Is eating clean the same as just eating healthy?

[Gobias]

Hi Everyone,

This forum is the 1st time I have ever heard of "eating clean". Does this just mean eating healthy? Watching calories, fat, salt, portion, lots of vegetables/fruit/fiber? From the little searching I did, it kind of seems that way.

If you are eating clean, is it hard to do? Sometimes when I eat healthy, I waste so much food since it goes bad before I can eat/bake/cook it all. Or I end up buying a ton of weird ingredients that I use once.

I used to eat pretty healthy (watched calories, fat, protein, no salt) but now I eat pretty much what I want (in moderation). My meals are pretty healthy, but I snack a lot! It is just too much of a temptation! My friends and boyfriend and coworkers are always buying me snacks. And I am in charge of baking cakes for birthdays and cooking my famous meals that everyone loves. So, of course I have to take bites.

Here is the thing - I have always been extremely thin with a BMI of 17 (considered low but I am small framed so I look and am healthy). I have barely any fat on me (except maybe my stomach when I bend over & triceps at weird angles). I exercise, lift weights and definitley can see/feel muscle. I can even see/feel a 6-pack on my belly when I contract (not suck in) my abs. But I figure I need to eat a bit more healthy so I will show more "cut" that Cathe has given me! I have very low cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure.

I do remember when I ate healthy it was somewhat easy and tasted good. Didn't follow any diets, just watched portions. I did feel more energized. But now that life has taken over, it just seems to be harder. My family is big on food and is always forcing, giving me snacks and is offended when I don't have seconds and thirds. My friends always want to go out and share snacks. My coworkers are constantly giving me candy bars, etc. I love cooking and having people over for dinners. I have no problem saying 'no' to people and have done many times even though they become offended. But I do have a problem with will-power!

I guess my question is how hard is clean eating (healthy eating?) and is it hard to get others involved?

Thanks

[kikster]

Knowing that different people have different perceptions of "healthy" its hard to say if they are the same. But eating clean is definitely healthy, though! It's basically eating foods that aren't processed. Fruits, veggies, grains, meats, eggs, etc. (not candy bars, lol) And although, she may not have coined the phrase, Tosca Reno, definitely put it back on the map for our generation. You'd probably get a more thorough explanation by checking out one of her books (she has tons) from your local library or bookstore. She has an entire "Eat Clean" series of books (for women, men, kids, families, etc). There are other books out there that cover the topic as well, but she should sum it up quite nicely for you (over and over again, as you read each book, lol)

If you decide to look for at your local bookstore, head over to the mag section and check out the "Clean Eating" magazine for some good recipes to boot. Getting enough recipes under your belt would make it not as hard, I'd say. (that's not to say that you'd never eat another candy bar, again, but maybe a LOT less often)



ETA: It may not be necessarily easy at first, but there are A TON of ways to keep eating most of the stuff you love, especially if you enjoy cooking. I love to bake for my family as well, and my hubby/son love my cooking. So I had to really find things that I could do that satisfied allof us. The turn around for me was figuring out that I could make most of the stuff that we were buying from scratch. At first I thought it'd be too tedious, but now it is just a part of what I do. It takes a bit more planning, but it's worth it. And my family actually appreciates it more.

[DixieGirl]

Like KiKi said, grab one of Tosca's books and read up on eating clean. IMO, it's healthy eating but one step further. You should eat 5-6 small meals a day that contain a protein and a complex carb like you would get from veggies. No sugar allowed unless it's natural sugars from agave, sucanat, raw honey, etc. No refined sugars at all and the natural sugars should only be an occasional treat. Also no refined, white flours. Only whole wheat, whole grain.

It can be very overwhelming at first but I can testify that it can change your life for the better. I feel so amazing since I've started eating clean. It feels like a sacrifice at first but once your taste buds are retrained the cravings will disappear and you will do great.

The Eat Clean Diet website also has a forum that has a lot of ladies on there who are very supportive and informative. Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions. Best of luck

Tracy

[Gobias]

Thanks for both of your responses. I have never even heard of Tosca Reno but will check her out.

Did either of you (or anyone else) lose too much weight? I remember when I tried eating healthy & monitoring my food years ago, I lost way too much weight and looked bony (I was eating enough calories, I thought, I am just bony. I probably only lost 5 lbs but that was too much for me). But I do have a nice soft layer of fat on me now that I would like to get off so I look more cut and be healthier. I do remember when I ate healthy I felt better.

Thanks for the references - I will start checking them out and hopefully I can get my guy on board with this. Although he is the one always buying me snacks.

DixieGirl - I may be PMing you!

[kikster]

When you say that you were too bony before, were you lifting weights in addition to eating less? If you're eating clean AND lifting hard, you should develop more curves (from muscle), if anything. Also, maybe your cals were dropped too low. When I first lost all my weight, I was eating clean, doin a TON of cardio, and yes, my Hubby thought I was too small. But once I threw some heavy training in the mix, put on some nice lean muscle, he couldn't (& still can't, lol) keep his hands off me .

Once you get to your desired weight you should be sure to eat at a maintenance level, not continue in a caloric deficit (like maybe add an extra snack back into the equation)

[DixieGirl]

Originally Posted by Gobias

Thanks for both of your responses. I have never even heard of Tosca Reno but will check her out.

Did either of you (or anyone else) lose too much weight? I remember when I tried eating healthy & monitoring my food years ago, I lost way too much weight and looked bony (I was eating enough calories, I thought, I am just bony. I probably only lost 5 lbs but that was too much for me). But I do have a nice soft layer of fat on me now that I would like to get off so I look more cut and be healthier. I do remember when I ate healthy I felt better.

Thanks for the references - I will start checking them out and hopefully I can get my guy on board with this. Although he is the one always buying me snacks.

DixieGirl - I may be PMing you!

No, I haven't lost too much weight....inches though. I don't think my body is going to let go of anymore weight (I'm 5'3", and fluctuate btwn 108-110 lbs) and if I did lose more weight it would probably be muscle, which I don't want to happen ;-)

You might think about upping your weight loads on your w/o's, like KiKi says. Muscle burns fat so the more you build it can help shred that little layer of fat you are talking about.

As far as the clean eating, there are different "coolers" to choose from. Some are for dropping pounds, which it sounds like you don't really need. Another is for maintenance. Tosca's newest book called Stripped is designed for getting rid of the last 10 lbs then you could move to a cooler 2 type of plan to maintain once you get where you want to be. But I think if you got on board w/ the clean eats and built more muscle you could get rid of that little layer of fat. I'm in the same boat with a slight covering of fat over my muscles but I really tightened up my eats about 5 weeks ago and am going heavier w/ the weights and I see it improving.

Yes, feel free to PM me or ask any other questions here on the boards :-)

[kikster]

Originally Posted by DixieGirl

Tosca's newest book called Stripped is designed for getting rid of the last 10 lbs then you could move to a cooler 2 type of plan to maintain once you get where you want to be.

Have you checked out Stripped yet? I keep meaning to, but haven't (I even went to Barnes and Noble last weekend and totally forgot to check it out). I'm on the last like 3 stubborn lbs. Well, not exactly "last" they're "winter lbs" that I put on every year, lol. Just wondering what tips she gives, and if it's any different from those given in "Making the Cut" ? which has pretty much worked for me the past years...

[DixieGirl]

Originally Posted by kikster

Have you checked out Stripped yet? I keep meaning to, but haven't (I even went to Barnes and Noble last weekend and totally forgot to check it out). I'm on the last like 3 stubborn lbs. Well, not exactly "last" they're "winter lbs" that I put on every year, lol. Just wondering what tips she gives, and if it's any different from those given in "Making the Cut" ? which has pretty much worked for me the past years...

I've got Stripped but haven't read it yet. I know no dairy is allowed. I'm on the fence about doing it. I've been reading NROL4W and he really cautions about cutting too many calories b/c it's so easy to lose muscle mass. I have some FAT I'd like to lose but don't want to take a chance on losing the muscle I've worked so hard to build...really I want to build some more muscle mass. I'm glad I got Stripped if nothing else for the recipes. I'm hoping once I finish this book I'm on I'll get around to reading Stripped to decide if I should do it or not.

[thebratee1]

Have you guys found it more expensive to eat clean? Are you able to find the ingredients at the grocery store or do you have to go to a specialty store? I am looking to lose these last 8 to 10 pounds and I am hoping that eating clean will do the trick. Also, do you guys count calories at all?

Thanks,
Regina

[watson]

Well,according to my point of view fruits are healthy...if you want to get ripped you have to cut out sugar....sugar is not eating clean...!