We expect cheap food in the US and that's what we get. Cheap, crap food. It is worth it to invest in your food and health.0
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That was a great article!
I started the way you did - I ate whatever I wanted and just started measuring portions to stay within calories (if you go far enough back in my food log, you'll see lots and lots of Taco Bell). I then started walking, and eating back my exercise calories. I didn't do that out of any specific knowledge other than I got to eat more. And eating more is always a good thing. I can't live on 1200 cals a day, so I started earning the ability to eat a lot.
Then I started really paying attention to how I was feeling after I ate. I had a problem with achy joints, as in couldn't sleep at night I was in so much pain - which I originally thought was from arthritis and lack of exercise, but once I started really paying attention, I realized that I was only achy certain days. In looking at my journal, it happened on the days I ate a lot of wheat. So I cut out wheat and gluten containing items. I only get aches now when I exercise now.
Because I was now reading labels of EVERYTHING I put in my mouth, I decided to only eat things that had ingredients that I knew. Which led to me looking a lot of stuff up online and getting freaked out about food sources. I quit drinking soda almost a year ago, only consume organic whole foods and hardly ever go out to eat any longer. That being said, I also drink wine, make great cupcakes, am addicted to siracha sauce, and enjoy the hell out of the local raw honey.
You have to make it work for you - and probably what you'll find is a combination of things will make you feel like you're eating clean.0 -
There are a lot of benefits to clean eating besides weight loss.
I eat a lot of carbs, because I need them. but I don't eat white flour. I eat bulgar, quinoa, amaranth, whole wheat basmati rice, a lot of beans.
I have several recipes for sweets that have almost no fat in them (vegan) and are pretty decent. (They rely on pureed fruit for the sweetness.)0 -
Bump to follow. I've lost more than 50lbs just counting calories but am in the process of switching to clean eating myself. Just feel I've more chance of maintaining the weightloss if I change things totally rather than sitting waiting for the temptations.0
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OH I still have carbs, just whole grain versions of the white. whole grain flour, WG rice or wild, WG pasta.....
That's us too. We switched about 6 months ago and just eat all whole grains and no additives. So I bake pretty much all our bread/muffins/waffles etc. We eat whole grain pasta, rice, I make our crackers when we have them. I still probably eat too many carbs. I love carbs. Mmmmm... The funny thing is now I have gotten where I prefer whole wheat bread/pasta over white. White bread tastes like air and just denigrates in my mouth, LOL. I like some substance to my bread/pasta.
Initially it was a hard transition for me but now I prefer it. My wife makes graham crackers from scratch, they're great.
would like to make the crackers from scratch, hadn't thought of that before, did she get the recipe from the internet?0 -
for me,cutting out sugar and the notorious "white" foods (flour/rice/potatoes) has almost eliminated my sugar cravings. Now if I feel ike eating that candy or whatever, it's not the intense gotta-have-it-now feeling, more of a wistful nostalgia. I rarely eat the pre-packaged meals anymore (SmartOnes, Lean Cuisine, etc) because of the white flour AND the massive amounts of sodium, which makes me retain fluids like crazy. If I'm super hungry at supper, I'll fix a huge (mixing bowl size) salad of mixed greens, baby spinach, shredded carrots, parmesian cheese, sun-dried tomatoes etc. I'm eating way more green foods than ever and can see an improvement in my skin. I now believe that all calories are NOT created equal, so given the choice between whole foods (cut up a sweet potato and make oven-baked fries) or packaged (prepared sweet potato fries) I'll go with the real foods every time.
So I think it helps my weight loss because it's easier to maintain without the cravings for the sweet and greasy foods I ate before.
Yep!!!! I gave up wheat (for the most part), white, diet sodas, frozen meals and I feel great! I think it adds to your health and helps with the water retention0 -
OH I still have carbs, just whole grain versions of the white. whole grain flour, WG rice or wild, WG pasta.....
That's us too. We switched about 6 months ago and just eat all whole grains and no additives. So I bake pretty much all our bread/muffins/waffles etc. We eat whole grain pasta, rice, I make our crackers when we have them. I still probably eat too many carbs. I love carbs. Mmmmm... The funny thing is now I have gotten where I prefer whole wheat bread/pasta over white. White bread tastes like air and just denigrates in my mouth, LOL. I like some substance to my bread/pasta.
Initially it was a hard transition for me but now I prefer it. My wife makes graham crackers from scratch, they're great.
would like to make the crackers from scratch, hadn't thought of that before, did she get the recipe from the internet?
I use this recipe. The only thing I change is I add 2-3 T of water so it comes together better. And use SHARP cheddar and add a dash of sea salt. YUM!
http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/03/23/recipe-easy-cheesy-crackers/0 -
I'm fairly new to clean eating (again). I just started with MFP on Feb 1st. Things are going really well. I agree with one of the first comments on this thread that now when I want something sweet it's just a want, not a craving "NEED to have it ALL" feeling. It's easy enough to say no.
I have health issues like diabetes and heart disease. On my food diary, I changed it so that I could also see sodium and fiber. Based on guidance of my diabetes educator, I subtract fiber from # of carbs in a food for Net Carbs. It works as far as testing my blood sugar. (Not sure if that is a concern for you) So, when I want pasta, I'm now using Dreamfields brand. It's amazing! It doesn't "look" good in the carbs on my diary, but the effect is minimal on my blood sugar.
I use Village Hearth Light Wheat bread when eating sandwiches at home. 2 slices = 15g of carbohydrate. Although, Sara Lee 45 calorie bread is about the same as far as that is concerned. I stay away from potatoes like the plague because they cause me to crave. (Though I did just have a kids meal fry at a fast food place today over lunch.)
Feel free to add me if you'd like.
Nikki0
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