Anyone transitioning to "clean eating"?

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Replies

  • Picola1984
    Picola1984 Posts: 1,133
    The first thing I noticed about your post is that you said it would be difficult....the best help you can give yourself at the beginning is to change your thinking to....I want this, its the best thing I could ever do for myself, and I am going to do it. There is no easy or difficult, you just do it because you want to do it. The next thing is sugar is the easiest thing to give up because your cravings go away when you eat the right amount of protein for your body. I know when I crave sugar, my body is asking for protein, and when I am constantly hungry my body is asking for carbs - so I eat a small amount of low fat carbs and the feeling goes away. Once you know what your body wants and needs to feel great you will know how to eat for it. Last - stick to whole foods and learn how to cook with raw ingredients - leave the cans, packages, and bakeries behind.

    That's really helpful. Thank you!
  • twinmomtwice4
    twinmomtwice4 Posts: 1,069 Member
    I've been eating more clean for the last few weeks and I feel so much better. Clean eating, to me, means no (or very little) processed foods...lots of fresh veggies and fruits, whole grains, etc.

    It hasn't been a difficult transition at all. I've found wonderful recipes and easy ways to make the foods I like using clean foods.

    No need to give up ranch dressing...just make your own! I have an awesome light buttermilk ranch dressing recipe that is to die for!! My family LOVES it!

    For every processed food you eat, there are tons of recipes on how to do a homemade version in a healthy way. You just have to google it and then devote time to making it.

    It's definitely worth the time! Feel free to add me if you like!
    What is your ranch recipe?

    Here's a link to the recipe:

    http://www.fortheloveofcooking.net/2010/05/creamy-low-fat-buttermilk-basil.html

    It tastes better than store-bought ranch dressing!!!
  • AmandasJourney2012
    AmandasJourney2012 Posts: 50
    eating clean basically is non-processed food right? is ezekiel bread a clean option for bread?
  • asugar
    asugar Posts: 178 Member
    I have read several of Toshas books Eat Clean Diet... I do agree with the philosophy and if you can keep your self disciplined and plan ahead it's a good way to eat. Makes you feel better for sure. I have been and on and off clean eater trying my best to be more on than off! Yes Ezekial is great in moderation.
  • asugar
    asugar Posts: 178 Member
    I have read the Paleo Diet and the Primal Blueprint. I would love to have enough discipline to stay on that kind of plan because it would help all my allergies , digestive and arthritic like issues. I think I have a carb addiction. I go for a few days without any bread, pasta etc. and then I relapse!
  • theartichoke
    theartichoke Posts: 816 Member
    eating clean basically is non-processed food right? is ezekiel bread a clean option for bread?

    Yes it is.
  • myjourney2
    myjourney2 Posts: 424 Member
    I have been eating my way of clean for about a month. I dont restrict my diet but what I do is avoid all packaged foods and dont eat anything with ingredients that I cant pronounce. So far it is working really well. I feel amazing and I actually dont crave things like potato chips, chocolate bars, ice cream etc. that were my favourtie comfort foods.
  • yesthistime
    yesthistime Posts: 2,051 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/133-clean-eating-group
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/4912-clean-eating-april-16-may-16-2012
  • halhix
    halhix Posts: 48 Member
    Due to severe allergies, I'm reduced to so called "clean eating". I don't eat any processed food, dairy, or any gluten. Any beef or pork that I have is grass-fed as well unless I am traveling out of town. It's not for everyone and can be expensive from a cost and time to prepare standpoint (especially grocery shopping and looking at labels). Imagine what you are doing now to track calories and then remove about half the foods that you eat today.

    The positive is that I dropped 20 lbs very quickly after cleaning up my diet of food allergens. I also have a lot more energy than I had before. It works for me as I feel completely lousy if I get off of it for just a little bit.
  • theartichoke
    theartichoke Posts: 816 Member
    I do my own version of clean eating. What worked best for me was going completely clean then adding things back in slowly and in reasonable quantities. Flour, white sugar and chemicals are still out for me and might always be. I'm pre-diabetic so I started clean eating to avoid insulin. Being free from carb cravings has been the biggest benefit for me and I don't slug out anymore. I'm in the process of finding the place I can live with for the rest of my life. I'll always be a mostly clean eater.
  • joy31021
    joy31021 Posts: 216
    bump
  • kayla7303
    kayla7303 Posts: 154 Member
    Today is my second day actually. I have done pretty well these last few days, but i have been under my calorie goal by a bit. I haven't been too hungry. I feel great without all of that processed crap. (excluding the honey roasted almonds I snacked on today)

    Feel free to add me.(:
  • warmachinejt
    warmachinejt Posts: 2,162 Member
    I want to start transitioning to clean eating, trust me I know this transition is going to be extremely hard. I wanted to know if there were any other transitioners. If so please add me. For my first day, which will be tomorrow, I plan on not having any bread or granulated sugar. Then I plan on cutting out ranch out of my diet and so on. Any who for those who are transitioning what changes have you made so far? What do you think is going to be the hardest part of this transition and why are you transitioning to clean eating?
    well it depends on what clean means to you. But why cut out bread? It's been eaten for many years since the begginings of civilization... I'd take out processed stuff first.
  • nannabannana
    nannabannana Posts: 780
    bump
  • hellraisedfire
    hellraisedfire Posts: 403 Member
    I want to start transitioning to clean eating, trust me I know this transition is going to be extremely hard. I wanted to know if there were any other transitioners. If so please add me. For my first day, which will be tomorrow, I plan on not having any bread or granulated sugar. Then I plan on cutting out ranch out of my diet and so on. Any who for those who are transitioning what changes have you made so far? What do you think is going to be the hardest part of this transition and why are you transitioning to clean eating?
    well it depends on what clean means to you. But why cut out bread? It's been eaten for many years since the begginings of civilization... I'd take out processed stuff first.

    Processed bread and bread back then are really different things. You can make bread yourself today with only a few ingredients, maybe 5, and there's three-four times that in a normal package of white bread to make it last longer. So removing processed bread and replacing it with non-processed bread is a good start. The fresh bread I get from the bakery gets mold within 2-3 days while packaged stuff. Weeks.
  • kristinL16
    kristinL16 Posts: 401 Member
    The idea of clean eating really makes sense to me (to me, that means no/minimally processsed foods and limited sugars except for fruit) but what holds me back is the idea that I can NEVER eat something "bad" again. A few weeks ago I saw a segment on the Today show and the dietician said to make 80% of your food "clean" or whole and the other 20% "other" foods. That spoke to me, because it gives some flexibility and is more realistic for my lifestyle. I am reading, "The Eat Clean Diet" right now for more info and inspiration. Seems that she is pretty rigid, though.

    I would love to be able to have friends who are eating clean as well (and look at your diaries to see what you are eating!). Feel free to add me!
  • asugar
    asugar Posts: 178 Member
    I have been eating my way of clean for about a month. I dont restrict my diet but what I do is avoid all packaged foods and dont eat anything with ingredients that I cant pronounce. So far it is working really well. I feel amazing and I actually dont crave things like potato chips, chocolate bars, ice cream etc. that were my favourtie comfort foods.

    That is a great way to do it. Glad you have found such success!
  • gastankerdriver
    gastankerdriver Posts: 162
    I try to eat as clean as possible, but every once in awhile, I have to have a chip or a personal pizza or deli sandwich. I don't know why I am like that. For me, "clean" is eating high quality complex carbohydrates (brown rice, yams, peas, etc.) with a zero cholesterol protein shake. It has been very effective at losing weight while retaining muscle and energy, but I still need my cheat every now and then. Don't we all?
  • asugar
    asugar Posts: 178 Member
    I try to eat as clean as possible, but every once in awhile, I have to have a chip or a personal pizza or deli sandwich. I don't know why I am like that. For me, "clean" is eating high quality complex carbohydrates (brown rice, yams, peas, etc.) with a zero cholesterol protein shake. It has been very effective at losing weight while retaining muscle and energy, but I still need my cheat every now and then. Don't we all?
    O I think we all do need to cheat once in awhile or we can go a little crazy.:wink:
  • silkysly
    silkysly Posts: 701 Member
    You should transition to HEALTHY eating. Period.
  • kristinL16
    kristinL16 Posts: 401 Member
    You should transition to HEALTHY eating. Period.

    "healthy eating" is even more ambiguous than "clean eating".
  • Picola1984
    Picola1984 Posts: 1,133
    Well I'm into my third day of making the changes I want to and found I have stopped being so hungry....no sugars to induce that need for energy and desire to eat naughty things!

    I feel a lot a lot clearer in my mind too :)

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