Fat Loss: Clean Eating vs "Everything in Moderation"

S

Soosan

Cathlete
Aside from health reasons, why is it important to eat clean in order to lose fat? Why couldn't a person eat Doritos all day long if s/he's consuming the same amount of calories as a person who's eating clean? Isn't the research back to "a calorie is a calorie" with regard to fat loss? (Remember, this question is not taking health into consideration.)

I'm not asking this because I want to eat Doritos all day long!:p I eat pretty healthfully but do not shun sweets and other junk in moderation. And although I would like to gain a little bit of weight elsewhere, I would like to lose some ab fat and exercising alone hasn't gotten me there. How would clean eating, if my calorie count remained the same, change that?
 
RE: Fat Loss: Clean Eating vs

I think that eating veggies and whole wheat and as-close-to-nature food can counter-act calories. While doritos and cookies are what you call 'empty' calories, veggies, nuts and whole wheat has other things - like fiber, to name one. Fiber helps digestion and I think that it tends to also flush some extra calories out.
 
RE: Fat Loss: Clean Eating vs

Hi Soosan,

I just finished reading Brad Schoenfeld's Look Great Naked Diet. I think that this book will help answer some of your questions.

I have lost over 80 pounds through WW which allows you to eat anything in moderation as long as you have the points to do it. They teach the importance of healthy choices, but leave it up to you to make them (like any plan, really).

In the LGN Diet, Schoenfeld shows the importance of proper nutrition and accounts for differences in one's gaining/losing/body composition to adjust the food intake to aid in weight loss. I bought the book on Amazon and think that it was well worth the $12! You might even find it at your local library.

Since I have put the information into practice, my waist is much tighter and the mental high from knowing that I am treating my body well is a great bonus.

Tamikka
http://www.geocities.com/mikkame77/weight_loss1
 
RE: Fat Loss: Clean Eating vs

Though I have no scientific evidence to back this up, I believe that your body craves actual nutrition (vitamins, minerals, antioxidents, fiber), and something like Doritos and other "junk food" (called so because it is nutrient poor) may contain the same calories as healthier food, but it doesn't contain the nutrients. This can lead to overeating (the hunger mechanism is never satisfied because "something is missing").

You could eat Doritos and guzzle diet coke to meet your caloric requirements, but, even if you didn't gain a lot of weight, you wouldn't look very good. And you would be sorely lacking in the antioxidants and other nutrients that can help combat diseases. You would be, in effect, "overfed and undernourished."

I also think I've read that high fructose corn sweetener (a cheap sweetener that is used in a lot of junk food, and which actually isn't very high in fructose, a natural fruit sugar) can promote fat retention especially in the abdominal area. Am I making this up? I thought I saw it somewhere. Sound familiar to anyone?
 
RE: Fat Loss: Clean Eating vs

My idea of "everything in moderation," though, is to include lots of fiber - whole grains, fruits, veggies - but not to completely eliminate foods that aren't considered "clean." How would that affect fat loss if calories remained constant?
 
RE: Fat Loss: Clean Eating vs

He goes over that point (HFCS) in the book. He mentions that we can only store so much fructose in the liver before it becomes filled and must be converted to another source.
 
RE: Fat Loss: Clean Eating vs

I never heard of "clean eating" until I joined this forum, but I've come to understand it in my own way.

You are correct that for weight loss in the end it all comes down to how many calories you eat. I think, however, that if you eat clean you will wind up naturally consuming fewer calories, or more accurately, the "right" number of calories for you. The more nutritionally sound your diet is, the fewer cravings you will have, and the less food you will eat. If your eating were totally clean, you would almost have to force yourself to eat too many calories for more than a day or two in a row. When you eat empty calories, however, overeating becomes a way of life. Your body is always craving the nutrients it isn't getting, so you keep eating.

So I think the answer is yes, as a mathematical matter, if you can limit your calories eating junk food you will lose weight. As a practical matter, however, for most human beings, it just won't work for more than a day or two and then you'll start to binge.
 
RE: Fat Loss: Clean Eating vs

I think Nancy's on the right track. It really is "calories in, calories out", but healthy foods probably make you feel less hungry, so you'll end up eating fewer calories in the end.
 
RE: Fat Loss: Clean Eating vs

Yes, but one musn't forget that our bodies are built by the foods we eat so in effect, you are what you eat.
If you eat a diet of too much junk food versus the same calories in good old healthy food your body would certainly know the difference and it would reflect in your hair, skin, nails.. the whole kit caboodle.
I also read (Schwarzbein principal) that too much sugar contributes to the premature ageing of cells in your skin... so if you eat too much junk food your face will wrinkle faster I guess.
Just my 2 cents.

kelly :)
 
RE: Fat Loss: Clean Eating vs

"How would clean eating, if my calorie count remained the same, change that?"

I would think that you would be eating a lot more calories if you don't eat clean...you wouldn't be able to help it. Have you seen how many calories and fat grams are in doritos? I am for having them if you really want them....though!

I did WW and began to notice how calorie /fat dense some foods really are! I was hungry on WW unless I ate clean.

Decide which you want more..the fat free waistline or the doritos...or maybe one dorito, if you CAN ! :)
 
RE: Fat Loss: Clean Eating vs

I think some of has to do with the simple/complex carb thing. *Clean* foods are often the more complex carbs with a lower glycemic index. These foods not only keep you satisfied longer, but they keep your blood sugar at more even levels, which keeps the insulin levels even. Insulin supposedly plays a role in how much the body wants to store fat or give it up. So while I think it is a matter of calories in vs calories used, it is also more much more complex when you look at waht the body does with those calories.

Pam
 
RE: Fat Loss: Clean Eating vs

>So while I think it is a matter of calories in vs calories
>used, it is also more much more complex when you look at waht
>the body does with those calories.

Which is why a 140-calorie serving of slow cooking oats lasts longer in my system than a 180-calorie serving of Doritos (which is a mere handful).

Personally, I'm for clean eating and nothing more. Letting myself think that I can eat anything as long as I eat in moderation only allows me to go for foods that I don't usually eat, like ice cream and pastries, and who can have only a tablespoon of ice cream and a couple of tiny bites of cookies?

Eating clean is tough though, with all these temptations everywhere. But I always remind myself that it takes me about two weeks to detoxify myself from sugar and simple carbs.:)

Pinky
 
RE: Fat Loss: Clean Eating vs

I think both methods are effective and health conscious EIM eaters are as healthy as CE eaters. I use a combination of the two, eat mostly clean, mostly organic, eco-friendly foods and occasionally indulge. I would never chose Doritos!

Pinky, why choose a tablespoon of ice cream or a few bites of a cookie? There serving size is half a cup for ice cream and a cookie is one of the most innocuous things on earth! If your overall calories don't balloon, why not eat what you desire? And don't get me wrong, I don't eat ice cream or cookies regularly but I do eat them. It's almost as if there's a feeling out there that to indulge in a little ice cream or cookies is going to set off a time bomb and kaboom, you gone! Many clean eaters sound as if they are disordered eaters and I've been there and done that and it steals alot of enjoyment from life. Life is too short to skip a Dairy Queen soft serve ice cream cone or say no to freshly baked cookies every now and again!
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"

Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

- Mary Oliver
 
RE: Fat Loss: Clean Eating vs

Bobbi, I agree with you, but as I was reading your post I was thinking that I couldn't eat a half cup of ice cream if my life depended upon it! It's my biggest weakness. If there's a pint, I eat the whole pint, and if there's a half gallon....well..... just ask my DH. He's in awe of how much ice cream his petite wife can pack away! I try to eat the low fat or nonfat all natural stuff as much as possible for damage control, and I have cut down a lot since my low GI diet, but still, it's an issue. But even with my guilty ice cream "problem" I don't have that much trouble maintaining my weight, so maybe that's a testament to your point. :)
 
RE: Fat Loss: Clean Eating vs

Regarding "life is too short to skip indulgences...etc etc" I think about that a lot lately. I am fond of analyzing things! Attitudes towards food is one of those grey areas where various folks' attitudes fall in various parts of the scale, and one extreme or the other isn't healthy. I am certainly not against the occasional indulgence for myself. Then again some folks the only love/comfort they get from life is from food. Not good. Some are so overcontrolled in the WRONG way it can be a disorder. Self image etc is tied to what they ate, how much, and what they weigh. No.

But lately I have been reading more about how fitness/body builders view food and eating...and that is they view it as a JOB. Food is fuel. Period. Not a treat, not entertainment, not a reward...their high goal..if you want to call it that...is the building of their physique. Their perspective is different.

Which I am not THERE yet, don't get me wrong, But I don't see their viewpoint as a disorder....just very focused. And I am getting focused lately. There are some things I just will not eat, because I know the very real, physical, impact it will have on me and my goals...but I have a different perspective lately...and I think it is healthy for me.

As I focus on what my goals are...the attraction to eating things ice cream/doritos etc grows more and more dim. I have it if I REALLY want it bad...but I don't eat them mindlessly, because of habit ("we always have a bowl of ice cream after dinner") or because I think I "deserve" it (whatever THAT means) like I used to.

Not for everyone. Some folks aren't that focused and I think that is neither here nor there. And perhaps some folks COULD take that attitude and veer off course into an eating disorder.

Just some thoughts. I like discussing stuff like this. I have made huge changes in my eating this year.
Jen
 
RE: Fat Loss: Clean Eating vs

I look at some the "clean diets" people post and quite frankly, I would last one day, simply because the foods (to me) are too boring. I beleive in eating healthy and in moderation, which I do, but I also like to have a piece of chocolate, cookies or a steak as part of my diet. OK, so sometimes I eat a box of dots. I don't count carbs and I will eat spaghetti because I like the way it tastes and I know it isn't bad for me. One thing that I don't do is buy junk food. This house has no Doritos, Fritos or any other "ito's" in it. My kids don't need it and neither do my husband or I. But I think why most feel frustrated with "clean diets" is that it tends to be too boring, limited and stressful. While I have never struggled with a weight problem, I think it is important to have a treat now and then and not feel guilty. When I grocery shop, I have a full stomach so I am not tempted to buy junk. I also plan my menu for the whole week. (strange I know). I have really learned to love low fat dairy products and that sure helps. Believe it or not, I cut up vegetables for when the kids get home from school. They even ask me for them. They have never said, "How come we don't have any Dorito's?"

One other thing that I feel is important in weight loss, is keeping yourself busy. For instance, doing a Cathe workout and then being sedetary the rest of the day isn't a good thing. Keep moving. Find a project or hobby. I seldom sit for more than an hour during my day when I am alone. You are less likely to snack. OK, I'm done rambling. These are just my thoughts on weightloss and healthy eating. :)
 
RE: Fat Loss: Clean Eating vs

Cleaning eating as in whole wheat, fruits,etc. allows for a healthier you. For myself, I found that is when I would lose fat in the trouble spots. I also noticed more of glow in my skin.
 
RE: Fat Loss: Clean Eating vs

That's why I go to Dairy Queen and get a baby sized vanilla cone, Nancy! Otherwise, I buy coffe ice cream. My kids love it but I can't eat it because it will keep me up all night. :) Actually, sweets aren't my thing and I can eat one cookie and even a bite of ice cream. I have no problem with one chip, even one nut! Since I have a history of self-starvation, I don't let myself get obsessive about food. I did indeed do the Ultra Clean Diet Thing at one time. But I realized I was obsessing and I had to rethink my diet. And cooking is one of my creative outlets and something I am known to do well. Now I can knock out awesome, flavorful meals with little fat or a little beneficial fat. I have a few recipes that contain a bit more sat fat but I have learned to do them with a minimum amount of fat and maximum flavor. And when I encounter crazy fat-filled meals, I don't say no but I eat much smaller portions. And I do think that whether someone choses to eat ultra cleanly or everything in moderation, learning what a portion is and keeping calories in balance is ultimately the most important thing.
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"

Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

- Mary Oliver
 
RE: Fat Loss: Clean Eating vs

To me eating everything in moderation IS eating clean. Severely restricting food to certain food groups or certain items at the exclusion of others reveals an excess, and a disorder to me. I'm with Bobbi here. I don't care how wonderful certain individuals may look while cutting foods out of their diet, their eating is restrictive, focused is not the correct word I do not think and it is a phobic way of thinking and approaching food groups.

Clare
 
RE: Fat Loss: Clean Eating vs

Bobbi,
Can I please be invited to your house for dinner?? :D

Seriously, I dream of having the time and energy to cook healthy, low-fat, flavorful meals. I have this feeling I'd be good at it and it would really be relaxing. For now, I'm happy to have found a great take-out salad place so that my DH and I are at least eating fresh, wholesome food for dinner. I bet cooking gets faster and easier the more you do it?
 
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